Implementation of strategic plan in the public service : case in the national department of human settlements

Abstract

South African Government departments, through the relevant executing authority, are required to develop strategic plans in terms of the Public Service Amendment Act (2008, Act No. 30 of 2007) and Public Finance Management Amendment Act (2003 Act No. 29 of 1999) through Public Service Regulations. Public service departments are also required to table a strategic plan with a five-year planning horizon, Annual Performance Plan including two-year forward projections in line with the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) and Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period, with annual and quarterly performance targets. This study was undertaken to investigate the implementation of the strategic plan in the National Department of Human Settlements and it followed a qualitative research methodology. The study also seeks to determine the alignment of the strategic plan and the medium term strategic plan, evaluate the causes of the disconnect between the strategy and its implementation, identify systems of facilitating the implementation of the strategic plan and explore challenges in the implementation of the strategic plan in the Department. For the researcher to reach a conclusion around the implementation of the strategic plan at the National Department of Human Settlements, information was gathered through a literature review, interviews, questionnaires and document analysis. The findings reveal that there is a disjuncture in the understanding of the link between MTSF and the strategic plan between middle and senior management as there is poor understanding of the link and purpose of aligning these documents. It also reveals that there is a disconnect between the strategic plan and its implementation caused by deviation from the implementation of the strategic plan by branches and non-consideration of outstanding targets when formulating the coming year’s plan. It also reveals that the systems for facilitating the implementation the strategic plan are ineffective due to the fact that there are no documented standard operating procedures that the Department follows when facilitating strategic plan implementation. Having identified the challenges in strategic plan implementation, it is vital for the National Department of Human Settlements to ensure that the systems for facilitating the implementation of the strategic plan are developed and implemented, and also that it develop a strategy for alleviating the challenges in strategic plan implementation.