Evaluation of middle management development program within the South African Polic Service

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The research focused on the development of middle managers within the South African Police Services in the Republic of South Africa. Management development and the current issues within the field of management development are discussed. Competencies and competency requirements for managers and specifically competency requirements for managers within a government sphere provide the background for the evaluation of the Middle Management Learning Programme (MMLP). This program is offered by the South African Police Services to their employees on middle management level. The legislative environment in which development take place within South Africa establish an understanding of the kind of issues the South African Police Service deals with when developing their middle management corps. An overview of the Acts, policies and guidelines is provided followed by the discussion of the program content of the Middle Management Learning Programme. The research makes use of a mixed method methodology through using both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The research is evaluative in nature and is evaluating the competencies taught in the programme against key competencies such as the American Management Association’s (AMA) competency model and police management competencies. A questionnaire was developed and completed by members within the South African Police Service who attended the Middle Management Learning Program over a three year period (2011-2013). This questionnaire was divided into 4 sections with section 1 covering biographical information, section 2 focused on Kirkpatrick’s (1959) four levels typology on training interventions, section three is based on The AMA competency model and the last section is based on police management competencies. The research results of the questionnaire are presented graphically in the form of histograms and tables. In competencies such as action orientation, time management, mental flexibility and agility, critical and analytical thinking, and creative thinking the research findings show that there is room for improvement on these key competencies. Recommendation is made based on these results for further development of the programme. The final chapter also makes recommendations regarding the integration of development programs into a structured framework and a potential model on development of managers within the SAPS is suggested.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsing is op die ontwikkeling van middelvlakbestuurders in die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD) in die Republiek van Suid-Afrika gefokus. Bestuursontwikkeling en die huidige kwessies binne die terrein van bestuursontwikkeling word bespreek. Bevoegdheid en bevoegdheidsvereistes vir bestuurders, en spesifiek bevoegdheidsvereistes vir bestuurders binne ‘n regeringsfeer, dien as agtergrond vir die evaluasie/beoordeling van die Middelvlakbestuur Leerprogram. Dié program word deur die SAPD op middelbestuursvlak vir sy werknemers aangebied. Die wetgewende omgewing waarin ontwikkeling binne Suid- Afrika plaasvind, vestig begrip vir die soort kwessies wat die SAPD hanteer wanneer hy sy middelvlakbestuurskorps ontwikkel. ‘n Oorsig van die wette, beleide en riglyne word verskaf gevolg deur ‘n bespreking van die programinhoud van die Middelvlakbestuur Leerprogram. Die navorsing maak gebruik van ‘n gemengde-metode metodologie deur kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe navorsingsmetodes aan te wend. Die navorsing is evaluerend van aard en meet die bevoegdhede wat in die program oorgedra word teen sleutel-bevoegdhede soos die bevoegdheidsmodel en polisiebestuursbevoegdhede van die Amerikaanse Bestuursvereniging (AMA). ‘n Vraelys is ontwikkel en deur lede binne die SAPD voltooi wat die Middelvlakbestuur Leerprogram (MMLP) oor ‘n tydperk van drie jaar (2011-2013) meegemaak het. Dié vraelys is in vier seksies verdeel met seksie 1 wat biografiese inligting dek, seksie 2 wat fokus op Kirkpatrick (1959) se vier vlakke tipologie rakende opleidingintervensies, seksie 3 wat op die AMAbevoegdheidsmodel gebaseer is en die laaste seksie wat gerig is op polisiebestuursbevoegdhede. Die navorsingsresultate van die vraelys word grafies in die vorm van histogramme en tafels aangebied. Wat bevoegdhede soos aksie-oriëntasie, tydsbestuur, geestelike buigbaarheid en vlugheid, kritiese en analitiese denke en kreatiewe denke betref, toon die navorsingsbevindings dat daar ruimte vir verbetering ten opsigte van hierdie sleutel-bevoegdhede bestaan. Aanbevelings vir verdere ontwikkeling van die program word op grond van die vermelde resultate gedoen. In die slothoofstuk word ook aanbevelings gedoen rakende die samevoeging van ontwikkelingsprogramme in ‘n gestruktueerde raamwerk en ‘n potensiële model vir die ontwikkeling van bestuurders binne die SAPD word ook voorgestel