An exploratory study of the Directorate of Customs and Excise’s perceptions about the performance management system of the public service in Namibia

Date
2018-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Performance management refers to a continuous communication process between staff and supervisors to assist, unleash potential and improve organisational performance. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the perceptions of the employees of the Directorate of Customs and Excise about the Performance Management System of the public service in Namibia. The study sought to answer the following four broad questions: (1) What is Performance Management System (PMS) in general and in the Namibia context? (2) What are the models for Performance Management System? (3) How do employees of the Directorate of Customs and Excise perceive the implementation of the Performance Management System in their workplaces? (4) How can the implementation of the Performance Management System be improved in the public service in Namibia? The study also addressed the following research objectives, namely to: (a) Determine the general meaning of PMS in the Namibian context. (b) Explore the different models for PMS. (c) Explore how employees of the Directorate of Customs and Excise perceive the implementation of the Performance Management System in their workplaces. (d) Determine how the implementation of the Performance Management System in the public service in Namibia can be improved. The study adopted an exploratory, qualitative research design making use of semi-structured questions administered by researcher through face-to-face interviews involving 20 employees of the Directorate of Customs and Excise in various positions who were selected by means of a convenience sampling technique. Findings of the study show that questions 1, 3, and 4 were answered effectively and objectives a, c, and d achieved successfully, while question 2 was partially answered and objective b partially achieved. The study recommended several measures to minimise the impact of negative perceptions that can hinder the implementations of Performance Management System in the public service in Namibia as follows: (a) Promote employee engagement. (b) Improve internal management and leadership practices. (c) Initiate peer education in the Directorate of Customs and Excise. (d) Design reliable monitoring and reporting procedures.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Prestasiebestuur verwys na 'n deurlopende kommunikasieproses tussen personeel en toesighouers om potensiaal te bevorder, en om organisatoriese prestasie te verbeter. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die persepsies van die werknemers van die Direktoraat Doeane en Aksyns oor die Prestasiebestuurstelsel van die staatsdiens in Namibië te ondersoek en te beskryf. Die studie het gepoog om die volgende vier vrae in die breë te beantwoord: (1) Wat behels die Prestasiebestuurstelsel in die algemeen en in die Namibiese konteks? (2) Wat is die modelle vir ‘n Prestasiebestuurstelsel? (3) Hoe beskou werknemers van die Direktoraat vir Doeane en Aksyns die implementering van die Prestasiebestuurstelsel in hul werkplek? (4) Hoe kan die implementering van die Prestasiebestuurstelsel in die staatsdiens in Namibië verbeter word? Die studie het ook die volgende navorsingsdoelwitte aangespreek, naamlik om: (a) Die algemene betekenis van Prestasiebestuurstelsel in die Namibiese konteks te bepaal. (b) Die verskillende modelle vir Prestasiebestuurstelsel te ondersoek. (c) Te bepaal wat die persepsie is van werknemers van die Direktoraat vir Doeane en Aksyns wat betref die implementering van die Prestasiebestuurstelsel in hul werkplek (d) Bepaal hoe die implementering van die Prestasiebestuurstelsel in die staatsdiens in Namibië verbeter kan word. Die studie het 'n ondersoekende, kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp aangeneem wat gebruik maak van semi-gestruktureerde vrae wat deur die navorser geadministreer is. Hierdie vraertelling het deur middel van aangesig-tot-aangesig onderhoude geskied en met 20 werknemers van die Direktoraat vir Doeane en Aksyns in verskeie posisies of poste wat deur middel van 'n geriefsteekproefnemingstegniek gekies is. Bevindinge van die studie toon dat vrae 1, 3 en 4 effektief beantwoord is en doelwitte a, c en d suksesvol behaal is, terwyl die vraag 2 gedeeltelik beantwoord is en doelwit b gedeeltelik behaal is. Die studie het verskeie maatreëls aanbeveel om die impak van negatiewe persepsies te verminder wat die implementering van Prestasiebestuurstelsel in die staatsdiens in Namibië kan belemmer. Die aanbevelings is soos volg: (a) Bevorder werknemerbetrokkenheid. (b) Verbeter interne bestuurs- en leierskapspraktyke. (c) Inisieer groepsonderrig van werknemers in die Direktoraat Doeane en Aksyns. (d) Ontwerp betroubare moniterings- en rapporteringsprosedures.
Description
Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2018.
Keywords
Performance -- Management -- Namibia, Employees -- Rating of -- Namibia, Civil service -- Namibia, Namibia. Customs and Excise., UCTD
Citation