Developing a demand management framework in the public sector: the case of Gauteng Department of Health

Abstract

The study examined demand management practices within the South African public sector. Demand management plays a crucial role in implementing service delivery programmes and the achievement of socioeconomic imperatives in the South African public sector. However, demand management practices have not been optimally implemented within the South African public sector, negatively influencing public service delivery. The research study was designed to employ a combination of exploratory and descriptive research, using a mixed method approach based on a survey of demand management practitioners in the Gauteng Department of Health. A structured questionnaire was administered to demand management practitioners who were selected using simple random sampling. Descriptive statistics using the software SPSS version 27.0 was used to analyse and provide the descriptive analysis results. The results of the study revealed that, in general, demand management practices were being adequately implemented in the Gauteng Department of Health. Based on the analyses of the three constructs (demand management practices, compliance to the SCM policies and regulations, alignment of demand planning to strategic objectives and budgeting); the results revealed the adequate implementation of demand planning, compliance to SCM policies and regulations and alignment between demand planning, strategic objectives and budgeting. The study, however, revealed challenges in the implementation of demand management in some public sector entities in the South African public sector. The study is significant because it provided a demand management framework to enable the efficient implementation of demand management in the South African public sector. By so doing, the research contributed to the body of knowledge.