Assessing the extent to which performance management systems enhance performance in fulfilling objectives in an Integrated Development Plan : the case of Drakenstein Municipality, Western Cape

Date
2023-12
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY: Performance management is a crucial aspect of human resource management, which aims to enhance organisational effectiveness and efficiency by aligning administrative activities with organisational objectives. However, a recent study by the South African Cities Network (SACN) suggests that spatial planning outcomes at the local government level may diverge from the intended transformational goals within society. The research, in conjunction with input from municipal practitioners in SACN's Built Environment Integration Task Team (BEITT), suggests the presence of a ‘compliance culture’ that emphasises conformity to institutional norms rather than promoting transformative development. The complexities that are associated with performance management systems in urban settings are of utmost importance in shaping the implementation of tasks and the exclusion of others. The primary aim of performance management is to ensure the efficient implementation of stated strategies and the attainment of desired developmental results. As per the guidelines that were provided by the Department of Provincial and Local Government, the Performance Management System requires municipalities to define goals and objectives as well as develop performance indicators, targets and development plans. Performance management is an instrumental tool that is used by local governments to assist in the continuous monitoring and assessment of performance; thus, augmenting effectiveness. This research aims to evaluate the degree to which performance management systems contribute to the achievement of objectives within an Integrated Development Plan, specifically focusing on the instance of Drakenstein Municipality. The Drakenstein Municipality has been awarded its eighth clean audit by the Auditor General of South Africa, indicating the absence of noteworthy financial irregularities, successful attainment of set targets and adherence to all applicable laws, rules and directives. The current occurrence marks the fifteenth straight occurrence in which the audit opinion has remained unqualified, which indicates that the financial statements have been fairly presented and adhere to the relevant accounting rules. Despite several breakthroughs in recent years, there persists a substantial and pressing need for improved service delivery throughout all regions inside South Africa. Municipalities have shown inadequate performance in the efficient implementation of approved policies, Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) and programmes. The Cabinet granted approval to the Local Government Turn-Around Strategy (LGTAS) in December 2009, with the objective of officially incorporating it into the budget and Integrated Development Plan (IDP) of all 283 municipalities in South Africa by March 2010. However, a substantial percentage (95%) of municipalities failed to offer any indication about the execution and integration of the turn-around efforts into the 2010/11 budgets and Integrated Development Plans (IDPs). The lack of a reliable Performance Management System (PMS) among South African municipalities poses a noteworthy concern that necessitates attention in order to effectively execute the Integrated Development Plan (IDP). By acknowledging the absence of a reliable PMS, local governments may enhance the alignment between their prescribed responsibilities and their strategic goals, which ultimately leads to improved service provision. The public sector in South Africa has been under scrutiny due to inadequate service provision within local entities, which prompted the introduction of a nationwide development framework. The evaluation of performance in local government demonstrates discrepancies, and there are several obstacles that hinder the process across different organisational cultures. Local governments should expand their efforts beyond the mere implementation of review systems and procedures to provide sufficient evaluation capacity. Moreover, the assimilation of information and competencies is strongly embedded into the organisational ethos; hence requiring comprehensive training for government workers. The current issue under investigation pertains to the limited comprehension of the extent to which performance management systems contribute to the advancement of municipalities in attaining their Integrated Development Plan (IDP) goals. The Drakenstein Municipality case study is an exemplary example due to its notable history of continuously achieving clean audit results.