News this week that the State IT Agency's (SITA's) CEO position may still take some time to fill, had me thinking of the impact this must have on the organisation - and others in similar positions.
My thoughts took me back to a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) briefing I attended earlier this year. For me, the highlight of this particular briefing was an aside by trade and industry minister Mandisi Mpahlwa.
Introducing new members to his management team, the minister - in an unprecedented display of humour and self-deprecation - noted that for some time his department had resembled Hollywood, as many senior positions were held in an "acting" capacity.
Body doubles
Looking around at the ICT industry, I realise the DTI is not alone in its Hollywood status.
Apart from SITA, Telkom, the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA), the Department of Home Affairs, the Universal Services and Access Agency of SA (USAASA) and arivia.kom have all had their share of recruitment woes.
Of course, these organisations are not alone; however, the nature of their vacancies is noteworthy.
Next month will mark a year since ex-CEO Mavuso Msimang told the SITA board it needed to find a replacement. When he "abruptly" left eight months later to join Home Affairs, the agency appointed non-executive board member Peter Pedlar as acting CEO.
Msimang himself has been unable to fill Home Affairs' CIO vacancy, which has been open since October. It's difficult to establish whether someone holds this position in an acting capacity.
Telkom's Reuben September has held the telco's top spot for four months. Along with four other Telkom executives holding "chief" positions at the fixed-line giant, September holds his place in an acting capacity.
Failure to fill arivia's top spot is understandable. Currently held in an acting capacity by Kiruben Pillay, the organisation would find it near impossible to find a candidate willing to take on the role given the company's ownership - and therefore, future - is uncertain.
Meanwhile, ICASA and USAASA have, in recent months, been able to fill their top spots after eight and four months, respectively.
Script changes
Holding a position in an acting capacity is a little like being lost in the ocean - you just never know how long you will be in the situation.
Kimberly Guest, senior journalist, ITWeb
Of course, it's easy to poke fun at these organisations' failing recruitment policies. However, the lengthy time to fill positions is a concern for the companies and indeed should be for the industry as a whole.
Holding a position in an acting capacity is a little like being lost in the ocean - you just never know how long you will be in the situation.
Should you tread water? Perhaps float a little to save energy? Or should you develop a strategy to get yourself to shore?
Companies can ill-afford for their top people to be focused on the short-term alone. Senior people need to be looking ahead, formulating strategies and implementing plans in order for the company to survive.
But what is the point when a new person - with his or her own ideas and plans - could enter from stage left and upset the status quo?
Hollywood is fantastic for entertainment and a great money-spinner for those involved. But ours is not the movie industry. Isn't it time we got back on track?
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