An analysis of the design factors of work procedures: implications for local government administration in South Africa
| Author | Sam Olutuase,Bingwen Yan,Ogochukwu Iruoma Nzewi |
| Published date | 01 March 2022 |
| Date | 01 March 2022 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0020852319868829 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Article
An analysis of the
design factors of work
procedures: implications
for local government
administration in
South Africa
Ogochukwu Iruoma Nzewi
University of Fort Hare, South Africa
Bingwen Yan
Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa
Sam Olutuase
University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Abstract
Work design and, in particular, work procedures have been a focus of much research in
organisational development studies. However, their relevance and practice are rarely
researched in public administration. This article presents an analysis of important design
factors to be considered in the development of work procedures. The relevance of this
study in the context of a developmental local government in South Africa is critical at a
time when many municipalities are grappling with institutionalising ser vice delivery
administrative processes for the effective delivery of basic services. A quantitative
research approach using a cross-sectional survey design involved 250 employees
from three municipalities in South Africa. Structural equation modelling was used to
determine the impact of critical factors on the design of work procedures for local
municipalities. The study finds that out of the eight critical factors tested, the partic-
ipation of local government employees in the development of work procedures and an
Corresponding author:
Bingwen Yan,Cape Peninsula University of Technology – Bellville Campus, Room 1.18, Mechanical Engineering
Building, Bellville, 7535, South Africa.
Email: yanb@cput.ac.za
International Review of Administrative
Sciences
!The Author(s) 2019
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DOI: 10.1177/0020852319868829
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2022, Vol. 88(1) 6–25
effective municipal communication apparatus are significantly associated with the design
of work procedures. We conclude that the design of work procedures should entail
employee participation engendered through communication that freely and openly
allows all stakeholders to share a common vision for service delivery. The findings
further provide a theoretically underpinned framework as regards setting policy for
achieving effective work procedures in similar local government contexts across the
developing world.
Points for practitioners
While leadership and accountability, continuous improvement, shared vision, effective
communication, and organisational policy are important factors to consider, employee
participation is the most critical factor that affects the design and utilisation of work
procedures in local municipalities. Policymakers/practitioners must seek empiric al evi-
dence as a basis for determining design considerations for effective work procedure
design and redesign. This article provides a theoretically underpinned framework as
regards setting policy for achieving effective work procedures in local municipalities.
Keywords
communication, employee participation, local government, organisational policy,
work procedures
Introduction
Extant literature identifies important design considerations for the development of
work procedures (WPs) in organisations (Antonsen et al., 2008; Marques et al.,
2015; Squires et al., 2007). Although these studies present important design factors
to be considered by WP designers, few studies have examined which of these
factors, measured individually and against each other, have greater significance
for WP design. Thus, this study modelled these factors together to test their levels
of significance for organisational design in general and WP design in particular. To
this end, the objectives of the study are to:
•determine which of the critical factors significantly impact on the design of
WPs; and
•empirically ascertain the area of priorities as regards setting policy for improv-
ing the design of WPs.
First, the study used discourse analysis of the extant literature to identify and
analyse factors that are presented as integral to WP design. Second, a conceptual
model representing these factors was tested using structural equation modelling
(SEM) to determine which constructs are significant and how these elements work
7
Nzewi et al.
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