Developing Driving Licence Standard Operating Procedures: The Case of Madibeng Local Municipality

Abstract

Driving Licence Testing Centres located in local and metropolitan municipalities in South Africa generally lack standard operating procedures according to which driving licences are issued. This has serious implications for road safety in general and organisational efficiency in particular. This article aims to design a framework for the development of standard operating procedures according to which driving licences should be issued. The Driving Licence Testing Centre of the Madibeng Local Municipality was used as case study for this purpose. Specific recommendations are presented to the Madibeng Local Municipality on how to effectively design and review standardised procedures. The systems theory and the ADDIE (an acronym for Analyse, Design, Develop, Implement and Evaluate) instructional design model served as theoretical parameters to gain understanding of the application of standard operating procedures in the public sector. A qualitative research design was followed and mixed methods were used to collect data. In addition to the literature review, the empirical findings validated the synergy between systems theory and the ADDIE instructional design model for the design of a standard operating procedures framework. The meticulous implementation of this framework could ensure that driving licences are issued as per statutory prescripts and road traffic specifications.