Navigating the Complex Landscape of Compliance and Innovation in the Public Sector

Dr Botshabelo Maja is Deputy Director-General at the National School of Government in SA. We explore ways of navigating the complex landscape of compliance and innovation in the public sector.

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Listen or watch to explore:

• The biggest challenges facing public servants in complying with established legislation, regulations, and systems while also exercising proper discretion and innovation in solving routine and complex delivery problems at the local government level.
• Strategies that can be implemented to address these challenges and ensure that public servants are able to balance compliance with innovation and discretion in their work.
• The role training and education play in ensuring that public servants are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to comply with established legislation and regulations while also being able to exercise discretion and innovation in their work.
• His vision for the future of public service delivery in South Africa, and how we can ensure that public servants are able to navigate the complex landscape of compliance and innovation to deliver the best possible outcomes for citizens.

About Dr Botshabelo Maja:
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD at University of the Witwatersrand.
Education, Training, and Development from schooling to post schooling. Researcher, Curriculum and learning materials developer. Writer and skills development expert. Culture of learning and teaching in schools, further education and training, higher education responsiveness, and public sector training.

Episode Summary:
Dr. Botshabelo Maja discusses the challenges of compliance and innovation in the public sector. He emphasizes the need for qualified individuals in positions of authority and argues for the professionalization of the public sector. Maja also discusses the importance of defining what it means to be a South African and implementing strategies to balance compliance with innovation. He highlights the lack of consciousness and understanding among public sector officials when it comes to compliance, and suggests reigniting consciousness and training interventions. Maja advocates for a shift in mindset from compliance to execution and innovation, and urges investment in young people as the future of the public sector, emphasizing the need for job opportunities and support for the next generation.

• 00:00:00 In this section, Dr. Botshabelo Maja, Deputy Director General of the National School of Government in South Africa, discusses the major challenges facing public servants in complying with legislation, regulations, and systems while also exercising proper discretion and innovation in solving delivery problems. Maja emphasizes the importance of appointing and promoting qualified individuals who have the necessary experience and knowledge to effectively execute their tasks. He highlights the issue of people being put in positions without the required experience, leading to a government that struggles to execute effectively. Maja argues for the professionalization of the public sector by ensuring that individuals not only possess the right qualifications but also undergo the necessary processes and rituals to gain recognition and proficiency in their respective fields.
• 00:05:00 In this section, Dr. Maja uses an analogy of being an observer in the cockpit of an airplane to highlight the lack of experience and qualifications among political leaders in the public sector. They argue that in countries like China, political leaders must have proven their ability to run local governments before being appointed to higher positions. However, in South Africa, political principles often lack the necessary knowledge and expertise for their roles. Dr. Maja emphasizes the need to properly define what it means to be a South African and to implement strategies that ensure public servants can balance compliance with innovation and discretion in their work.
• 00:10:00 In this section, Dr. Maja discusses the importance of defining what it means to be a South African in order to address the challenges faced in the public sector. They believe that South Africa needs to establish clear values and principles that encompass hard work, utilizing resources for the benefit of everyone, and taking responsibility for raising children. This self-definition would help hold individuals accountable and ensure that those in positions of authority have the necessary skills and experience. By establishing these standards, Dr. Maja suggests that the public sector can overcome its execution difficulties and contribute to the overall development of the nation.
• 00:15:00 In this section, Dr. Maja discusses the importance of defining what it means to be a South African in order to address issues in the public sector. They emphasize that having a clear definition allows individuals, including naturalized citizens, to understand the values and behaviors expected of them. Dr. Maja argues that simply implementing solutions within the public sector is not enough, as it fails to address the underlying issues and the already embedded behaviors of adult employees. Instead, they suggest that the solution lies in society as a whole. Additionally, Dr. Maja highlights the need for consciousness and mindfulness among public servants, stating that many individuals operate on autopilot without actively thinking or being aware of their actions. They use the example of driving to illustrate how habits can lead to unconscious behavior.
• 00:20:00 In this section, Dr. Maja discusses the lack of consciousness among public sector officials when it comes to compliance. They explain that many officials rely on habit and hearsay rather than actually reading and understanding the laws they claim to be following. They emphasize the importance of reigniting consciousness and training interventions to ensure that officials are making informed decisions based on the actual language of the laws. By being conscious and aware, officials can better understand the nuances of the laws and make more effective and efficient decisions within compliance guidelines.
• 00:25:00 In this section, Dr. Maja emphasizes the importance of shifting the consciousness within the public sector from compliance to execution and innovation. They argue that rather than simply complying with the law, public servants should focus on executing it effectively. Dr. Maja suggests a shift in mindset, where individuals take proactive measures to inform and involve relevant authorities, even if a response is not guaranteed. They assert that once public servants adopt this mindset and become conscious of their role in executing the law, they can unlock the potential for innovation and successful implementation. Additionally, Dr. Maja highlights the need to acknowledge and accept the challenges faced in the public sector in order to move towards effective public service delivery in South Africa.
• 00:30:00 In this section, Dr. Maja emphasizes the importance of investing in young people as the future of the public sector. They criticize the current trend of creating jobs for older individuals, which further displaces young people from employment opportunities. Dr. Maja argues that focusing on the older generation is a mistake and that the only way to ensure the country's progress is by prioritizing youth development. They highlight the alarming number of young graduates who are unemployed and even forced to seek work outside the country, emphasizing that without investing in young people, the country is doomed. Dr. Maja urges action instead of empty words, stating that young people should be at the center of qualifications, knowledge, experience, and practice in the public sector. They emphasize the importance of acknowledging this reality and actively investing in the future generation to avoid a negative outcome for the country.
• 00:35:00 In this section, Dr. Maja emphasizes the importance of investing in young people and providing them with opportunities such as internships, learnerships, and employment in sectors like farming and manufacturing. They express concern about the lack of factories and industries that are filled with young people, highlighting the need to create more job prospects for them. Dr. Maja believes that the country can only progress and thrive by relying on the potential and contributions of young individuals, signalling a call for proper investment and support for the next generation.

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