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Prestasiebestuur is 'n belangrike aspek van menslikehulpbronbestuur, wat daarop gemik is om organisatoriese doeltreffendheid en doeltreffendheid te verbeter deur administratiewe aktiwiteite met organisatoriese doelwitte te belyn. 'n Onlangse studie deur die South African Cities Network (SACN) dui egter daarop dat ruimtelike beplanningsuitkomste op plaaslike regeringsvlak kan afwyk van die beoogde transformasiedoelwitte binne die samelewing. Die navorsing, in samewerking met insette van munisipale praktisyns in SACN se taakspan vir die integrasie van die Bou-omgewing (BEITT), dui op die teenwoordigheid van 'n 'nakomingskultuur' wat ooreenstemming met institusionele norme beklemtoon eerder as om transformatiewe ontwikkeling te bevorder. Die kompleksiteite wat verband hou met prestasiebestuurstelsels in stedelike omgewings is van uiterste belang in die vorming van die implementering van take en die uitsluiting van ander. Die primere doel van prestasiebestuur is om die doeltreffende implementering van gestelde strategiee en die bereiking van gewenste ontwikkelingsresultate te verseker. Volgens die riglyne wat deur die Departement van Provinsiale en Plaaslike Regering verskaf is, vereis die Prestasiebestuurstelsel van munisipaliteite om doelwitte en doelwitte te definieer, asook om prestasie-aanwysers, teikens en ontwikkelingsplanne te ontwikkel. Prestasiebestuur is 'n instrumentele instrument wat deur plaaslike regerings gebruik word om te help met die deurlopende monitering en assessering van prestasie; dus, verhoog effektiwiteit. Hierdie navorsing het ten doel om die mate waarin prestasiebestuurstelsels bydra tot die bereiking van doelwitte binne 'n geintegreerde ontwikkelingsplan te evalueer, spesifiek met die fokus op die geval van Drakenstein Munisipaliteit. Die Drakenstein-munisipaliteit het sy agtste skoon oudit deur die ouditeur-generaal van Suid-Afrika ontvang, wat dui op die afwesigheid van noemenswaardige finansiele onreelmatighede, suksesvolle bereiking van gestelde teikens en die nakoming van alle toepaslike wette, reels en voorskrifte. Die huidige voorkoms is die vyftiende agtereenvolgende gebeurtenis waarin die ouditmening ongekwalifiseerd gebly het, wat daarop dui dat die finansiele state billik aangebied is en aan die relevante rekeningkundige reels voldoen. Ten spyte van verskeie deurbrake die afgelope paar jaar, is daar steeds 'n wesenlike en dringende behoefte aan verbeterde dienslewering in alle streke binne Suid-Afrika. Munisipaliteite het onvoldoende prestasie getoon in die doeltreffende implementering van goedgekeurde beleide, geintegreerde ontwikkelingsplanne (GOPs) en programme. Die Kabinet het in Desember 2009 goedkeuring verleen aan die Strategie vir die Omkeerstrategie vir Plaaslike Regering (LGTAS), met die doel om dit teen Maart 2010 amptelik in die begroting en Geintegreerde Ontwikkelingsplan (GOP) van al 283 munisipaliteite in Suid-Afrika in te sluit. 'n Aansienlike persentasie (95%) van munisipaliteite kon egter geen aanduiding gee oor die uitvoering en integrasie van die omkeerpogings in die 2010/11-begrotings en geintegreerde ontwikkelingsplanne (GOPs) nie. Die gebrek aan 'n betroubare prestasiebestuurstelsel (PBS) onder Suid-Afrikaanse munisipaliteite is 'n noemenswaardige bron van kommer wat aandag noodsaak om die geintegreerde ontwikkelingsplan (GOP) doeltreffend uit te voer. Deur die afwesigheid van 'n betroubare PMS te erken, kan plaaslike regerings die belyning tussen hul voorgeskrewe verantwoordelikhede en hul strategiese doelwitte verbeter, wat uiteindelik lei tot verbeterde diensverskaffing. Die openbare sektor in Suid-Afrika is onder die loep weens onvoldoende diensverskaffing binne plaaslike entiteite, wat gelei het tot die instelling van 'n landwye ontwikkelingsraamwerk. Die evaluering van prestasie in plaaslike regering toon teenstrydighede, en daar is verskeie struikelblokke wat die proses oor verskillende organisasiekulture belemmer. Plaaslike regerings moet hul pogings verder uitbrei as die blote implementering van hersieningstelsels en prosedures om voldoende evalueringskapasiteit te bied. Boonop is die assimilasie van inligting en bevoegdhede sterk ingebed in die organisatoriese etos; dus omvattende opleiding vir staatswerkers vereis. Die huidige kwessie wat ondersoek word, het betrekking op die beperkte begrip van die mate waarin prestasiebestuurstelsels bydra tot die bevordering van munisipaliteite in die bereiking van hul geintegreerde ontwikkelingsplan (GOP)-doelwitte. Die Drakenstein-munisipaliteit se gevallestudie is 'n voorbeeldige voorbeeld vanwee sy noemenswaardige geskiedenis om deurlopend skoon ouditresultate te behaal.
Description
Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.
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