Thabang Mpande - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Thabang Mpande

These research emperically investigated and reviwed the current project monitoring mechanisms wit... more These research emperically investigated and reviwed the current project monitoring mechanisms within the Safety and Security SETA (SASSETA) with the view of improving project implementation and good governance.To achieve this goal, SASSETA as one of the 21 SETAs that were established as part of the goverment's HRDSSA1 strategy was selected to allow for the application of quantitative research approach.Questionnaires structured in a likert scale format and structured interviwes were used as data gathering techniques. A stratified sampling method was employed in persuit of this study and thirty employees were chosen to participate as well as service providers employed by the SETA.
The research aims to offer the best options in monitoring and evaluation systems which will ensure that SETAs funding is accounted for. It is hoped that this research will lead to a SETA-wide monitoring and evaluation framework which will be adopted by the DHET and all beneficiaries of SETA Discretionary Grant funding which includes employers, trade unions, Community Based organisations, unemployed and employed leaners, and all present and future stakeholders which will hopefuly assist in improving the Global Competitiveness Rating of South Africa.
The findings of the study indicates that a majority of participants agreed that that there is a need to have an intitunialised monitoring and avaluation framework that will ensure that fund utilised by the SETA are accounted for. Nonetheless the study confirmed that good governance and project implementation are two key proponets in service delivery which are intertwined and the failure to adhere to Treasury regulations will further fuel innective qualitiy service provision that is so ever prevalent within the public sector.
In light of these challenges, it is reccomended that effective and efficient financial allocation be considered a priority as well as continous spending on Monitoring anf Evaluation both on the job and off training.
There is an unanimous agreement among partcitpants that skills development has a key role to play in addresing the triple challenges in South Africa of unemployement, poverty and inequality as well as urgent need to accelerate growth and equity in the context of underperfoming economy within a fragile global economy. In addition a fair allocation of financial and non-financial resources tailored towards improvement of the M&E and project implementation should be highly observed.

Thesis Chapters by Thabang Mpande

ABSTRACT This research empirically investigated the project monitoring mechanisms within the Safe... more ABSTRACT
This research empirically investigated the project monitoring mechanisms within the Safety and Security SETA (SASSETA) with the view of improving project implementation and good governance. Several studies have been carried out with the aim of determining critical success factors (CSF) which contribute to project success. The analysis of these studies shows a particular pattern of events with some CSFs appearing consistently in a number of studies. One such factor is the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) function. Learning programmes within the SASSETA is largely ran as projects. It is therefore true that monitoring and evaluation of those projects can ensure that projects can be completed is a structured fashion – on time, on budget, within scope and producing expected results. However, this has not been the case as SASSETA programmes and its monitoring and evaluation activities are still not integrated organisation-wide, which affects the manner in which programs are implemented. SASSETA has consequently challenged and inspired the study to share solutions and to achieve this goal, as one of the 21 SETAs that were established as part of the government’s HRDSSA strategy, it selected to allow for the application of quantitative research approach.
Using a qualitative methodology, Questionnaires and structured interviews were used as data gathering techniques. A stratified sampling method was employed in pursuit of this study and thirty employees were chosen to participate as well as service providers employed by the SETA.
The researcher used literature review approach to analyse the factors related to M&E influencing project success and identified four main categories which are: Strengths of M&E team, monitoring approach adopted, political influence and project lifecycle. Exploring the role of M&E and effective project implementation in project success was the primary objective of the research.
The findings of the study indicates that a majority of participants agreed that that there is a need to have an formalised monitoring and evaluation framework within SASSETA that will ensure that public finances utilised by the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) are accounted for. Nonetheless, the study confirmed that good governance and project implementation are two key proponents in service delivery that are intertwined. The failure to adhere to Treasury regulations and other external accountable institutions' requirements will further fuel inactive quality service delivery provision that is so ever prevalent within the public sector. In light of these challenges, it is recommended that effective and efficient financial allocation should be considered as a priority, this as well as continuous spending on Monitoring and Evaluation both on the job and off training.
There is a unanimous agreement among participants that skills development has a key role to play in order to address the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. This role must be played in the context of an underperforming and fragile South African economy (NSDS Report, 2013).In addition a fair allocation of financial and non-financial resources tailored towards improvement of the M&E and project implementation should be highly observed. The limited compliance of governance standards evidenced may add to discernment and limited service delivery as unfeasible project implementation tasks are regularly endorsed which if proper M&E is not implemented can affect performance of the whole organisation which necessitates the importance of proper M&E with the view of improving project implementation. The fundamental pattern that arose from the study is that adherence to governance principles and application of monitoring and evaluation linked to the overall organisational strategy is a myth. Utilising findings of the study, a conclusion is drawn that the SASSETA does not have proper M&E set up and in this way very; little compliance to SETA legal imperatives will be achieved. A good M&E without management support is likely to succeed. As part of recommendations, the researcher recommended improved management support as a key factor that will ensure effective M&E and project success and efficient accountable, corrupt free service delivery which will be evident in improved AG reports.