SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Apply the principles and theories of public management 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
242911  Apply the principles and theories of public management 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Public Administration and Management 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies Public Administration 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 7  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7  16 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This Unit Standard is intended for elected political leaders and public sector officials involved with the service delivery activities at a top strategic level. This Unit Standard will enable the learner to examine the theoretical and analytical frameworks of management and their relationship to theories and approaches to public sector management. The learner will be able to examine the major contemporary changes in the public sector management climate and to examine alternative approaches to service delivery as an integral part of successful planning and management.

The qualifying learner is capable of:
  • Demonstrating an understanding of the theories and issues shaping contemporary public management.
  • Investigating the different approaches to public sector reform.
  • Analysing the changing management skills and competences that are required for significant shifts in public sector activities.
  • Utilising budgetary and financial management processes to allocate and manage resources.
  • Conducting independent research and critically evaluating issues in the area of public management. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    All learners accessing this unit standard must be in possession of Level 6 Public Administration diploma, degree or equivalent. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the theories and issues shaping contemporary public management. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A historic and contemporary review of the theory and problems of public management is explored to describe and explain the machinery of government. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Theories and critiques of the purpose, role and practice of government are reviewed and discussed in the context of contemporary public management. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Theories include, but are not limited to, concepts drawn from the literature on public choice, institutional economics, regulation and consumerism.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Traditional and contemporary views of the role of the public sector in society are examined and the implication of the changing role of the public sector and its administration are evaluated and explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The theoretical and analytical frameworks of management and their relationship to theories and approaches to public sector management are reviewed and critically examined in the context of public administration. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Investigate the different approaches to public sector reform. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Contemporary changes in the public sector management climate are critically evaluated in the context of different approaches to public sector reform. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Changes and approaches include, but are not limited to, privatisation, corporatisation, the exposure of public activities to competition, contestability by contractual or outsourcing arrangements.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Practical examples are used to consider developments in strategic and program management, financial and human resource planning and management in a public administration context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The relevance of private sector management principles to the public sector are assessed critically. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The evolving relationship between the public and private sectors in public administration are examined and assessed critically. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    An understanding of public management reform in other countries is demonstrated critically. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Other countries include, but are not limited to, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Analyse the changing management skills and competences that are required for significant shifts in public sector activities. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Leadership and the management of change, and changing skills and competencies are addressed in relation to the significant shifts in public sector activities. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Alternative approaches to service delivery and techniques for evaluating performance are emphasised as an integral part of successful planning and management. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Traditional and contemporary views of the role of public sector managers and how they fulfil the roles and changing rolls of the public sector in society and in public administration are evaluated and explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The practice and problems of contemporary public administration and management are explored in the context of the competency demands on public sector employees. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The similarities and differences between public and private sector management are understood and explained with examples. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Demonstrate a knowledge of, and apply the utilisation of budgetary and financial management processes to allocate and manage resources. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The overall functioning of financial processes in the various spheres of government is understood and explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The constituents and components of government budgeting is understood and discussed with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The government accounting framework is analysed to better understand and utilised government finance. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Budgetary documents are interpreted in the context of decision making and resource allocation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Key budgetary issues facing public sector entities are discussed in a manner demonstrating an understanding of current policy debates. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Conduct independent research and critically evaluate issues in the area of public management. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Research methodologies applied to public management are reviewed and explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Prepare a research proposal for research into selected issues of public management demonstrating an understanding of the theories and issues shaping contemporary public management. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Conduct and present research into selected issues of public management demonstrating an understanding of different approaches to public sector reform. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Conduct and present research into selected issues of public management demonstrating an understanding of the changing management skills and competences required for shifts in public sector activities. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Any individual wishing to be assessed (including through RPL) against this unit standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provider institution accredited by the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard or assessing this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be conducted by the relevant ETQA at its discretion. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • The Public Services Act.
  • The Municipal Systems Act and the Municipal Structures Act.
  • The Promotion of Administrative Justice Act.
  • The Promotion of Access the Information Act.
  • The Batho-Pele White Paper on Transforming Public Sector Service Delivery.
  • Public Sector Corporate Governance policies and procedures.
  • Public Finance Management act.
  • The concept of service value and how different service cultures are formulated.
  • Quality management and benchmarking.
  • Systems awareness from a value perspective.
  • Public management principles, issues and theories.
  • Different approaches to public sector reform.
  • Change management principles that relate to public sector reform.
  • Budgetary and financial management processes for the purposes of making decisions and allocating resources.
  • Management research techniques and tools. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems using critical and creative thinking processes in order to apply the principles and theories of public management. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation or community to apply the principles and theories of public management. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly in order to apply the principles and theories of public management. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information in order to apply the principles and theories of public management. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion to effectively integrate public management principles and theories. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility to the environment and health of others, as a tool to apply the principles and theories of public management. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of interrelated systems by recognising that problem solving contexts relating the public service management do not exist in isolation and that a variety of factors, sensitivities, stakeholders and politics may impact on management efficacy. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Participate as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities by ensuring that the principles and theories of public management are applied in a way that benefits the wider community.

    Be culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of contexts when applying the principles and theories of public management. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  57827   National Diploma: Public Administration  Level 7  Level N/A: Pre-2009 was L7  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  PSETA 
    Elective  59529   Bachelor of Agriculture Honours: Extension  Level 7  NQF Level 08  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2018-06-30   


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.