CONSIDERATIONS FOR REQUISITE HUMAN CAPITAL FOR A DEVELOPMENTAL STATE

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CONSIDERATIONS FOR REQUISITE HUMAN CAPITAL FOR A
DEVELOPMENTAL STATE

• BY PROFESSOR SIPHO R. SHABALALA
• APRIL 2007

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THE LOGIC OF THE THESIS

• The characteristics, the role and
  responsibilities of a Developmental State
  determine requisite competencies (capacity core
  competencies and individual, group and socio-
  technical and organisational design).
• Requisite competencies (e.g. human capital) has
  to be developed and sourced from external and
  internal labour markets ( with regard to the
  State)
• Given the dynamic nature of the task and general
  environment of a developmental state research and
  development capabilities are necessary to
  continue to innovate on new competencies and/or
  up-grade existing competencies. Institutional
  requirements to play this role (research, think
  tanks etc. institutions) should be designed and
  be put in place.
• Distinguishing Characteristics of a Developmental
  State
• a state which assumes responsibility for
  influencing the direction (dirigiste state) and
  pace of socio-economic development through direct
  intervention
• substantive social and economic goals are
  formulated by the state and these are used to
  guide the process of development and social
  mobilization.
• puts economic development as the top priority
  of Governmental Policy and is able to design
  effective instruments to promote such a goal.

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continued

• the ideological underpinnings of a D.S. is
  developmentalist as it focuses on
  socio-economic development and structurally a
  D.S. should have unencumbered capacity to
  formulate and implement economic policies without
  being constrained by narrow individualistic and
  private interests.
• an effective D.S. should be embedded in concrete
  set of social ties that binds it to society and
  provides institutionalized channels for the
  continual negotiations of policies, its
  relationships with society and citizenry should
  be such as to generate a national consensus on
  the developmental thrust to be chosen and
  implemented.

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continued

• Competencies Requirements (Capacity and
  capability)
• competence in using both market and non-market
  policy instruments the institutionalisation of
  market enhancing and growth/developmental-
  enhancing governance.
• capability to use market and non-market policy
  instruments to transfer and channel assets and
  resources to productive and needy sectors in
  order to achieve inclusive socio-economic
  development.
• requisite human competencies centering around
  governance (meta-policy making) and public policy
  management These competencies should enable a
  D.S. to deal with Global changes and the dynamics
  of its society. Policy-issue knowledge and
  policy management
• - competent bureaucracy not prone to
  dysfunctional political influence and corruption.
• ability to design and utilize different aspect of
  social-political infrastructural power within an
  embedded autonomy of the state, with an
  orientation towards ..strategizing and planning
  for the future on a coherent and inclusive
  manner, limiting adhoc decisions.
• competencies that will enable managers within a
  D.S. in helping the National businesses to be
  developed and to be internationally competitive,
  requires immersed knowledge, skills, relevant
  attitudes and intellectual agilities that are
  informed by the firm understanding of the global,
  social- cultural, regulatory, technological,
  economic and market factors and forces.

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continued

• ability to design and maintain public policy
  communities made up of actors within a D.S. and
  those outside the state. (deliberative and
  participatory governance).
• competence in making critical choices that are
  beyond the scope, capacity and legitimate domain
  of other social mechanisms including markets.
  The capacity which is ..not so much a matter
  of efficiency, effectiveness, cost-cutting,
  quality of service delivery and ability to handle
  current problems. Rather it is essential for
  governments to be better equipped to cope with
  the higher order tasks that shape the future of
  individual societies and humanity as a whole.
• the higher order task for which requisite
  competencies are required include, encouraging
  constant societal learning and innovativeness,
  promoting education, and integrating governance
  into inter-states and global processes since
  states are increasingly unable to handle major
  tasks done.

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continued

• senior civil servants should be numerate, policy
  strategy oriented and, be able to think in
  history, they should understand global
  transformation and the dynamics of their own
  society, should use their scientific literacy and
  humanistic knowledge and understanding in shaping
  public policies (Dror.1934).
• Sourcing and Developing Requisite Human
  Competencies for a Development State
• two markets for human competencies, outside and
  inside a D.S.
• collaboration with tertiary institutions to offer
  advanced transdisciplinary courses on governance
  and public policy to students with good
  foundation on disciplinary areas such as
  political science, sociology, economics, law,
  public administration, science and technology,
  mathematics, health science, engineering,
  environment management etc.
• Studies on globalism, global
  transformation, international relations, world
  cultures and resources should be emphasised.
• within the internal human capital market
  government officials should be mentored and
  developed through restructured career paths from
  junior and middle-ranking governance positions to
  high levels with graduated learning
  experiences.
• Opportunities and incentives should be
  provided for government officials to learn and
  to
• re-educate themselves.

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• public governance colleges (academies) or
  competence provisioning institutions under the
  partnership of Government, Universities and
  research institutions should be established to
  enable senior government officials (elected and
  appointed) to study major policy issues.
• policy Research and Development institutions
  should be established and be populated with
  qualified professionals dealing with complex Long
  term Government and public policy issues.