http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1255 2026-04-13T12:22:27Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1569 The Nexus between Public Service and Research, Development and Innovation in South Africa: A public reform strategy Mokgokong, MJ; Mukonza, RM The paper explores the interconnectedness between public service and research, development and innovation (R, D&I) from a conceptual point of view. The ideology of public administration as what government can properly and successfully do and how it can execute its responsibilities with the utmost possible efficiency and effectiveness in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution is interrogated. Attention is drawn to prospects of government investing in research, development and innovation as a mechanism to firstly, take evidence based policy decisions; secondly, provide relevant goods and services informed by empirical evidence, thirdly accelerate efficiency in service provision and lastly improve on monitoring and evaluation as far as the provision of public goods and services is concerned as well as improving the delivery of services in the future. The article is anchored on the Public Management Reform Theory which advocates for an improved public sector’s administrative structures and operations. This theory promotes a better and modernised public service that delivers basic services in an effective and efficient manner. The theory points out to a paradigm shift from how the public sector is traditionally perceived into a future of the sector as a modernised sector that is market friendly, lean, decentralized and customer friendly. The methodology adopted includes a desktop research and document analysis. The researchers used primary and secondary scholarly literature from the public domain to substantiate arguments advanced in this article. Based on the preliminary literature review on the phenomenon, studies have shown that investment in research, development and innovation (R, D&I) leads to growth and development; hence governments such as the United States and China have created knowledge-based-economies by increasing rate of academic and public research advances within governments business. The outcomes of the preliminary literature posit that linkages amongst research, development and innovation in the public sector space are worth exploring to better the mandate of governments; this is evidently a global trend which differs from country to country. Moreover, evidence suggests that governments that have advocated for and adopted investment in R, D&I are doing well on their governmental mandates. The article contributes to the body of knowledge, by demonstrating how R, D& I can be mechanisms for public sector reform. Arguably, governments should be innovative in their attempt to reform the public service sector by ensuring meaningful synergies between public service and knowledge generating institutions 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1568 Research and Development Collaborations Within the Context of a South African Developmental State Mokgokong, Madikana J; Mukonza, Ricky M The article explores the significance of research and development (R&D) collaborations and partnerships between government and academia as a strategy to be employed in shaping the developmental agenda in states. The authors provide both a conceptual view and findings from primary data which interrogated the notion that a ‘research community’ should be anchored on its collaborative efforts and continuously strive for partnership creations with the aim of transforming societies and serving the public. An observation is made on the prospects of South Africa’s provincial governments and academia forging collaborations and partnerships with an open approach and common goals in order for the collaborations to have a purposeful meaning to the public. The current state of affairs in South Africa as alluded to in the National Development Plan (NDP) warrants for a developmental agenda that is dominated by knowledge production, dissemination and its uptake thereof. This context therefore enjoins different role players such as government and academia/research institutions and the private sector to work together and solve developmental problems such as poverty, inequality, unemployment and service delivery challenges. It is through initiatives such as R&D collaborations and partnerships that these aforementioned challenges can be curbed; however, this requires these sectors to do things differently. The Public Management Reform Theory provided the theoretical framework in this article as it advocates for an improved public sector’s administrative structures, coordination, management and operations. In addition, this theory envisages a better and modernized public service that delivers services in an effective and efficient manner. The theory points out to a paradigm shift in terms of how the public sector is traditionally perceived to one that is modernized, decentralized, customer friendly and economically and socially reformed. The methodology adopted in this article includes a qualitative research method, desktop research and document analysis. There is substantial primary data and secondary literature in the public domain that was used to substantiate arguments advanced in this article. It should be noted that over the years, there has been on-going academic conversations on research collaborations between academia and the public sector as a prerequisite for socio-economic development; therefore, this article is further contributing to this debate 2024-06-17T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1452 Gerontocracy and the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the Public Sector Amid the Covid-19 Pandemic A Perennial Problem Mudau, Joseph; Mokgokong, Madikana Jackinah; Khanya, Mmatshepo Phuti The COVID-19 outbreak has affected a proliferation of countries in an unimaginable way and South Africa is no exception. This outbreak demands a shift in knowledge, power and governance – particularly in how the public sector delivers public goods and services. The pandemic exposed the reluctance of aging government officials to adopt new ways of governance aimed at expediting service delivery. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced governments across the spectrum to introduce policies, adaptations, and innovations to meet the demands brought about by the pandemic. Government departments are required to be dynamic in response to the changing needs of the citizenry. Its failure reaffirms the decline in the running of the affairs of the state. The public sector is designed to be a fruitful agent of change and development in society. To remain as such, it is pivotal that it adapts to the dynamic environment that presents unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic and the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). The paper uses a literary analysis approach to explore the readiness of aging public servants in embracing the 4IR. The context of its consideration is the South African public sector amid the COVID-19 pandemic period. A theoretical framework on the phenomenon is explored. Summation and recommendations are provided. 2021-12-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1362 Rfelecting on the MDGs and Making Sense of the Post-2015 Development Agenda Higgins, Kate The report seeks to provide a comprehensive but manageable tour d'horizon of the post 2015 agenda. Specifically, it assembles and synthesizes and burgeoning MDG and post-2015 literature to reflect on the MDGs and identify the processes, issues and architecture, and emerging challenges that are framing and influencing the post 2015 agenda. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z