Development of an integrated operating framework for strategy execution in Gauteng municipalities

Abstract

The establishment of a new democracy has created high expectations amongst all the different communities of South Africa. The demand for basic essential services by the previously disadvantaged communities has increased drastically, whilst at the same time, communities from developed areas are expecting and demanding an acceptable level of maintenance and services in their respective areas. Municipalities are in serious distress with regular service delivery protests, huge service delivery and infrastructure backlog challenges (e.g. electricity, roads, housing, water, sanitation, and more), poor financial management and the inability to execute approved strategies, plans and programs. This study focused on the municipalities in the Gauteng Province of South Africa and the main objective was to answer the research problem: “What prevents Gauteng municipalities to successfully execute its strategies and what can be done to address the situation?” The research objectives were firstly, to review the literature and determine the key enablers required for successful strategy execution; secondly, to analyse the findings of the empirical study and to make recommendations towards the improvement of strategy execution within Gauteng municipalities. The third and final objective was to develop an integrated operating framework for strategy execution in Gauteng municipalities. The study concluded by making recommendations and developing an integrated operating framework for municipalities which is based on the key enablers required to execute a municipality’s strategy successfully and produce effective services and customer satisfaction. The key enablers are: leadership and management; organisation, people and skills; systems and technology; policies, processes and procedures; resources and budgeting; and performance management.