Papers by Jacobus S Wessels
Transforming the master of public administration education for a changing world of work: A personal account of a South African case
Teaching Public Administration
Public administration managers are confronted with new and highly complex challenges emerging at ... more Public administration managers are confronted with new and highly complex challenges emerging at a rapid rate. This situation requires a reimagining of public administration education to prepare public administration managers to capably deal with these challenges. While the Master of Public Administration (MPA) is globally used as vehicle for preparing public administration managers for performing their functions, the question posed is: How can MPA programmes be transformed to prepare students for dealing with emerging complex challenges in the changing world of work? This article provides a personal exploratory account of the transformation of teaching and learning of a South African MPA case. The research design was not selected for generalising findings to the universe of MPA offerings, but for obtaining case-specific information and insights. The study draws from insider’s memory work supported by a variety of textual data such as notes, reports, official documents, curriculum d...
Research in Public Administration
Research Methods in Public Administration and Public Management, 2021
As required by constitutional principle XVI, government in South Afriea is structured at national... more As required by constitutional principle XVI, government in South Afriea is structured at national, provincial and local levels (subsequentty redesignated "spheres"). The inference to be drawn from this requirement is that each sphere of government will be a worthy one, charged with responsibilities appropriate to that sphere. The article highlights the importance of the assignment of responsibilities in relation to the country's system of government and administration, before proceeding to a critical examination of the assignment scheme that is operative in ~outh Africa at present. A theoretical model for the assignment of responsibilities to the spheres of government is presented, against the background of various shortcomings evinced by the present scheme, and in the light of wider research into the assignment question. The model making a contribution to a Public Administration approach incorporates a proposed technical language, a purpose-specific classification sch...
A draft white paper on the transform ation of the South African Public Service (South Africa 1995... more A draft white paper on the transform ation of the South African Public Service (South Africa 1995b) was published in the Government Gazette of 15 May 1995 for general inform ation and com m ent. A n im portant issue w hich it raised is the establishm ent of an Office for the M inister for Public Service and A dm inistration. W hy is it necessary to have such an Office as a separate departm ent? Two reasons are given in the draft white paper: to clarify the distinction between the roles of the Public Service Com mission and the M inister for the Public Service and A dm inistration; and to create a viable executive structure to execute government functions. A conclusion can be drawn that the roles of the Public Service Com mission and the M inister for Public Service and A dm inistration are not clear cut, and that a viable structure for executing government functions is currently non-existent. Is this, in fact, true? Is the role of the Public Service Commission indistinct? W hich ins...
The birth, life and genetics of the British Civil Service Commission - A narrative
Brits© Staatsdienskommissie ’n narratief Die Britse Staatsdienskommissie is vir alle praktiese do... more Brits© Staatsdienskommissie ’n narratief Die Britse Staatsdienskommissie is vir alle praktiese doeleindes in 1991 ontbind en met twee ander instellings vervang. Ten spyte daarvan, bestaan staatsdienskommissies nog steeds in talle Britse Statebondslande. In sommige van dié state is daar selfs grondwetiik vir die bestaan van so ’n instelling voorsiening gemaak Dit wil dus voorkom asof die onistaan en bestaan van ’n staatsdienskommissie in Brittanje, ’n invloed moes uilgeoefen het op state wat deel was van die Britse invloedsfeer. Dit het tot die vraag gelei: Wat was die vemaamste kenmerke van die Britse Staatsdienskommissie in sy bestaan van meer as 140 jaar? Hierdie ariikel is ’n narratief. Dit vertel die verhaal van die geboorte en lewe van die Britse Staatsdienskommissie ten einde daardie ‘genetiese’ kenmerke (onafhanklikheid, keuring, meriete en unifikasie) te identifiseer wat oor die jare, van geslag tot geslag, dieselfde gebly het. Dit dien as grondslag
This article focuses on the variables infl uencing case study research design in Public Administr... more This article focuses on the variables infl uencing case study research design in Public Administration and proposes a conceptual framework for an increased understanding of the concept ‘case study’. The framework has been developed through a comprehensive review of the literature, and through the application of the eight steps for a concept analysis as suggested by Walker and Avant (2013). This framework consists of seven conceptual components related to the typical choices researchers have to make in planning and doing their research in order to meet the expected outcome of the research project. Three of these components, namely the case as an instance of a larger phenomenon or unit of analysis, case selection strategies and case study designs, have been identifi ed as defi ning attributes of the concept. The conceptual framework serves as a thinking tool for an integrated and deepened understanding of the concept and for assessing and enhancing the practice of case study research ...
