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 Infobriefs reports on ongoing operational, economic and sector work carried out by the World Bank and
  its member governments in the Africa Region. It is published periodically by the Knowledge Networks,
                        Information and Technology Center on behalf of the Region.




                 Governance and Public Administration (Botswana)


Background and objectives:

In 1993, the Government of Botswana launched a productivity movement to improve civil
service performance. The centerpiece of the movement was the introduction of Work
Improvement Teams (WITs). A WIT is a group of civil servants from the same work unit,
irrespective of divisional status, who meet regularly to solve problems, examine improvement
opportunities and develop problem solving skills. It is inspired by the model in Singapore which
in turn is an adaptation of the Japanese Quality Control Circle. WITs are well established in
Singapore as a mechanism for improving the performance of the work force in the public sector
and have been credited with the successful implementation of 22,000 improvements in public
organizations. A twinning arrangement between the Botswana Institute of Administration and
Commerce (BIAC) and Singapore's Civil Service Training Institute was adopted as the
instrument for transplanting WITs into Botswana.

Impact on the ground:

By the end of 1995, 100 WITs had been established in four pilot ministries. It is expected that by
the year 2001, there will be 1,150 teams spread throughout the other ministries, encompassing
about 15,000 civil servants.

The WITs in the pilot ministries are helping to broaden and strengthen leadership capacity and
enhance team work.
Lessons learned:

WITs can be potentially effective tools for productivity improvement by helping to establish a
mind-set that seeks: optimum performance, participative leadership and team work, innovative
work styles, strong client orientation and empowerment of people. However, it will take an
estimated 5 - 10 years to witness a significant impact on productivity, with employees
themselves, rather than their management, seeking to actively improve efficiency and the quality
of work-life.

In this Botswana example, the clarity of objectives and sharp focus of the productivity drive
created a favorable environment for the effective utilization of external assistance.

The effective use of a twinning arrangement between a training institution in Botswana and one
in Singapore provides evidence of the positive impact of this method of capacity building and the
value added of South-South cooperation.

For more information on this specific study or copies, contact P.C. Mohan, Rm. J3-165,
Knowledge Networks, Information and Technology Center, World Bank, 1818 H Street NW,
Washington D.C., 20433. Tel. (202) 473-4114 or INTERNET at: pmohan@worldbank.org

Key Documents on Governance and Public Administration

Mamadou Dia, Indigenous Management Practices: Lessons for Africa Management in the
'90s, Concept Paper for Regional Study Institutional Development and Management, Africa
Technical Department, 1992.

Mamadou Dia, A Governance Approach to Civil Service Reform in Sub-Saharan Africa,
Technical Paper Number 225, Africa Technical Department Series, World Bank, 1993.

Mamadou Dia, Pour une meilleure gouvernance comme fondement de la reforme de la
fonction publique en Afrique au sud du Sahara, Document technique de la 225F, Serie du
Departement technique Afrique, Banque mondiale, 1993.

Mamadou Dia, Africa's Management in the 1990s and Beyond: From Institutional
"Transplant" to Institutional Reconciliation, 1996.

Rogerio F. Pinto with the assistance from Angelous J. Mrope, Projectizing the Governance
Approach to Civil Service Reform -- An Institutional Environment Assessment for Preparing a
Sectoral Adjustment Loan in the Gambia. Discussion Paper Number 252 Africa Technical
Department Series, World Bank, 1994.

Ladipo Adamolekun and Coralie Bryant, Governance Progress Report: The Africa Region
Experience, Capacity Building and Implementation Division Paper, Africa Technical
Department, World Bank, 1994.
Louis de Merode, Civil Service Pay and Employment Reform in Africa: Selected
Implementation Experiences, Division Study Paper Number 2, Institutional Development and
Management Division, Africa Technical Department, World Bank, 1991.

Barbara Nunberg, Managing the Civil Service Reform Lessons from Advanced Industrialized
Countries, World Bank, 1995.

Petter Langseth et al, Civil Service Reform in Anglophone Africa, World Bank, 1995.

SPA, Guiding Principles on Civil Service Reform, 1995.



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