Exploring the use of strategic audit to evaluate strategic management process at the National Prosecuting Authority in Pretoria

Abstract

This study explores the use of strategic audit as a comprehensive tool to evaluate the strategic management process at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Pretoria. Employing a qualitative case study design, the research integrates an extensive literature review with semi-structured interviews involving 16 participants (middle managers and senior/top managers) to examine current practices, identify gaps, and propose contextually relevant improvements. The study extends the application of strategic audit beyond its conventional limitation to the strategy formulation phase, advocating its integration across the full strategic management cycle — formulation, implementation, and review/control. It demonstrates the appropriate use of strategic audit tools as recommended by the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) for public institutions while addressing the critical challenge that most such tools, originally designed for the private (business) sector, require adaptation for the public sector context. Key findings reveal that while NPA managers possess sound theoretical knowledge of strategic audit concepts (including internal and external environmental analysis, tools such as SWOT/SWOC, PESTLE, and others), practical application remains limited, inconsistent, and largely confined to annual planning. This results in strategic drift, internal misalignments, and sub-optimal alignment between the organisation’s capabilities and its external environment. Participants highlighted challenges related to capacity, institutionalisation, tool adaptation, and the integration of audit findings into ongoing performance management. Thematic analysis of the data, supported by rigorous trustworthiness measures (credibility, transferability, dependability, confirmability, and authenticity), underpins practical recommendations. These include institutionalising strategic audit as a continuous process, developing a tailored public-sector framework, building organisational capacity, and establishing mechanisms to integrate audit insights into decision-making and adaptive strategy execution. This research contributes to both theory and practice by providing a nuanced understanding of strategic audit in a South African public prosecutorial context and offering actionable insights for enhancing strategic management effectiveness, organisational performance, and mandate delivery at the NPA and similar public institutions.