A comprehensive human resource recruitment and selection model : the case of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development

Abstract

The present research investigated the challenges and problems facing the public sector institutions regarding the processes, procedures, practices, steps and methods used for human resource recruitment and selection. The South African government outlawed unfair discrimination to promote equality and equity in the labour force. This state of affairs has direct implications for employment practices such as recruitment and selection in the public service. Without a comprehensive recruitment and selection model, public service departments could contravene legislative requirements. As a result, these public service departments then may not succeed in attracting and appointing the best candidates for vacant positions. The intension of this study was to determine the extent to which functions of human resource management (HRM) reflect the spirit and stipulations of the statutory and regulatory framework. These functions include job analysis, job evaluation, job design, job profiles, and human resource planning, as well as induction and orientation. The aim is further to verify to what extent these functions influence recruitment and selection practices. A qualitative research design was used to construct a comprehensive human resource recruitment and selection model. This model is the result of a thorough analysis of comparative recruitment and selection theories, approaches, international best practice, and of existing models. A case study was undertaken within the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJ&CD). Data was collected by using a questionnaire from a representative sample. The target population comprised senior and middle managers from the National Office in Pretoria and North West Province responsible for human resource functions. They are divided into five sub-clusters. Based on the core findings of this research it was established that the DOJ&CD experiences inefficiencies as far as the following aspects of human resource management are concerned: alignment, development and implementation of appropriate human resource strategies, systems, processes, procedures and methods. This also includes the approaches for recruitment and selection. The DOJ&CD mainly utilises traditional processes of recruitment and selection that do not adequately reflect international best practice and, furthermore, do not adhere to all the stipulations of the myriad forms of legislation that are governing human resources in the public service. A comprehensive model for recruitment and selection was thus of the utmost importance to guide the Department in its recruitment and selection endeavours. The model that is designed as the main contribution of this research is aimed at addressing these challenges. The comprehensive model is intended to guide the DOJ&CD‟s human resource practitioners on recruitment and selection. This is done by means of a processmap and a flow-chart approach. Based on the literature review and empirical study, best practice is proposed that can be associated with each phase or step in the recruitment and selection process. The criteria for the development of the model was based on the theoretical relationship among elements and variables such as strategy, structure, job analysis, job description, job specification and job evaluations, and how these elements are linked to recruitment and selection processes. Such a comprehensive human resource recruitment and selection model can assist practitioners to align all human resource activities and functions within public service departments. This will help to realise their organisational objectives and to operationalise their strategic imperatives successfully.