2.5 Public Management Theory and EPWP .1 Definition of Public Management
2.5.2 Public Management Theory
Development Management Theory emphasizes that each development project activity initiated by a government should be managed properly to ensure that the goals are achieved (Van Der Waldt and Du Toit, 1999:307);
this study aims to contribute to the proper management of the EPWP. The theory emphasizes that Development Management needs to form part of the frame of reference and knowledge of public managers which includes EPWP managers.
2.5 Public Management Theory and EPWP
managers are able to identify strategies to respond to ever-changing environments. The external environment that impacts on organizations is characterized by functions, skills, management applications, and supportive technology and techniques, whilst aspects of the external environment include politics, economics, culture and technology (Fox, Schwella and Wissink, 2004:17). Figure 2.3 contextualises Public Works and the EPWP within the Public Management Model by examining the Public Management Environment.
Figure 2.3: The Public Management Model
GENERAL ENVIRONMENT
*Political *Social *Economic *Technological *Cultural
SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENT
*Suppliers *Competitors *Regulators *Consumers
FUNCTIONS SKILLS APPLICATIONS
*Policy making
*Planning
*Organising
*Leading
*Control and evaluation
*Decision-making
*Communication
*Management of change
*Management of conflict
*Negotiation
*Policy analysis
*Strategic Management
*Organisational development
SUPPORTIVE
TECHNOLOGY AND
TECHNIQUES
*Computer technology and information management
*Techniques for public management
SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENT EPWP
MANAGEMENT GENERAL ENVIRONMENT
Functions Skills
Management Applications
Supportive technology and techniques
Source: Adapted from: Schwella et al. (2001:7).
2.5.2.1 Public Works and the EPWP within the context of the Public Management Model
It is evident from Figure 2.3 that the management of the EPWP requires the following:
· Functions
Policy making, planning, organising, leading, control and evaluation.
· Skills
Decision-making, communication, management of change, management of conflict, and negotiation.
· Applications
Policy analysis, strategic management, and organisational development.
· Supportive technology and techniques
Computer technology and information management as well as techniques for public management.
2.5.2.2 The Public Management environment
The management of the EPWP occurs within general and specific environments. A brief discussion of these environments follows.
a) The general environment
The general environment refers to factors that are external to an organisation and that constantly influence the management of the organisation (Du Toit and Van Der Waldt, 1998:112). According to Schwella (1996:18), the components of the general environment can be identified as follows:
b) Political component
The political component impacts on the political system in order to deal with the fundamental political demands of the people (Schwella, 1996:18). The EPWP is a government mandate and is one of the intervention strategies designed to reduce poverty and unemployment rates by 2014. The main goal
of the programme is to create temporary work opportunities for unskilled, marginalized, unemployed people (Development Indicators, 2008). The programme has been implemented across the following four sectors since 2004:
· Infrastructure;
· Environment and culture;
· Social; and the
· Economic sector.
Since the EPWP is a political government mandate; the political component has a major impact on the implementation and management of the programme.
c) Economic components
The economic components comprise key issues such as national income, reducing poverty and unemployment, the equitable distribution of wealth and job creation (Schwella, 1996:18). This study has therefore incorporated the funding model of the EPWP.
d) Cultural component
The cultural component encompasses the sum total of the established patterns of thought and action which are regarded as the way of life or lifestyle of a society (Van Der Waldt and Helmbold, 1995:20). The EPWP is implemented within communities and the cultural environment is significant in the management of the programme, since the EPWP managers need to ensure the proper management of cultural diversity throughout the programme.
Due to the heterogeneous nature of South African society, diversity is inherent in all public institutions (Du Toit and Van Der Waldt, 1998:231). The EPWP management therefore needs to ensure the equal treatment of public officials in line with the South African Constitution.
e) Technological component
The technological component impacts on efficiency, effectiveness, speed, accuracy and precision (Du Toit et al., 1998). It is therefore important that the EPWP staff have technological support.
f) Social component
The social environment necessitates the provision of basic services in order to improve the quality of life of the community. The EPWP was developed to provide poverty and income relief through temporary work for the unemployed to carry out useful social activities (ASIST, 2006:2). The impact of the programme on the lives of the poor is the focus of this study.
g) The specific environment
The specific environment can have a direct influence on the availability of resources to the focal organizational unit (Van Der Waldt and Helmbold, 1995:20). Table 2.2 reflects the various components of the specific environment as postulated by Schwella et al. (1996).
Table 2.2: Components of the specific environment Specific environment
components (Schwella et al., 1996)
Description/ function (Van Der Waldt and Helmbold, 1995:20)
Regulators Mediate or control aspects of the relationship between an organization, its suppliers, clients and competitors.
Suppliers Produce and allocate a variety of resources to an organization.
Consumers Make use of the output of the organization.
Competitors Interest groups compete with the government for resources.
Source: Schwella et al. (1996) & Van Der Waldt and Helmbold (1995:20).
In view of Table 2.2 it is important to understand a specific EPWP component, which includes inter alia, the EPWP Legislative Framework and Guidelines, the EPWP beneficiaries and the EPWP management. These relate to one another, as the policies and guidelines provide guidance in terms of the programme and the provision of necessary resources, which impact on both the EPWP beneficiaries and the management of the programme.