Resistance to change: implementing smart working in Italian public administrations

This research explores the opportunities and challenges of smart working in Italian public administration. Using the UTAUT model by Venkatesh et al. (2003), we analyze technological barriers and the impact of regulations on decision-making. We present two case studies of Italian public administrations under different ministries, where smart working adoption varies. One represents a typical case where remote work is possible, while the other is a deviant case where it is not. From a theoretical point of view, our results extend the Venkatesh model by contextualizing it to the Italian reality, and provide important insights in the Human Resource Management area. Our findings reveal that the nonadoption of smart working is not solely a technological issue but is significantly influenced by cultural barriers, such as distrust between managers and employees, as well as a perceived loss of managerial control. While employees are generally eager to embrace smart working to enhance work-life balance and productivity, these cultural barriers create resistance within organizations, and increase employees' turnover intentions. The practical contribution of the research is to provide policy-makers with the necessary tools to establish a labor law framework that highlights the efficiencies and inefficiencies emphasized within the specific contingencies of public administrations

The efficiency score as an indicator of the appropriateness of public spending. A pilot study in Italian Metropolitan Cities.

The management of economic and financial resources is a topic of great interest within public administrations. Measuring the efficiency of public resource utilization is complex because the analysis of processes through planning, programming, and control systems varies depending on the diverse needs of the community. Recently, the concept of public value has led to the testing of measurement systems aimed at achieving synthetic values capable of guiding decision governance towards the optimal use of resources. The criterion of efficiency in public administrations is more problematic than it may appear because efficiency has become synonymous with cost minimization. It is known that such an example does not represent efficiency because what sense would it make to minimize costs in the production of a service for something that is not desired? The notion of efficiency requires a relationship between means (inputs) and ends (outputs/outcomes). The goal of this work is to identify the relationships between means and ends to introduce synthetic indicators, "efficiency scores," of public spending based on the budget data of Italian "metropolitan cities" over the period 2019-2022. The results represent a new evaluation metric to support decision-makers in achieving strategic objectives over time

Performance measurement systems in local authorities: A Systematic Literature Review

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of performance measurement systems in local authorities through a systematic review of international literature. Addressing two specific research questions, it employs a rigorous methodology, analyzing articles sourced from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Data were processed using MySRL and Bibliometrix software, enabling both descriptive and thematic analyses. The findings highlight emerging priorities in public sector performance evaluation, particularly: (1) gender diversity, (2) sustainability, (3) digitalization, and (4) the context of developing countries. This review provides theoretical and practical insights, by systematically synthesizing existing studies and identifying research gaps and offering actionable insights for public managers aiming to enhance organizational evaluation systems and drive improvements in local authorities

Challenges and opportunities of environmental sustainability in the public management of school canteen service. Assessment of European practices

 To-date public procurement is responsible for 15% to worldwide Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions. Within this sector, the average meal provided in school canteen service is responsible for 1.305 kg CO2-eq, mostly due to food preparation impact, in particular meat production from livestock. Under these perspectives towards a Green Public Procurement represents an essential strategy to support the reduction of GHG emissions related to government activities. Particularly, shifting from a high-impact school canteen service to a greener one is necessary. This paper analyzes some models of school canteen services provided in a sample of public European schools, included the Italian ones, for highlighting the several approaches of environmental sustainability, food policies and public procurement programs adopted by municipalities. Specifically, this study compared the models of school canteen services adopted by some local authorities and the environmental performance achieved, outlining also the reduction of GHG emissions documented by some European countries. In conclusion, the combination of procurement models, food policies and environmental sustainability approaches can support public authorities in the administration of a meal in line with human health, environmental sustainability and economic return, without compromising without compromising the supply chain

The potential theoretical effects of structured dialogue in public research funding processes: Illustrated with a medical research case from a high-income country in Europe

European medical research projects are becoming increasingly diverse and international. Researchers are encouraged to engage with stakeholders in society to ensure that research and innovation make substantive contributions to societal well-being. The medical and social cost of dementia for society is higher than for cancer, but dementia researchers are awarded only a fraction of the cancer research funding amount. This theoretical study, accompanied by an empirical case from a high-income country in Europe, suggests that public research funding models do not align the medical research objectives of policymakers, public decision-makers and executing researchers and that the introduction of structured dialogue between the parties can mitigate this misalignment. This impacts the research in less mature sciences, such as dementia research, more negatively. Implementation of structured dialogue in the public research funding processes will reduce stakeholder tensions and improve the achievement of the participating parties' objectives. Structured dialogue can be implemented through a proven World Café dialogue method

