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Public sector organizations worldwide are
under pressure to increase efficiency while delivering
improved and integrated services.
The public sector
remains a central vehicle for delivering development for
both developed and developing countries; within a framework
crafted to realize
economic and allocative efficiency; equity,
justice, fairness; security; competitiveness and
contestability. The system should also guarantee
sustainability of service even in competitive markets;
mitigate against potential failure of privatised services
while reducing transaction costs. The Structural Adjustment
Programmes (SAPs) and the New Public Management (NPM)
programmes designed to deliver on these objectives have
realised mixed outcomes, in particular those that still
maintain hierarchical structures of service delivery.
Governance and diffusion of political power in particular
remain the critical pillars for effecting change in
developing countries public sectors. Change is inevitable
and it is a continuous process. It
determines the long-term direction and performance of the
organization by ensuring that careful formulation, effective
implementation and continuous evaluation of strategy take
place, to ensure access, affordability and equity. This
paper presents the different strategies of implementing
strategic changes in public sector, drawing on SAPs and NPM
strategies and lessons thereof. Change is based on the
assumptions made; and can be Top-down, Transformational or
Strategic. Changes can also be incremental or big bang, with
response mechanisms either adapt or evolve in case change is
incremental or undergo reconstruction or revolution in the
event the change is substantial. A number of mechanisms have
been employed in effecting strategic change in the public
sector in Africa since the structural reforms of the 80s.
Central to the change process are the level of stakeholder
(beneficiaries, providers, funders) involvement and
participation, Marketization, regulation and political
control, differentiated service delivery levels, shared
corporate management and authority, costs and
responsibilities, competition and benchmarking, new
modalities of service delivery. In any event no one size
strategy fits all public sector changes. Different
countries apply the structures differently depending on
their unique circumstances. The guiding principles for
process change in change management are centred on politics,
systems, coalitions, culture and communication. But
Politics and culture remain critical to any strategic change
in public sector. Leadership, coalitions on need for
change, stakeholder involvement, levels of accountability
and application of technology are central in delivery of
public service. To remain viable, efficient and effective
in responding to the dynamic needs of the citizens, it has
to embrace strategies that can enhance improved productivity
and the quality of services delivered. Towards this end, a
number of strategies to enhance public sector performance
are proffered for adaptation by African governments. Kenya
since the 80s had embraced political, economic and social
strategic changes influencing public sector service
delivery. The defining moments of strategic public sector
delivery mechanisms relate to Liberalization and
privatisation anchored on Sessional Paper No1 of 1986, on
Economic Management for Renewed Growth. The biggest
achievement of the amendment of the constitution in 1991 not
only democratized the political field but more importantly
the entrenchment of a fixed 2-term presidency, freedom of
information, independence of the judiciary; separation of
powers of the different arms of government and the
prominence given to the citizens, civil society in demanding
for accountability. The constitutional provisions of Rights
and obligations, equity, political representation, freedom
of information including the vetting processes of
appointments and accountability measures will go a long way
in consolidating benefits of accountability. Technology
facilitated service delivery in light of the globalizing
social, economic and cultural aspects of life call for
E-government service delivery for timely action in a fast
moving environment.
Keywords: Marketisation,
Commercialisation, Politics, Cultue, Efficiency,
Globalisation, Competitiveness, Governance, Accountability,
E-service. |
