Operationalising performance management in local government: The use of the balanced scorecard

SA Journal of Human Resource Management

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Operationalising performance management in local government: The use of the balanced scorecard
 
Creator Ndevu, Zwelinzima J. Muller, Kobus
 
Subject organisational behaviour; human resource management balanced scorecard; performance management; local government; service delivery
Description Orientation: Local government forms that part of the public sector closest to citizens and therefore indispensable in its role of providing essential goods and services and developing the local area. Local government has the authority and functions necessary to provide services for the maintenance and promotion of the well-being of all people within their area and should provide access to basic services such as water, electricity and health care.Research purpose: This study examines performance management as a tool in local government effective provision service delivery. The critical question addressed in this paper was how the balanced scorecard (BSC) can be used to improve performance in the context of local government and assist in eradicating the current challenges of lack of quality services, poverty and infrastructure development.Motivation for the study: The need for continuous improvement in service delivery at local government compounded by high levels of service delivery protest requires regular review of performance management system.Research approach: To understand the current context and challenges facing local government, the applicable legislative framework including the Constitution, white paper and the National Development Plans were perused to better understand the legal environment in which local government operates. A literature review was undertaken to evaluate theory on organisational effectiveness. Semi-structured interviews were used to solicit expert opinions.Main findings/managerial implications: The BSC approach emerged as the preferred tool because the method offered the authors the opportunity to review non-financial and financial factors to arrive at a balanced conclusion. A BSC tool was developed and applied to the Joe Gqabi District Municipality as a case study.Practical implications: The BSC as a performance management tool enables organisations to clarify their vision and strategy and translate them into goal or actions.Contribution/value-add: The research findings conclude that there was acknowledgement of the importance of performance measurement instruments in the municipality, yet the municipality still experienced challenges caused by the performance review process not being transparent and not communicated to all stakeholders.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor
Date 2018-05-31
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — —
Format text/html application/epub+zip application/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/sajhrm.v16i0.977
 
Source SA Journal of Human Resource Management; Vol 16 (2018); 11 pages 2071-078X 1683-7584
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/view/977/1469 https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/view/977/1468 https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/view/977/1470 https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/view/977/1462
 
Coverage — — —
Rights Copyright (c) 2018 Zwelinzima J. Ndevu, Kobus Muller https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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