COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS
School of Public Management, Governance and Public
Policy
UJ Internal Handbook 2021 (APK and SWC) PMG 2B
(Section B - Semester 2)
DEGREE: BA Public Management and Governance
PROGRAMME: Public Management and Governance 2B
SECTION B: DECISION-MAKING FOR GOOD
GOVERNANCE
PROGRAMME CODES: PMG 2B21, 2BB2
Second Semester: Section B
2021
AUTHOR:
Prof CJ Auriacombe
© UJ 2021 School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy -
University of Johannesburg
i
, Table of Contents
Page
OVERVIEW OF MODULE CONTENT ix
MODULE OUTCOMES ix
THEME 1
DECISION-MAKING FUNDAMENTALS 1
LEARNING OUTCOMES 1
1.1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.2 DECISION-MAKING: THE CONCEPT 2
1.2.1 Problem-solving versus decision-making 3
1.3 DECISION-MAKING TYPES 4
1.3.1 Rational and non-rational decisions 5
1.3.2 Programmed and non-programmed decisions 6
1.3.3 Quantitative and qualitative (scientific) decision-making 7
1.3.4 Group (consultative) decision-making 8
1.4 STEPS IN DECISION MAKING 9
1.5 CONCLUSION 12
QUESTIONS FOR SELF-EVALUATION 13
ii
, THEME 2
MANAGERIAL DECISION-MAKING
LEARNING OUTCOMES 14
2.1 INTRODUCTION 14
2.2 NATURE OF MANAGERIAL DECISIONS 15
2.2.1 Types of managerial decision 18
2.3 MANAGERIAL DECISION-MAKING SKILLS 22
2.3.1 Problem-solving 22
2.3.2 Creativity 23
2.3.3 Knowledge 25
2.3.4 Sound and ethical judgement 27
2.3.5 Communication and delegation skills 27
2.4 COMMON CHALLENGES IN MANAGERIAL DECISION-MAKING 30
2.4.1 Knowledge and information gaps 31
2.4.2 Perception issues 34
2.4.3 Lack of context 35
2.4.4 Institutional issues 35
2.5 CONCLUSION 36
QUESTIONS FOR SELF-EVALUATION 37
iii
, THEME 3
POLITICAL DECISION-MAKING
LEARNING OUTCOMES 38
3.1 INTRODUCTION 38
3.2 DECISION-MAKING VS POLICY-MAKING 39
3.3 THE NATURE OF POLITICAL DECISIONS 40
3.3.1 Levels and types of policy decisions 42
3.3.1.1 Political policy decisions 42
3.3.1.2 Government policy decisions 43
3.3.1.3 Executive policy decisions 44
3.3.1.4 Operational policy decisions 44
3.4 POLITICAL DECISION-MAKING STRUCTURES AND
MECHANISMS 45
3.4.1 Cabinet and Cluster Committees 45
3.4.2 Presidential Coordinating Council and MinMecs 46
3.4.3 FOSAD 46
3.5 CATEGORIES OF POLICIES DECISIONS 47
3.5.1 Substantive and procedural policy decisions 48
3.5.2 Distributive policy decisions 48
3.5.3 Regulatory policy decisions 48
3.5.4 Self-regulatory policy decisions 49
3.5.5 Redistributive policy decisions 49
3.5.6 Material and symbolic policy decisions 49
3.5.7 Policy decisions on collective and private goods 50
3.6 LOCAL GOVERNMENT DECISION-MAKING 50
3.6.1 Community participation and political decisions: the critical interface 52
iv
School of Public Management, Governance and Public
Policy
UJ Internal Handbook 2021 (APK and SWC) PMG 2B
(Section B - Semester 2)
DEGREE: BA Public Management and Governance
PROGRAMME: Public Management and Governance 2B
SECTION B: DECISION-MAKING FOR GOOD
GOVERNANCE
PROGRAMME CODES: PMG 2B21, 2BB2
Second Semester: Section B
2021
AUTHOR:
Prof CJ Auriacombe
© UJ 2021 School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy -
University of Johannesburg
i
, Table of Contents
Page
OVERVIEW OF MODULE CONTENT ix
MODULE OUTCOMES ix
THEME 1
DECISION-MAKING FUNDAMENTALS 1
LEARNING OUTCOMES 1
1.1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.2 DECISION-MAKING: THE CONCEPT 2
1.2.1 Problem-solving versus decision-making 3
1.3 DECISION-MAKING TYPES 4
1.3.1 Rational and non-rational decisions 5
1.3.2 Programmed and non-programmed decisions 6
1.3.3 Quantitative and qualitative (scientific) decision-making 7
1.3.4 Group (consultative) decision-making 8
1.4 STEPS IN DECISION MAKING 9
1.5 CONCLUSION 12
QUESTIONS FOR SELF-EVALUATION 13
ii
, THEME 2
MANAGERIAL DECISION-MAKING
LEARNING OUTCOMES 14
2.1 INTRODUCTION 14
2.2 NATURE OF MANAGERIAL DECISIONS 15
2.2.1 Types of managerial decision 18
2.3 MANAGERIAL DECISION-MAKING SKILLS 22
2.3.1 Problem-solving 22
2.3.2 Creativity 23
2.3.3 Knowledge 25
2.3.4 Sound and ethical judgement 27
2.3.5 Communication and delegation skills 27
2.4 COMMON CHALLENGES IN MANAGERIAL DECISION-MAKING 30
2.4.1 Knowledge and information gaps 31
2.4.2 Perception issues 34
2.4.3 Lack of context 35
2.4.4 Institutional issues 35
2.5 CONCLUSION 36
QUESTIONS FOR SELF-EVALUATION 37
iii
, THEME 3
POLITICAL DECISION-MAKING
LEARNING OUTCOMES 38
3.1 INTRODUCTION 38
3.2 DECISION-MAKING VS POLICY-MAKING 39
3.3 THE NATURE OF POLITICAL DECISIONS 40
3.3.1 Levels and types of policy decisions 42
3.3.1.1 Political policy decisions 42
3.3.1.2 Government policy decisions 43
3.3.1.3 Executive policy decisions 44
3.3.1.4 Operational policy decisions 44
3.4 POLITICAL DECISION-MAKING STRUCTURES AND
MECHANISMS 45
3.4.1 Cabinet and Cluster Committees 45
3.4.2 Presidential Coordinating Council and MinMecs 46
3.4.3 FOSAD 46
3.5 CATEGORIES OF POLICIES DECISIONS 47
3.5.1 Substantive and procedural policy decisions 48
3.5.2 Distributive policy decisions 48
3.5.3 Regulatory policy decisions 48
3.5.4 Self-regulatory policy decisions 49
3.5.5 Redistributive policy decisions 49
3.5.6 Material and symbolic policy decisions 49
3.5.7 Policy decisions on collective and private goods 50
3.6 LOCAL GOVERNMENT DECISION-MAKING 50
3.6.1 Community participation and political decisions: the critical interface 52
iv