PUB4871 ASSIGNMENT 6/ POE 2026
DISCLAIMER
PUB4871 assignment 6 2026 is a guide that help students to answer their 6TH
assignment or portfolios. Students must not copy and paste but rather use the
document as a roadmap through understanding what is expected of them.
, PUB4871 ASSIGNMENT 6/ POE 2026
Title: Cultivating the Reflexive Practitioner: An Analysis of Structured Reflection
Interventions and Their Impact on Administrative Discretion and Ethical Reasoning in
South African Public Administration.
Introduction
The paradigm of Reflective Public Administration (RPA) posits that ethical, adaptive
governance in complex societies requires administrators to be critical, self-aware
agents. This is particularly vital for South Africa’s transformative project, which
demands discretionary judgment informed by constitutional values rather than mere
procedural compliance. However, a significant chasm persists between this theoretical
ideal and embedded practice. This study therefore investigates the practical cultivation
of reflexivity, asking how structured interventions can bridge this gap. It aims to explore
the specific mechanisms—such as communities of practice and critical incident
analysis—that can systematically develop reflective capacity, and to analyse their
impact on administrative discretion and ethical reasoning. The research seeks to move
RPA from abstract scholarship towards actionable strategies for building a more
thoughtful, accountable, and publicly oriented public service.
1. Background and Rationale
Reflective Public Administration (RPA) represents a critical paradigm shift from
traditional, techno-rational models of public service. Moving beyond a focus solely on
efficiency, compliance, and instrumental problem-solving, RPA emphasises the
necessity for administrators to engage in critical, ongoing introspection about their
values, assumptions, and the broader social and political implications of their work
(Schön, 1983; Ventriss, 2000). It posits that effective and legitimate governance in
complex, pluralistic societies require practitioners who are not merely implementers,
but reflexive agents capable of questioning standard operating procedures, navigating
ethical dilemmas, and adapting their practices in light of contextual knowledge and
public interest (Box et al., 2001; Bartels, 2013).0717513144
In the South African context, characterised by deep inequality, a transformative
constitutional mandate, and a history of administrative colonialism and apartheid, the
need for reflective practice is particularly acute. The public sector is tasked with
advancing social justice, redress, and inclusive development—goals that cannot be
achieved through rigid, rule-bound application alone. They require discretionary
DISCLAIMER
PUB4871 assignment 6 2026 is a guide that help students to answer their 6TH
assignment or portfolios. Students must not copy and paste but rather use the
document as a roadmap through understanding what is expected of them.
, PUB4871 ASSIGNMENT 6/ POE 2026
Title: Cultivating the Reflexive Practitioner: An Analysis of Structured Reflection
Interventions and Their Impact on Administrative Discretion and Ethical Reasoning in
South African Public Administration.
Introduction
The paradigm of Reflective Public Administration (RPA) posits that ethical, adaptive
governance in complex societies requires administrators to be critical, self-aware
agents. This is particularly vital for South Africa’s transformative project, which
demands discretionary judgment informed by constitutional values rather than mere
procedural compliance. However, a significant chasm persists between this theoretical
ideal and embedded practice. This study therefore investigates the practical cultivation
of reflexivity, asking how structured interventions can bridge this gap. It aims to explore
the specific mechanisms—such as communities of practice and critical incident
analysis—that can systematically develop reflective capacity, and to analyse their
impact on administrative discretion and ethical reasoning. The research seeks to move
RPA from abstract scholarship towards actionable strategies for building a more
thoughtful, accountable, and publicly oriented public service.
1. Background and Rationale
Reflective Public Administration (RPA) represents a critical paradigm shift from
traditional, techno-rational models of public service. Moving beyond a focus solely on
efficiency, compliance, and instrumental problem-solving, RPA emphasises the
necessity for administrators to engage in critical, ongoing introspection about their
values, assumptions, and the broader social and political implications of their work
(Schön, 1983; Ventriss, 2000). It posits that effective and legitimate governance in
complex, pluralistic societies require practitioners who are not merely implementers,
but reflexive agents capable of questioning standard operating procedures, navigating
ethical dilemmas, and adapting their practices in light of contextual knowledge and
public interest (Box et al., 2001; Bartels, 2013).0717513144
In the South African context, characterised by deep inequality, a transformative
constitutional mandate, and a history of administrative colonialism and apartheid, the
need for reflective practice is particularly acute. The public sector is tasked with
advancing social justice, redress, and inclusive development—goals that cannot be
achieved through rigid, rule-bound application alone. They require discretionary
