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.