Pretoria – Leaders in government and public institutions must allow research and innovative thinking in their organisations, says the Director-General of Public Administration Leadership and Management Academy (Palama) Professor Lekoa Mollo.
According to Mollo, a culture of research in any organisation brings about sustenance of good practice.
Speaking at the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM), Mollo said research entails a systematic process and method of exploring, analysing, and verifying knowledge in the construction of theory or good practice.
“The critical role of CAPAM in enhancing good governance and excellence in public administration across the Commonwealth is through focused research and the delivery of expert workshops, learning programmes and thematic conferences,” he said.
The three-day conference is being held under the theme: “Public Service Research and Innovation: A quest for sustained service delivery.”
According to the conference organisers, conference participants will have ample opportunity to interact with political leaders, international experts and eminent practitioners.
The conference will examine the gains and challenges of research and innovation in the Public Service and the role of leaders and management practice at all levels of government.
This, according to the organisers, will further motivate public servants to engage on possible means to enhance the knowledge base and service oriented practice in the public service.
Pertinent issues to be discussed during the conference are leadership change for productivity and innovation, entrepreneurship in public service innovation, research orientation of the public service, training and development for state delivery capacity enhancement.
This also includes fostering a culture of responsive leadership and management.
As a non-profit association, CAPAM represents an international network of 1100 senior public servants, Heads of Government, leading academics and researchers located in over 50 different countries across the Commonwealth.
The association is guided by international leaders that believe in the value of networking and knowledge exchange and the promotion of good governance for the betterment of citizens across the Commonwealth. – SAnews.gov.za
