A resource allocation model to support efficient air quality management in South Africa

U Govender,J Kruger

doi:10.5784/25-1-72

Abstract

Research into management interventions that create the required enabling environment for growth and development in South Africa are both timely and appropriate. In the research reported in this paper, the authors investigated the level of efficiency of the Air Quality Units within the three spheres of government viz. National, Provincial, and Local Departments of Environmental Management in South Africa, with the view to develop a resource allocation model. The inputs to the model were calculated from the actual man-hours spent on twelve selected activities relating to project management, knowledge management and change management. The outputs assessed were aligned to the requirements of the mandates of these Departments. Several models were explored using multiple regressions and stepwise techniques. The model that best explained the efficiency of the organisations from the input data was selected. Logistic regression analysis was identified as the most appropriate tool. This model is used to predict the required resources per Air Quality Unit in the different spheres of government in an attempt at supporting and empowering the air quality regime to achieve improved output efficiency.

Highlights

The South African government departments are widely praised for having the most innovative and progressive legislature, policies, and programmes in the world
The model allows for predicting the classification of the Air Quality Units as either less than 50% or greater than and equal to 50% efficient
The two variables, resources allocated to other activities and the category allocation for knowledge management i.e. between 10–20% of resources allocated to knowledge management are the only two inputs which contribute to the prediction of the Air Quality Units’ output efficiency

Summary

Introduction

The South African government departments are widely praised for having the most innovative and progressive legislature, policies, and programmes in the world. Efficient implementation of policies and strategies require that organisations allocate resources to activities that support project management, change management, and knowledge management practices (Rosacker, 2005; Batley, 2005). A literature search on project management, change management and knowledge management practices in South African Government Departments revealed that these activities are. Streit and Guzman (1995) claimed that to be efficient, government departments must have a good understanding of the resources allocated to manage projects, deal with collaboration initiatives, address resistance to change and implement air quality management strategies. The term “resources” referred to peoples’ time and the departments’ budgets, which is similar to the approach in this study. Davenport and Marchand (2000) added that organisations which focus on knowledge management create an environment that facilitates the creation of knowledge, support the way people share and apply it, and improves the organisations’ ability to manage change

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Discussion

Conclusion