Uptake of RBM in the public sector institutions: case study of government departments in Umzingwane District.

Abstract

The study sought to examine the uptake of Results Based Management (RBM) in the public sector institutions focusing on Umzingwane District in Matebeleland South Province. Service delivery in the Zimbabwean public sector institutions had deteriorated both in quality and speed to appalling levels and this had correspondingly triggered outcry from the general public. To check this trend and re-invent public sector operations, the Government adopted RBM in 2005. Unfortunately the absence and poor showing of some public sector institutions on the RBM radar is a cause of concern considering that demands for improved services from the public sector continue to linger around. Result Based Management uptake is still weak and less evident in some public sector departments despite all the efforts and resources spent by government to make the system to have a grip. The rest of this dissertation is there for set to delve deeper in ascertaining the reasons for continued apathy in the uptake of RBM in the public sector departments in attempt to proffer solutions towards addressing this scenario. To do this, 79 questionnaires were administered to 79 employees in the public sector institutions randomly selected from Umzingwane District, 15 interviews were held with heads of public sector institutions as well as RBM specialists. Simple statistical methods like frequency distribution tables, charts and graphs were used to analyze the data that was collected. The findings of the study revealed that uptake of RBM was weak, not at the assumed levels and inconsistent with RBM principles hence needed to be reinforced through re-packaged training, linking RBM with incentives, improved working conditions and increased availability of resources among others. The study also found that the public sector institutions face challenges in the uptake of RBM due to difficulties such as inadequate training, lack of adequate resources and poor working conditions among other issues. The findings of the study thus, led to the overriding conclusion that uptake of RBM was critical as it sets the tone for the implementation of the system there by triggering service delivery and improved service delivery in the public sector institutions.