Truth, trust and integrity are essential to research at higher education institutions. These inst... more Truth, trust and integrity are essential to research at higher education institutions. These institutions have accordingly adopted several policies to foster research integrity. This article explores the likelihood that relevant policies at a selected institution of higher education foster research integrity. The qualitative, single exploratory case study commences with a review of scholarly literature and results in a conceptual model used for a directed content analysis of relevant institutional policies. The findings indicate that these policies do complement each other in fostering research integrity. Further research will be necessary to establish whether policies indeed contribute to responsible researcher conduct.
SAIPA-Tydskrif: Doel, redaksionale struktuur en beleid, inhoud en formaat
Moontlike gevolge van Suid-Afrikaanse Staatsamptenare se negatiewe toekomsverwagting
It is safe to assume that research by masters and doctoral students in Public Administration is m... more It is safe to assume that research by masters and doctoral students in Public Administration is meant to contribute to meeting the need for scholarly knowledge and insights by public administration practitioners. It therefore makes sense to ask whether dissertation and thesis research by South African postgraduate students in Public Administration focus on the issues that are of real importance. This article reports on an analysis of information available on the Nexus database of the (South African) National Research Foundation (NRF) about completed research for masters dissertations and doctoral theses in Public Administration from 2000 to 2005. The analysis shows that the profile of completed South African masters and doctoral research in Public Administration is dominated by Stellenbosch University and the University of the Western Cape, which are together responsible for 38.3% of the total research output. Research masters degrees currently form the bulk (52.63%) of postgraduate...
Transforming the curriculum for Public Administration at Unisa
Hierdie artikel handel oor die vraag of die Publieke Administrasie-diskoers 'n kritiese besin... more Hierdie artikel handel oor die vraag of die Publieke Administrasie-diskoers 'n kritiese besinning oor die tegniese apparaat en tegniese aktiwiteite insluit in soverre dit publieke administrasie behels. 'n Oorsig van die teenwoordigheid van tegnologie in die ontwikkeling van Publieke Administrasie in Europa, Brittanje en die Verenigde State van Amerika, toon aan dat Publieke Administrasie as 'n aparte vak ontstaan het as gevolg van 'n groeiende behoefte aan 'n korpus van tegnieke vir die uitvoering van openbare funksies. Trouens, die vak Publieke Administrasie beliggaam die tegnologie vir publieke administrasie. Publieke Administrasie moet dus in die toepassingskonteks die tegnieke wat relevant is vir die lewering van openbare dienste bestudeer. Die insluiting van 'n studie van die tegnieke wat verband hou met die gebruik van die rekenaar in publieke administrasie is dus 'n logiese gevolg van Publieke Administrasie, wat die tegnologie is van 'n immer v...
The pay-as-you-go pension scheme: a realistic option for public servants? G overnment pension fun... more The pay-as-you-go pension scheme: a realistic option for public servants? G overnment pension funds have for some years been time and again in the news. It is especially the level of funding of these pension funds that gives rise to concern. One of the suggested solutions is the implementation of a pay-asyou-go pension scheme, in this article the pro's and con's of the pay-as-you-go approach in general, and for South Africa in particular, are discussed. The author draws the conclusion that the pay-as-you-go approach is not a realistic solution to the pension problems of the South African Public Service.
196. (1) There is a single Public Service commission for the Republic to promote the values and p... more 196. (1) There is a single Public Service commission for the Republic to promote the values and principles of public administration in the public service. (2) The Commission is independent and must be impartial and regulated by national legislation. (3) Each of the provinces may nominate a person to be appointed to the Commission. (4) Members of the Commission nominated by provinces may exercise the powers and perform the functions of the Commission in their provinces, as prescribed by national legislation. (5) The Commission is accountable to the National Assembly. (Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996)
Implications of the South African higher education qualifications framework for the Master of Public Administration
Various governments, for example those of the United States of America, Canada, Finland and Franc... more Various governments, for example those of the United States of America, Canada, Finland and France are already making use of Web 2.0 technology (social websites such as blogs, wikis, Twitter, Facebook and “second life”’) to interact and communicate with citizens. The aim of this article is to explore the use of Web 2.0 technology by South African government institutions. Through a review of scholarly literature and internet sources a general overview of the development of information technology is given, examples of selected governments that are already making use of Web 2.0 technology are assessed, and the current use of information technology in South Africa is reviewed. This article has shown Web 2.0 to be an application with the potential to change the way citizens interact with government, governments provide information to citizens and include citizens in government processes and debates.
