Resumen

KANYANGALE, M  y  DYASI, N. Misaligned Implementation: A case of the Municipal Water Services of a District Municipality in South Africa. JCMAN [online]. 2018, vol.15, n.1, pp.580-604. ISSN 1815-7440.

The use of a decentralised organisational architecture to deliver water services in a district municipality is appealing to managers, but also complex. This study explores how a District Municipality implemented the provision of decentralised water services through eight Local Municipalities in South Africa. Seven area managers based in Local Municipalities were selected as participants using purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded. Meaningful patterns reflecting the implementation of each component of the McKinsey 7-S model were delineated using thematic analysis. The study found that internal alignment of a sound structure, style, and strategy supported the implementation of the provision of decentralised water services. However, poor alignment between a sound structure and skills, systems not supportive of devolved structure, staff, and a culture of poor performance management, largely marred this implementation. In addition, the same vehicle used to attract staff inadvertently created divisions - and sustained poor alignment of skills with strategy. Given the above, successful implementation of decentralised water services' provision requires managers who are equipped to reinforce systemic alignment at the nexus of internal-external-temporal alignment. This has implications for managing internal alignment and inter-organisational effects to reinforce one another in a district municipality.

Palabras clave : Decentralised water services; internal alignment and systemic implementation.

        · texto en Inglés     · Inglés ( pdf )