Understanding human resource management practices in Botswana’s public health sector
Journal of Health Organization and Management
ISSN: 1477-7266
Article publication date: 21 November 2016
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the management of the public sector health workforce in Botswana. Using institutional frameworks it aims to document and analyse human resource management (HRM) practices, and make recommendations to improve employee and health system outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper draws from a large study that used a mixed methods approach to assess performance of Botswana’s Ministry of Health (MOH). It uses data collected through document analysis and in-depth interviews of 54 key informants comprising policy makers, senior staff of the MOH and its stakeholder organizations.
Findings
Public health sector HRM in Botswana has experienced inadequate planning, poor deployment and underutilization of staff. Lack of comprehensive retention strategies and poor working conditions contributed to the failure to attract and retain skilled personnel. Relationships with both formal and informal environments affected HRM performance.
Research limitations/implications
While document review was a major source of data for this paper, the weaknesses in the human resource information system limited availability of data.
Practical implications
This paper presents an argument for the need for consideration of formal and informal environments in developing effective HRM strategies.
Originality/value
This research provides a rare system-wide approach to health HRM in a Sub-Saharan African country. It contributes to the literature and evidence needed to guide HRM policy decisions and practices
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Conflict of interest: The authors have no competing interests.
The authors would like to thank the Botswana MOH management and staff for the support, and participants for their willingness to participate in this study. The research reported in this paper was funded by a University of Otago Scholarship, for which the first author is grateful.
Citation
Seitio-Kgokgwe, O.S., Gauld, R., Hill, P.C. and Barnett, P. (2016), "Understanding human resource management practices in Botswana’s public health sector", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 30 No. 8, pp. 1284-1300. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-05-2015-0076
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited