Leadership and innovation at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
Date
2015
Authors
Mashologu, Thembakazi
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Abstract
The South African government is having a problem when it comes to innovative leaders due to many contributing factors that constrain the managers within the public sector. The concept of the service delivery requires leaders that are innovative that will take the public sector to the next level. It is, therefore, essential that public employees, in particular managers, be innovative in order to manage public sector duties effectively. The leader is fundamental in planning, leading and controlling resources to ensure effective service delivery.
Public Administration does not operate in isolation, but is exposed to environmental factors such as political, economy, social, technological, environmental and legal. These factors require that public officials, the leadership in particular, display a higher ability to analyse and scrutinise these factors because leadership has an influence on internal departmental operations. The intentions of the South African government by 2030 as stated on the National Development Plan (NDP). The NDP shows intentions that require leaders who will lead in a creative and innovative way as the issues that have to be tackled by 2030 are issues that are in a way concerned with service delivery.
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJ&CD) is one of the departments in South Africa that striving to be best performers in the public sector. However, there is a gap that needs to be identified into why it is not amongst the top performers within the public sector.
The methodology used in this study takes the form of in depth interviews with questionnaire designed to identify and measure the leadership and innovation at the DOJ&CD. The study analyzed leadership and innovation, particularly the management leadership, by scrutinizing managers at the higher courts and regional office in Gauteng. Interviews with managers were used to determine the leadership and innovation of managers to lead the higher courts in Gauteng. The study showed that there is a need for the leaders within the public service to be innovative in their areas of responsibilities.
Description
Thesis (M.M. (Public and Development Management))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Public and Development Management, 2015.
Keywords
Leadership, Innovation, Public sector, South Africa