The need to evolve from adaptive to anticipative administrations in Africa: an application of organizational theory

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Periodical article

Title:	The need to evolve from adaptive to anticipative administrations in Africa: an application of organizational theory
Author:	Bongyu, Moye Godwin
Year:	2011
Periodical:	African Administrative Studies (ISSN 0007-9588)
Issue:	76
Pages:	9-24
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Africa
Subjects:	administrative reform public administration
Abstract:	In recent times, many African leaders (notably President Paul Biya of Cameroon) have been complaining about administrative inertness, but the reasons for this and the way forward have been given less focus. Organizational change has become an indispensible, inevitable and prevalent phenomenon in the contemporary world. In this paper, organizational theories are used to demonstrate the adverse effects of administrative conservatism on African systems. Generally, due to inflexibility, these administrations have become obsolete, overtaken by endogenous and exogenous challenges and pressures. As a rule, these administrations have become superfluous, overloaded, unproductive and more liabilities than assets for development. Normatively, the African managers have to defeat resistances and provoke changes. To meet the challenges of change, management must be forward-looking; there should be constant foresight. The modern administrative system is supposed to be predictable before being adaptive. The African administrations have the imperative to be anticipative in order to meet the challenges of globalization. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]