Measuring the effectiveness of the code of conduct for Supply Chain Management Practitioners within the Western Cape Government

Unethical behaviour is now recognised as one of the South African (SA) government’s greatest challenges in the public sector. The Public Service Commission (PSC) has stated that the five most common manifestations of the unethical behaviour which is on the increase in the SA public sector are corruption, fraud and bribery, mismanagement of government funds, abuse of government resources and procurement irregularities. The focus of this study is on the analysis of the effectiveness of the code of conduct for the SCM practitioners. It is an important task for the Western Cape Government (WCG) in ensuring that all the relevant employees are aware of such code. This study proposes a conceptual framework that has been developed from literature to assist WCG in effecting the said code, with the aim of improving supply chain management performance. The effectiveness was exploratively tested by means of empirical research to determine whether all the relevant employees are aware of the code of conduct for the SCM practitioners. The study concluded that the code of conduct for the SCM practitioners is not fully effective within the Western Cape Government, as some of the participants lack awareness of the said code.Graduate School of Business LeadershipM.B.L

Play Fair at the Olympics

CCC_playfairovertimeolympicreporteng.pdf: 253 downloads, before Oct. 1, 2020

A P2P Optimistic Fair Exchange (OFE) Scheme For Personal Health Records Using Blockchain Technology

In today’s digital world, it is common to exchange sensitive data between different parties. There are many examples of sensitive data or documents that require a digital exchange, such as banking information, insurance data, health records. In many cases, the exchange exists between unknown and untrusted parties. Therefore, it is essential to execute the data exchange over a fair non-repudiation protocol. In digital communication, non-repudiation is undeniable evidence of one’s responsibility regarding the validity of any data he shares/receives. Usually, this is achieved by the use of a cryptographic digital signature. In this case, the parties cannot deny the authenticity of their digital signature. The protocol satisfies the fairness property if and only if it does not give the sender any advantages over the receiver or vice versa, at any step during the exchange process. Combining fair exchange and non-repudiation for digital exchange is critical in many applications and can be acquired with or without the involvement of any trusted third party (TTP). However, without the involvement of TTP, fairness becomes probabilistic, and the involvement of TTP can cause significant dependency on the third party. Therefore, a peer-to-peer (P2P) (aka offline) fair non-repudiation protocol that does not require a trusted third-party is desirable in many applications. Blockchain is designed in such a way that the network can handle the trustless environment and deliver the correct result. Thus, if the exchanges are done leveraging Blockchain, it will ensure true fairness, and at the same time, none of the participants have to deal with the trust issue. In this thesis we propose a P2P fair non-repudiation data exchange scheme by leveraging Blockchain and distributed ledger technology. The scheme combines on-chain and off-chain communication patterns to enable the exchange of personal health records between patients and healthcare providers. We provide an informal reasoning of the proposed scheme. Moreover, we propose a design and implementation agnostic to existing Blockchain platforms to enable unbiased evaluation of the proposed scheme. Finally, we make a comparative analysis of the result derived from our approach with the existing one

The influence of Supply Chain Management on service delivery in KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport.

Master of Commerce in Management. University of KwaZulu-Natal. Pietermartzburg, 2017.ABSTRACT Supply chain management is the tool that was introduced by government to ensure that services are delivered effectively and efficiently through citizens of the country. Goods and services are provided to serve the interest of the people to deal with macroeconomic factors such as unemployment, poverty eradication, economic growth, health and education. The Department of Transport’s core functions are to construct, repair and maintain the provincial road network, as well as plan, regulate and provide an integrated transportation system. The Department is also responsible for managing road traffic systems. In conducting its business, the Department should ensure that it creates job opportunities and develops human resources and communities in support of the provincial growth and development plan. Supply chain management is the vehicle that will drive the department in fulfilling its mandate. If service delivery is compromised, the country could face huge protests, which often result in vandalizing of the infrastructure that is very costly to the state. Supply chain management plays a crucial role in influencing service delivery. Hence, the decision to conduct this study to explore the influence of supply chain management on service delivery at KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport. Non-probability sampling, the purpose sampling method, was used to select 15 participants. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were used to generate data from participants to understand the phenomenon under the study. This data collection technique gave the researcher an opportunity to follow up on interesting issues that emerged during the interviews and it also enables valuable information to be gained through probing the participants. Data collected was analysed using a thematic method. Findings revealed that proper planning is very important for linking demand management with the budget available. Accountability and responsibility is important when making decisions that will compromise service delivery. Supply chain management must be implemented to yield the results that will benefit all the stakeholders and necessary precautions should be taken to eliminate fruitless and wasteful expenditure

