Performance Monitoring and Evaluation in Botswana’s Public Service: Achievements and Challenges

Dorothy Mpabanga

doi:10.4102/apsdpr.v4i1.106

Abstract

The paper aims to explore the implementation of performance monitoring and evaluation tools used in Botswana’s public service. The paper also identifies achievements and challenges of implementing performance monitoring and evaluation system and suggests ways for improvement. This paper uses secondary data sources. The paper reveals lack of performance monitoring and evaluation skills, poor supervision, poor conditions of service and a poor work ethic as some of the factors contributing to ineffective use of performance monitoring and evaluation tools in the service. Leadership commitment and support, benchmarking reforms, training and education, developed administrative and governance structures as well as well-defined public policy and program formulation and implementation processes are some of the success factors to enhanced performance management and evaluation systems in Botswana. The paper argues for adoption of a developmental-led model in order to enhance existing performance monitoring and evaluation system that would improve implementation of government policies and programs. Botswana has been striving to excel in service delivery through performance monitoring and evaluation oriented reforms.

Highlights

Performance monitoring and evaluation tools have been viewed as one of the key measures designed and adopted to enhance performance of individuals, teams and the organisation in general (Armstrong 2009)
One of the major research questions is firstly to explore the effectiveness of performance monitoring and appraisal tools, secondly to identify problems or challenges associated with the application of performance monitoring and appraisal methods, thirdly to assess success factors and lastly to suggest ways or approaches to improve the existing performance monitoring and appraisal methods in Botswana’s public service
Thurston Jr. & McNall (2010) assert that performance appraisal can be founded on the conceptual framework associated with the organisational justice theory where justice perceptions related to attitudes and behaviour that affect reaction to appraisal ratings

Summary

Introduction

Performance monitoring and evaluation tools have been viewed as one of the key measures designed and adopted to enhance performance of individuals, teams and the organisation in general (Armstrong 2009). The Botswana government has not been left behind in attempts to reform and re-invent the public service (Hope, 1995; Republic of Botswana, 2003). It is against this background that this article explores performance monitoring and evaluation systems in Botswana’s public service, identifies achievements and success factors, examines appraisal problems and suggest approaches to improve the existing performance review process. One of the major research questions is firstly to explore the effectiveness of performance monitoring and appraisal tools, secondly to identify problems or challenges associated with the application of performance monitoring and appraisal methods, thirdly to assess success factors and lastly to suggest ways or approaches to improve the existing performance monitoring and appraisal methods in Botswana’s public service. The last section will suggest new approaches to enhance existing performance monitoring and evaluation system in Botswana’s public service

Methods

Results

Conclusion