Inter-municipal cooperation performance measurement: a critical literature review and research agenda

Inter-municipal cooperation (IMC) is a popular policy lacking appropriate performance measurement. This paper critically examines academic literature on the performance measurement of inter-municipal cooperation. It suggests a starting point for new evaluation research specific to IMC. Relevant papers are analysed to identify and explore potential research paths and formulate an agenda. The main criticality tackled by this review regards the "measurement for the sake of measurement" mindset, which leads to unbalance towards quantitative data, which is insufficient to reflect the complexities of public administration. Starting from the results, we posit a research agenda for further investigation of the performance of local shared services. &nbsp

A Bayesian citation indicator of individual scientific performance combining impact factor and citation rate

Purpose: The rise of New Public Management has led to growing demand for indicators to measure scientific performance. This paper presents a novel measure of individual scientific output that combines impact factor and citation rate in one metric.Design/methodology/approach: The underlying methodology is a Bayesian shrinkage estimation.Findings: This Bayesian citation indicator of individual scientific performance combines impact factor and citation rate in one metric. It calculates the weighted-average scientific impact over the remaining life of a published article. The estimator is able to account for the uncertainty associated with the future citation rate of an article.Conclusions: This paper presents a novel measure of individual scientific output. By considering information from different metrics, it limits the disadvantages and assumptions imposed by a single metric

Fostering collaborative innovation: the effects of red tape and organizational culture

While red tape and organizational culture are key conditions for public sector innovation, their effects remain largely untested in the collaborative innovation context. This research examines the effects of four types of organizational culture on collaborative innovation, compares the effects of red tape at the organizational level and red tape related to projects, and explores the interrelationship between these variables. A survey among top managers of the Belgian federal and Flemish administrations (n=920), shows that project red tape and organizational red tape have different effects on collaborative innovation, while both a developmental and a rational culture positively affect collaborative innovation

Creating Public Value within the Smart Energy Communities (SECs): A Theoretical Framework for Hybrid Organizations

Hybrid organizations, such as Smart Energy Communities (SECs), play a pivotal role in the dynamic landscape of the energy sector by attempting to harmonize the pursuit of both public and private value. As the transition to a sustainable and smart energy future gains momentum, understanding how these organizations effectively balance these dual objectives and create public value becomes paramount. This paper investigates the intricate dynamics influencing the ability of hybrid organizations to effectively create public value. Factors such as governance structures, stakeholder relationships, and mission alignment will be explored in depth to illuminate the strategies employed by these organizations to reconcile dual goals. Furthermore, this work develops a theoretical framework that enhances our understanding of the mechanisms and strategies employed by hybrid organizations to optimize public value creation. The framework considers the diverse missions, stakeholders, and organizational structures present within hybrid organizations. It integrates concepts from organizational theory, public management, and corporate social responsibility to provide a holistic view of the factors that contribute to the creation of public value in these complex entities. By systematically analyzing these factors, the paper offers practical insights for SECs and policymakers seeking to enhance their effectiveness in driving positive social and environmental impacts

Increasing motivation and performance. Evidence from the misleading use of rewards in the public sector

Purpose This paper investigates the use of monetary and non-monetary rewards in the public sector and explores their relationship with managers' performance and motivation. Design methodology approach A questionnaire had been administered to a sample of public sector managers of all Italian municipalities with over 50,000 inhabitants. We randomly selected 30% of the population and we received 240 usable questionnaires (response rate of about 40%). Motivation has been measured on the framework of SDT with 3 items for each dimension (intrinsic and extrinsic) tested on a five-point Likert scale. We measured performance with 3 items tested on a five-point Likert scale. To test the relationships among the variables, a confirmatory factor analysis has been performed. Findings Existing monetary rewards seem not to be associated with job quality, extrinsic motivation, and intrinsic motivation. Job quality is positively related to verbal recognition for performance. Extrinsic and intrinsic motivation are both positively related to being given more autonomy/power, and extrinsic motivation also to being involved in the definition of objectives for the following year, as non-monetary rewards. Originality/value Reward systems are widely considered one of the cornerstones of the managerialized public sector. Though, robust studies investigating the actual rewarding practices and the effectiveness of monetary and non-monetary incentives are still limited