A New Paradigm to Address Bid Protests

Sponsored Report (for Acquisition Research Program)distribution unlimited.The goal of this study is to offer senior decision-makers a useful framework to evaluate, articulate, and recommend modifications of the government''s bid protest policy to improve procurement outcomes. Most countries allow disappointed bidders to protest public procurement decisions as an oversight mechanism to minimize fraud and errors by procurement officials. The expectation is that allowing bid protests increases transparency and accountability and encourages competition, reducing the cost of public purchases. A key contribution of this study is to add an economics dimension to a bid protest process that is mostly thought of in legal terms. The economics approach suggests firms are likely to use the protest process strategically to improve their competitive bargaining position and will be equally strategic in their decision to protest an award. The conclusion is that a firm''s responsibility to its shareholders can lead it to undertake protests for reasons substantially different from, and fundamentally opposed to, the government''s objectives. The economics approach suggests minimizing the risk of protests that result in cost overruns, schedule delays, and performance gaps, while preserving the benefits offered by protests to promote competition and ensure the integrity, transparency, and accountability of the procurement process. Adopting an economics perspective reveals two other crucial insights: firms can exploit protests to extract concessions (Fed Mail), and risk-averse officials can overreact in attempts to achieve protest-proof procurements (Buy-offs). In recognizing costs as well as benefits of a protest system, the economics approach invites a review of alternative portfolios of governance mechanisms that complement bid protests (internal audits, external audits, independent investigations, alternative dispute resolution, increased training and incentives, etc.), to improve procurement outcomes.Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research ProgramApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Characterisation framework of key policy, regulatory and governance dynamics and impacts upon European food value chains: Fairer trading practices, food integrity, and sustainability collaborations. : VALUMICS project “Understanding Food Value Chains and Network Dynamics” funded by EU Horizon 2020 G.A. No 727243. Deliverable D3.3

The report provides a framework that categorises the different European Union (EU) policies, laws and governance actions identified as impacting upon food value chains in the defined areas of: fairer trading practices, food integrity (food safety and authenticity), and sustainability collaborations along food value chains. A four-stage framework is presented and illustrated with examples. The evidence shows that European Union policy activity impacting upon food value chain dynamics is increasing, both in terms of the impacts of policies upon the chains, and, in terms of addressing some of the more contentious outcomes of these dynamics. A number of policy priorities are at play in addressing the outcomes of food value chain dynamics. unevenness of the distribution of profit within food value chains, notably to farmers. Regulation of food safety and aspects of authenticity has been a key focus for two decades to ensure a functioning single market while ensuring consumer health and wellbeing. A food chain length perspective has been attempted, notably through regulations such as the General Food Law, and the rationalisation of the Official Controls on food and feed safety. However, there are still gaps in the effective monitoring and transparency of food safety and of food integrity along value chains, as exemplified by misleading claims and criminal fraud. This has led to renewed policy actions over food fraud, in particular. EU regulations, policies and related governance initiatives provide an important framework for national-level actions for EU member states and for EEA members. The more tightly EU-regulated areas, such as food safety, see fewer extra initiatives, but where there is a more general strategic policy and governance push, such as food waste reduction or food fraud, there is greater independent state-level activity. Likewise, there is much more variation in the application of both national and European (Competition) law to govern unfair trading practices impacting upon food value chains. This report presents the findings of a survey of members from the VALUMICS stakeholder platform, that were policy facing food value chain stakeholders across selected European countries, including both EU and EEA Member States. The survey was conducted to check the significance of the main policies identified in the mapping exercise at EU and national levels and so to incorporate the views of stakeholders in the research. The responses suggest the policy concerns identified in EU and national-level research resonate with food value chain stakeholders in participating nations. The report concludes by exploring in more detail how the themes of fairness and of transparency are being handled in the policy activities presented. Highlighted are the ways that both fairness and transparency can be extended within the existing frameworks of EU policy activity. The findings in this report provide an important context for further and detailed research analysis of the workings and dynamics of European food value chains under the VALUMICS project

