- Title
- Exploring African vs Western values: A Case Study of Managing Conflict of Interest in the Public Sector
- Creator
- Nkohla, Tumelo Luvuyo
- Subject
- Public works
- Subject
- Conflict of interest
- Date Issued
- 2023-04
- Date
- 2023-04
- Type
- Master's theses
- Type
- text
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62275
- Identifier
- vital:72369
- Description
- This study explored African versus (vs) Western values on managing conflict of interest in the Eastern Cape Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (ECPDWI). This research was evoked by the ethical challenges of gift giving, procurement and recruitment processes, which give rise to conflicts of interest. These challenges are caused by difficulties in applying public sector policy instruments to manage such conflicts of interest. These policies were developed on foundations of Western values, whereas most public servants subscribe to an African value system, hence there is conflict. This study explored the implications of these values in the management of conflicts of interest. The study was conducted using qualitative research and purposive sampling was used. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data and a 60% participation rate was attained. This research enhances policy instruments to manage conflicts of interest within ECDPWI. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse, interpret and report on the data. Findings were reported under thematic headings of gift giving and receiving, conflicts of interest in procurement and recruitment, including relevance of the code of conduct and policies. The study found dichotomous views on gift giving from African and Western values perspectives. African perspectives believe that conflict of interest policies do not reflect the values of Ubuntu, which drives Africans’ human behaviour. The study observed that the mechanisms of managing conflicts of interest in procurement and recruitment are inadequate and ineffective from both an African and Western perspective. The study established that a code of conduct was irrelevant in managing conflicts of interest from African perspectives. Recommendations included amongst others, a review of the gift policy to consider observations identified on African gift giving, structured awareness programmes, strengthened accountability on managing conflicts of interest within procurement and recruitment respectively. Additionally, the development of a framework to manage conflict of interest within ECDPWI taking into consideration both African and Western values perspectives, was recommended. This study enhances scholarly debate on exploring African ethics within a business context, by suggesting a synthesis of African and Western values towards managing conflicts of interest in the South African public sector.
- Description
- Thesis (Ma) -- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
- Format
- computer
- Format
- online resource
- Format
- application/pdf
- Format
- 1 online resource (xiii, 166 pages)
- Format
- Publisher
- Nelson Mandela University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Nelson Mandela University
- Rights
- All Rights Reserved
- Rights
- Open Access
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Collections
NMU Business School
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | NKOHLA, T.pdf | 4 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |