Varia Ranah - Sorotan Ilmiah Perkhidmatan Awam

332 Varia Ranah: Sorotan Ilmiah Perkhidmatan Awam Though introducing the Blue Ocean Strategy (BOS) can be seen as the latest trend in the management market, it is not suitable for the Malaysian Public Service to embark in such strategy, as the Malaysian Public Service is a “service-oriented” and not “market profit-oriented” entity. Instead, the Malaysian Public Service should establish its own unique model, especially in appointing the suitable candidate for leadership succession, based on criterion that is often referred by established leadership theorists and global successful private firms. LITERATURE REVIEW The concept of leadership succession has long been a subject of study in the private sector, but not in the public sector. Out of 130 studies of leadership, management or succession planning conducted between 1980 and 1993, only five involved the public sector (Kesner and Sebora, 1994). Nonetheless, succession planning is increasingly discussed in the public sector and the dangers of not having adequate succession plans and mechanisms in place are becoming more obvious (Cipolla, 1993). Succession planning is the means by which an organization prepares for and replaces leaders, managers, executives and other key employees who leave their positions. It is crucial and important to the organization for its continuity and future success (Gilmore, 1988). This process includes how the organization identifies and recruits’ successors, how it manages transitions from one personnel to another and how it develops successors. Planning a succession can also involve identifying potential employees and including them in special training and development for future leadership roles. This practice of succession planning is key to sustaining an organization’s initiatives and performance, to ensure it meets it goals in the future. Leadership succession planning in the private sector has been more formalized than that of the public sector. The lack of focus on succession planning in the public sector has had severed impacts, and according to