Pass-through of unfair trading practices in EU food supply chains

This report presents the results of the research project “Pass-Through of Unfair Trading Practices in EU Food Supply Chains: Methodology and Empirical Application”. The purpose of the project is to design and test a monitoring system of unfair trading practices (UTP) along the agri-food supply chain. The investigation has special focus on assessment of the “pass-through effect”, defined as the consequences for the entire supply chain of UTPs adopted in a specific transaction. The report includes: (i) a review of the economic literature for a better understanding of the economic principles of UTPs; (ii) a review of available data sources and past experiences in UTP monitoring; (iii) the illustration of two alternative approaches for UTP monitoring: B-SEA (broad-scope empirical analysis) and IDEA (in-depth analysis); (iv) a test application of the two approaches to the EU fresh fruit sector; (v) a comparative analysis of the IDEA and B-SEA results and (vi) a discussion of the implications of our research.JRC.D.4-Economics of Agricultur

The Uneasy Case for the Flat Tax

There is a secret paradox at the heart of social contract theories. Such theories assume that, because personal security and private property are at risk in a state of nature, subjects will agree to grant Leviathan a monopoly of violence. But what is to prevent Leviathan from turning on his subjects once they have lain down their arms? If Leviathan has the same incentives as his subjects in the Hobbesian state of nature, he will plunder them more thoroughly than ever they plundered themselves in the state of nature. Thus the social contract always leaves subjects worse off, unless Leviathan can fetter himself. And how can Leviathan bind himself, if he can always impose confiscatory taxes or choke off trade through inefficient regulations? This Article suggests that schemes of progressive taxation, in which marginal tax rates increase with taxable income, may be seen as a useful incentive strategy to bribe Leviathan from imposing inefficient regulations. Income taxes give Leviathan an equity claim in his state's economy, and progressive taxes give him a greater residual interest in upside payoffs. Leviathan will then demand a higher side payment from interest groups to impose value- destroying regulations. Of course, progressive taxation imposes its own incentive costs, by reducing the subject's private gains. However, these costs must be balanced against the gains from correcting Leviathan's misincentives, and it may that such gains exceed the costs of progressive taxation.flat tax, Hobbes, political economy, Leviathan, regulation,mandates, constitutions, progressive taxation

Bangladesh in the 21st Century: the harvard conference recommendations

This is an Open Access Article. It is published by Journal of Bangladesh Studies, Editor: Dr. Syed Saad Andaleeb.On June 13-14, 2008, an international conference was organized by Bangladesh Development Initiative, Democracy and Development in Bangladesh Forum, and the Ash Institute of Democratic Governance at Harvard University’s Center for Government and International Studies (CGIS) to address the theme: Bangladesh in the 21st Century. The purpose of the conference was to bring together scholars, practitioners, students, and well-wishers as a community to contemplate the opportunities and challenges facing Bangladesh. The response was overwhelming. About ninety papers were submitted from four continents covering topics as diverse as foreign policy and infrastructure to health care, education, politics, and even shrimp culture. From the submitted papers, about sixty were ultimately chosen for presentation. In addition there were two panel discussions on foreign policy and the accomplishments of “BRAC at 35.” The conference sessions were embellished by luncheon and dinner speakers who, in their own rights, added further dimension and richness to the already star-studded list of participants. A cultural program was also organized by the Boston community that struck a deep chord with the theme of the conference. Highlights of the conference and key recommendations are summarized here for various stakeholders: the political leadership and its administrative wing to contemplate, adapt and adopt; for researchers and scholars to embellish and build upon; and the general reader to be informed of the policy options.Publishe

What a performance: performance related pay in the public services.

Linking pay to performance is something employers increasingly seek to achieve. This was once seen as an objective which could only be met in the private sector. That is no longer true. In the 1990s the British public services have experienced a revolution which has attracted the interest and concern of public service managers and unions around the world. The days when government officials marched in step up incremental pay scales are gone. Virtually all civil servants are now subject to new forms of performance management, or performance pay. This approach now extends to many other areas of the public services. But are these new systems of financial reward as effective as their creators had hoped? This is one of the questions which prompted the substantial programme of research carried out by David Marsden and Stephen French under the auspices of the Industrial Relations programme of the Centre for Economic Performance (with financial assistance from the Anglo-German Foundation). It is the most extensive study of its kind, looking at performance pay systems in the Inland Revenue and the Employment Service; within the NHS; and in the teaching profession.