An evaluation of the strategic management process of Namibian Correctional Services and its relevance to the Windhoek Correctional Facility.

Abstract

This study investigates the problem of dysfunctional processes in formulating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating a strategic management plan of the Ministry of Safety and Security and the National Correctional Services in Namibia using a case study of the Windhoek Central Prison. The main objective is to evaluate how participation of staff in the planning influences the extent to which strategic planning has been used to create efficiency and effectiveness in the Ministry and Department of Correctional Services. Therefore, the thesis is geared to explore answers to this research question: To what extent has the strategic plan in the MSS and successive NCS strategic management plan been used to create efficiency and effectiveness in the Ministry? It was found that the Ministerial strategic plan 2009-2014 and NCS strategic management plan 2011-2014 were unknown documents at the WCF, which is an indication that participation of staff in the process of formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the strategic plan was minimal. It was also found that although the ministerial strategic plan cascaded to the departmental strategic management plan, it ended there without cascading down to annual plans as proposed by the OPM. The thesis recommends that the MSS and NCS should improve on their planning method to ensure that it is participatory and all employees are involved at every stage of strategic planning. The strategic plan should also be translated into annual action plans to effect achievement of the objectives being set in the five year strategic plan of the Ministry.