Teaching Public Administration, 2019
The emerging complex challenges confronting public administration (PA) leaders are used as reason... more The emerging complex challenges confronting public administration (PA) leaders are used as reasons for rethinking the quality of PA education throughout the world. However, it is not clear what PA scholars mean when they use the word ‘challenge’ when rethinking the curricula of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) programmes globally. The questions this study set to answer were: what are the defining characteristics of the concept corresponding to those objects referred to as ‘challenges’ for MPA graduates to meet, and what are their implications for MPA curriculum standards? In an effort to answer these questions, a concept analysis of the concept ‘challenge’ within the context of PA and MPA curricula was done. For this purpose, three scholarly journals, as well as three operational documents, were purposefully selected for qualitative content analysis. The concept analysis showed that ‘challenge’ within the context of the MPA curriculum is characterised by being a PA task, it...
Transformation of the accounting profession
Meditari Accountancy Research, 2019
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report on the reflective identity work of a white female c... more PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report on the reflective identity work of a white female chartered accountant, scholar and academic manager, regarding the intersectional transformations of gender and race as well as leadership within the South African accounting profession over four decades.Design/methodology/approachThe theoretical lens of intersectionality is applied through an autoethnographic approach. Multiple layers of personal experiences and observations are interpreted through identity work of leadership provided and received. Autoethnographic data are substantiated and contextualised through the researchers’ sense-making, official and scholarly sources.FindingsSustainable transformation of the accounting profession requires a deepened understanding of the interconnections of the personal, structural and systemic areas within unique contexts. Leadership, as provided and received, must be included within the intersectional orientations. Intersectional orientations bec...
Southern African Business Review, 2019
This article reports on a study comparing three recordings (snapshots) of the provision of busine... more This article reports on a study comparing three recordings (snapshots) of the provision of business ethics education in MBA curricula at South African business schools. The purpose of the study was to determine whether the occurrence of business ethics education in South African MBA programmes increased between 2003 and 2011 and between 2011 and 2016. A review of the relevant scholarly literature has shown that, although business education can be included in MBA curricula through its integration in the various modules of the programme, or through dedicated modules for business ethics, both these ways of inclusion can be regarded as necessary conditions for meaningful inclusion. This study focused only on the inclusion of dedicated business ethics modules. A directed content analysis was done of reports of the Council on Higher Education as well as MBA and MBL curricula documents of business schools. The comparison of the three snapshots revealed a decline between 2003 and 2011, as w...
Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe, 2018
Hierdie artikel belig die literatuur oor die gaping tussen wetenskaplike getuienis en beleid binn... more Hierdie artikel belig die literatuur oor die gaping tussen wetenskaplike getuienis en beleid binne die konteks van bewysgebaseerde of, soos ons dit gaan noem, navorsingsgesteunde beleid vanuit die studie van ʼn klassieke geval in Suid-Afrika, naamlik die sogenaamde De Lange-verslag na die onderwys van 1981. Ons vrae is: tot watter mate het die betrokke verslag wel gedien as grondslag vir die opdraggewer, naamlik die regering van die dag, se daaropvolgende beleid oor onderwys, en hoe kan die verhouding tussen die opdraggewer en agent verstaan word? Die De Lange-verslag en die daaropvolgende prosesse van beleidsformulering word in hierdie artikel gebruik as ʼn geval om die diskoers oor navorsingsgesteunde beleid te beoordeel. Die verslag wat in 1981 verskyn het, is ons fokus. Ons ontleding van hierdie dokument is aangevul met insigte vanuit sekondêre bronne wat oor die Raad vir Geesteswetenskaplike Navorsing (RGN)-ondersoek na die onderwys gepubliseer is, asook deur persoonlike onderhou...
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Papers by Jacobus S Wessels