Rethinking a paradigm shift in the management of state enterprises and parastatals: The african context

Abstract

African States have privatised and commercialised some of their entities in the mould of state enterprises and parastatals (SEPs) which constitute significant parts of market capitalisation, employment and GDP.SEPs are charged with the administration of utilities such as electricity and telecommunication that affect the populace. The state as an active owner is obliged to ensure effective leadership and professionalism in the SEPs. Challenges to improve services and politicised board appointments indicate the need to entrench good leadership and corporate governance in an age of austerity. The thrust of this paper is a paradigm shift from the traditional management to effective leadership, a vital cog for SEPs as they strive to deliver more with less on time and on budget.