Local Government Management 2 Page 5 of 5 June 1999

Local Government Management 2 Page 1 of 5 June 1999 ______

SYLLABUS

Local Government Management 2

PURPOSE :

Local Government Managers are faced with challenges of integrating budgets, meeting the basic needs of communities, and managing scarce resources and finances. Effective management in Local Government must therefor be based on an understanding of the special purposes, conditions and tasks of Local Government managers.

An increasing number of organisations and agencies from other areas of the public -, private - and voluntary sectors are taking part in the government of their localities. This inter - dependence shows a tendency of growing in complexity. The implication of this on adequate management skills and -techniques, competencies, style and approach are enormous.

The purpose of Local Government Management II is to discuss the functions of managers in local government and to contextualise the skills necessary for effective execution of same. Furthermore, to indicate how it impacts on the management of limited and scarce resources. resources

OBJECTIVES :

Students should be able to :

 Integrate the various management functions into a cohesive strategy for effective and efficient service delivery.

 Draw a business plan for a local authority taking into account the opportunities and threats facing the Local Authority and the strengths and weaknesses it possesses to help in exploiting the opportunities and reducing the threats.

 Contextualise the specialist skills required of local government managers in managing resources for service delivery.

 Give an overview of the various techniques that can be utilised to impact positively on the implementation of policy locally.

 Differentiate between the resources that influence local government service rendering.

 Comprehend the interdependency of the various resources as a prerequisite for effective and efficient local government management. Local Government Management 2 Page 2 of 5 June 1999 ______

 Indicate the relevance and value of Information Management for local authorities.

 Develop an integrated strategy for managing natural resources and the environment.

TEXTBOOK : To be advised. SECTION 1 : MANAGING LOCAL GOVERNMENT (60%)

1 MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT MANAGERS

1.1 Introduction to management 1.2 Planning  Elements of planning  Levels of planning  Types of planning  Aids to planning  Barriers to planning  Advantages of planning  Hierarchy of Policy  Essential Elements of Policy  Factors and Process of Planning  Drawing business plans

1.1 Organising  Determination of Needs  Structural - Functional Analysis  Organisational Dynamics  Organisational Decline  Departmentation, specialisation and division of work  Span of control  Line vs. staff  Unity of command  Co-ordination  Centralisation and decentralisation

1.2 Leading  Power and leadership  Approaches to leadership  Types of leadership  Qualities of an effective leader  Leadership and management  motivation and leadership functions  Directing as leadership function  Work procedures  Suggesting schemes Local Government Management 2 Page 3 of 5 June 1999 ______ Counseling

1.3 Control  Work Analysis  Time and Motion Studies  Time Management  Validity and Legitimacy of Procedure  Reviewing and Updating Procedure  Compliance with Procedures  Reporting System  Quantity and Quality Standards  Measuring Performance  Evaluation of Deviations  Corrective Measures  External and Internal Control Measures  Accountability

2 SELECTED MANAGEMENT SKILLS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT

1.1 Decision making  Process of decision making  Decision making models  Techniques for effective decision making

1.2 Communication  model for effective communication  internal and external communication  methods of communication  barriers to effective communication

1.3 Negotiation  approaches to negotiation  process of negotiation  physical environment and creation of a negotiating climate  strategies and tactics for negotiation  feedback and evaluation

1.4 Conflict  causes of conflict  forms of conflict  the conflict process  conflict management techniques

1.5 Management of change  change as part of transformation  the local government manager as change agent Local Government Management 2 Page 4 of 5 June 1999 ______ effective local government transformation  change management process  possible obstacles to change  focus areas for management of change

1.6 Motivation of followers

3 OVERVIEW TO MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR EFFECTIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

3.1 Policy analysis 3.2 Theoretical forecasting techniques 3.3 Strategic management 3.4 Total Quality management 3.5 Organisational development 3.6 Management information systems

SECTION 2 : RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT (40%)

4 OVERVIEW OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTEXT.

4.1 Human Resources 4.2 Financial resources 4.3 Natural resources 4.4 Management information systems 4.5 Time as a resource

5 TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

5.1 Strategic management issues  Strategic role of information  Role of I.T.  Implications for Information Systems (IS)  Cost of Information, I.S. + I.T.

5.2 Applications of I.T.  Latest trends in I.T.and its application  Information as strategic resource  Information provides competitive advantage  Policy issues of restructuring

5.3 Information systems projects  Strategic aspects  Risk drivers  Critical success factors Local Government Management 2 Page 5 of 5 June 1999 ______ Portfolio approach to project management

5.4 Information resource management

5.5 Inter organisations systems  Electronic Data Interchange  Strategic considerations

5.6 Strategic I.S. planning  Contents of plan  Planning process

5.7 Information asset protection  Exposures  Roles

5.8 I.T. staffing issues

5.9 External issues

6. MANAGING NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT

6.1 Physical Planning and development legislation 6.2 Urbanisation and Community Development 6.3 Urban development and planning 6.4 Sustainable development 6.5 Environmental management

EXAMINATION :

The examination comprises one three hour paper. Questions are structured in such a manner to give as much coverage of the syllabus as possible. The paper consists of four compulsory questions each counting 25 marks, ranging from short questions (5-8 marks) to long questions (25 marks). Both recall and application of knowledge will be examined.