A NEPAD leadership development strategy : the SADC case

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The overall aim of this study is to shape the future of the SADC through the NewPartnerships for Africa's Development leadership development strategy (NEPAD LDS),including a social responsiveness strategy. It proceeds from the premise that leadershipdevelopment should be based on the values and interests of an institution, because theserepresent the institution's position regarding the context within which it exists.This study pursued the following objectives:• To identify leadership needs in the SADC• To suggest a NEPAD-based leadership development strategy that includesa social responsiveness strategy as a response to identified SADCleadership needsThe research therefore viewed the future of the SADC through leadershipdevelopment. The entry point in this process was to establish the character and qualitiesof the SADC, considering that the continued existence of this region depends on itsability to transform all its systems in a unified pursuit of common goals. The history andnatural resources of the region were thus seen to be the most visible measures of itsoverall health and strategic direction.The process of stakeholder identification and mapping was then pursued, with theview to help the SADC leadership to assess systematically the nature and impact ofgroups with which the organisation deals. Following the stakeholder analysis,information on the macro-environment of the SADC was gathered because of the impactthe external environment has on the SADC. This large body of information was screenedsystematically. The scanning taxonomy that was developed included five areas: social,technological, environmental, economic and political (STEEP). This specialisedtaxonomy helped the researcher to focus on issues of greatest concern to the study. Theissues that were scanned are discussed relative to their impact on SADC leadershippractice.Based on the leadership challenges in the SADC thus identified, planningassumptions were developed, which are best guesses or predictions about key dimensions of the future given the leadership challenges identified. These assumptions are estimatesbased on the combination of estimating factors/validation points, which are portrayed inthe analysis of the macro-environment of the SADC. The probability, the impact, theproximity and the maturity of these assumptions are interpreted by calculating theirweighted positive or negative values.Cross-impact analysis of the validation points is used to guide the SADCdecision-makers to adopt policies designed to achieve more desirable leadership futures.Here, the connections between validation points impacting on the probability of oneanother are illustrated. These specified relationships trace out a distinct, plausible andinternally consistent future for the SADC leadership. This analysis gives rise to theidentification of key validation points/drivers in the SADC from which emerge the keyleadership needs of this region. Further needs that emerged were to make the NEPAD thebase upon which the leadership development programme is built, and to incorporatesocial responsiveness strategy.Based on these key leadership needs in the SADC, it is suggested that a NEPADbasedleadership development strategy, including a social responsiveness strategy, bedeveloped and implemented. Furthermore, the NEPAD leadership development strategy(NEPAD LDS) should be based on the premise that linking leadership development witha social responsiveness strategy is critical not only for the SADC, but for the entireworld, because this region is part of the global village. It is suggested that theimplementation strategy should enable participants to translate the NEPAD LDS intoaction and to see leadership development and a social responsiveness strategy as keymechanisms for doing so.This study attempts to avoid the worn-out remedies of the past and uses a holisticapproach called Common Sense Management, which entails market research, directionsetting,strategy development, implementing strategies and outcome assessment.The findings and the conclusions for this study are organised around the researchquestions that were the basis of motivation for this study.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University