A qualification in Operations Management can open doors beyond traditional business and production environments, equipping graduates with skills to contribute to organisational effectiveness and public service delivery. For Durban University of Technology (DUT) alumna Ms Bonisiwe Ngcobo, this has been the foundation of a career that has progressed from an internship to a strategic leadership role in government.
Ngcobo is currently a Deputy Director: Organisational Development in the Eastern Cape Office of the Premier, where she contributes to organisational planning, policy development and initiatives aimed at improving government operations.
Her journey began at DUT in 2008, when she enrolled for a National Diploma in Operations Management in the Department of Quality and Operations Management, within the Faculty of Management Sciences, at the ML Sultan Campus.
After matriculating from Umlazi Comprehensive Technical High School (Comtech) in 2004, Ngcobo worked at a call centre for two years to save money for her university registration. Her determination enabled her to pursue her studies and establish the foundation for her professional career.
“I completed my National Diploma in Operations Management in 2010 and graduated in 2011. In the same year, I was appointed as an intern in Organisational Development in the KwaZulu-Natal Office of the Premier in Pietermaritzburg,” Ngcobo said.
Her first appointment introduced her to organisational development within government. In 2012, she became a Workstudy Analyst and continued advancing her academic qualifications, obtaining a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) degree in Operations Management in 2013.
In 2016, she progressed to the position of Assistant Director: Organisational Development, where her responsibilities expanded to include policy development across the province.
“I was tasked with policy development for organisational development across the whole province, among other functions. The role of Assistant Director: OD exposed me to the strategic side of operations management,” she said.
This experience helped broaden her understanding of Operations Management beyond its traditional association with production, demonstrating how the discipline can be applied to organisational structures, workforce planning and government administration.
In her current role as Deputy Director: Organisational Development in the Eastern Cape Office of the Premier, Ngcobo works on matters that support the effective functioning of government departments.
“This role requires a strategic individual, with responsibilities ranging from ensuring all departments in the province have approved organisational structures, promoting service delivery improvement interventions to managing the job evaluation process for the province,” she said.
Her responsibilities also include advising senior government officials, heads of departments and Members of the Executive Council (MECs) on organisational development matters.
For Ngcobo, the value of her qualification lies in its practical application to the work of government and its contribution to the broader public sector.
Reflecting on her career choice, she said she initially associated Operations Management primarily with production management and had not fully anticipated the opportunities it could offer in the public sector.
“It has brought me an undefined sense of fulfilment to know that I contribute immensely behind the scenes of the machinery of government and that I indirectly play a role in the improvement of South Africa,” she said.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ngcobo believes that values-driven leadership is essential to building an ethical and developmental state. She highlighted the relevance of DUT’s ENVISION2030 Values Framework, which she believes aligns strongly with the Batho Pele principles.
Looking ahead, she intends to continue developing professionally by pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA). She also aspires to progress into senior executive leadership and mentor other Organisational Development practitioners.
Ngcobo’s journey illustrates how a qualification in Operations Management can create opportunities across different sectors, including strategic roles in government. Her experience highlights the value of applying operational and organisational expertise to public service, while demonstrating the diverse career pathways that DUT graduates can pursue.
Photo supplied
Thulasizwe Nkomo
