Human resource planning challenges - a case study of the Department of Library and Information Services in the City of Cape Town

Abstract

This study focuses on the human resource planning challenges of the Department of Library and Information Services in the City of Cape Town. In line with this focus the study seeks to determine the way in which the human resource planning strategies of the City of Cape Town impacts on departmental effectiveness and service delivery output of the Department of Library and Information Services. The study further endeavours to determine what the human resource planning processes in the Department of Library and Information Services entails as well as whether human resource planning in the Department of library and Information Services takes the external environment into account. The study is qualitative and employs a case study approach in order to reveal the reality of the situation. Structured questionnaires and the researcher’s observations were utilised to gather the research data whilst books, journal articles and government policies and documents were extensively consulted during the course of the study. The research findings indicated that the Department of Library and Information Services lacks a comprehensive human resource plan. Talent management and succession planning is not formally practised in the department and the work place skills plan of the department is not run optimally. The fact that the department is classified as an unfunded mandate also contributes to the current human resource environment in the department. It is recommended that the COCT involves the DLIS in its human resources policy formulation processes.