65,036 research outputs found
Recommended from our members
Exploring e-government in the state of Qatar: Benefits, challenges and complexities
Information and communication technology facilities offered by the Internet have encouraged not only business enterprises, but also governments around the globe to invest significantly into electronic service delivery in the form of e-government. Despite many lessons that can be learned from the experiences of those e-government initiatives, developing countries are still faced with various issues pertaining to the implementation of e-government services in their countries. Like many other developing countries, the e-government initiative in Qatar has faced a number of challenges since its inception in 2000. Using survey and interview based research this paper examines some of these challenges from a citizens' and governments' perspective. Among others, this research found that although having a superior ICT infrastructure and being one of the regional broadband leaders in the Arab World, issues such as lack of awareness, bureaucratic business practices, socio-cultural issues and citizens' satisfaction levels of current national e-government strategy was influencing the adoption of e-government services in the state of Qatar
The introduction of mandatory inter-municipal cooperation in small municipalities: preliminary lessons from Italy
PurposeThis article studies effects of mandatory inter-municipal cooperation (IMC) in small Italian municipalities. Data from 280 small Italian municipalities on effects of IMC in terms of higher efficiency, better effectiveness of local public services, and greater institutional legitimacy of the small municipalities participating in IMC have been investigated against four variables: size; geographical area; type of inter-municipal integration and IMC membership (the presence in the IMC of a bigger municipality, the so-called big brother).Design/methodology/approachData were gathered from a mail survey that was sent to a random sample of 1,360 chief financial officers acting in municipalities of under 5,000 inhabitants, stratified by size (0â1,000 and 1,001â5,000) and geographic area (North, Center, and South) criteria. To analyze dependency relationships between the three potential effects of participating in IMC and possible explanatory variables, we used a logistic regression model as the benefits were binarily categorized (presence or absence of benefits).FindingsFindings show that in more than two-thirds of the municipalities participating in IMC there were benefits in terms of costs reduction and better public services, whereas
greater institutional legitimacy was detected in about half of the cases. Our statistical analysis with logistic regression highlighted that IMC type is particularly critical for
explaining successful IMC. In particular, positive effects of IMC were mainly detected in those small municipalities that promoted a service delivery organization rather than participating in service delivery agreements or opting for mixed arrangements of joint public services delivery.Originality/valueThe paper focuses on small municipalities where studies are usually scant. Our analysis highlighted that the organizational setting is particularly critical for explaining successful IMC
Unveiling vertical state downscaling: identity and/or the economy?
State rescaling may take a variety of shapes although scant research has been carried out into the mechanisms and economic incentives that underpin rescaling processes. Recent literature in economics, economic sociology and political economy has identified at least two broad rescaling mechanisms, namely the development of regional identity - operating at the cultural level and proxing preference heterogeneity-, and the heterogeneity in levels of economic development, which influence the extent of regional redistribution. This paper empirically examines the mechanisms of vertical state rescaling by drawing upon empirical evidence from Catalonia and the Basque Country, to explore the evolution of sub-state identity and the rise of inter-territorial fiscal grievances - weakening intraregional economic solidarity. Findings corroborate the idea that the combination of widening sub-national identity raises the costs of managing heterogeneous spatial identities and strengthens support for vertical state downscaling. Similarly, ending regional fiscal solidarity it is found to increase the average income of Catalonia by 37% and even 17% in the Basque Country. However, the effect of regional identity exceeds that of regional redistribution in explaining state rescaling support in the magnitude of one to seven. These findings speak to the debate on the formation of Europe, in that they reveal limits to regional redistribution and highlight the importance of a common spatial identity
Knowledge and learning capabilities in non-profit organizations: a relational capital perspective
Relational capital (RC) represents the knowledge and learning capabilities embedded in relationships external to an organization. The primary goal of this paper is to report preliminary findings through qualitative in-depth interviews collected from 35 senior executives in relation to their perceptions of RC in building knowledge and enhancing learning capability in 22 Australian nonprofit
organizations. The findings revealed that RC was valued as the concept perceived to be able to assist nonprofit managers to conceptualize the development of knowledge and learning capabilities in external stakeholder relationships. However, the understanding and application of RC were substantially different to those contained in the literature. Scholars suggest that a balanced view of RC is essential when establishing external stakeholder relationships. The nonprofit managers often adopted a more
focused relationship with key external stakeholders, which also happened to be primary fund providers for the organizations. Research implications of this theory-practice divide are discussed. Research limitations and future research direction are presented in the paper
Fiscal decentralisation in Europe : a review of recent experience
In this paper we review countries' diverse experiences to draw conclusions on the pitfalls and opportunities that are open through decentralisation of governments' fiscal responsibilities to sub-central jurisdictions. We begin by reviewing the theoretical arguments for and against the decentralisation of spending responsibilities. We also provide a cross country comparison of the extent to which spending powers have been devolved in a range of European countries, putting each country's position into a wider context. Second, we review some insights from the theory of fiscal federalism on fiscal autonomy and assess the extent of autonomy at subcentral tiers of government in the same set of countries. We discuss the approaches that have been followed, and a number of the difficulties that particular countries have faced, as the fiscal autonomy of sub-central tiers of government has evolved. Our conclusions are set out in the final section
Corporate social responsibility in the tourism industry. Some lessons from the Spanish experience
Tourism has been, and still is, a very profitable industry in Spain. But the Spanish model of tourism development, following a pattern set in the 1950s, is now in crisis. The crisis is apparent in the widespread overdevelopment of tourist resorts and residential facilities in coastal areas, generating high environmental, social and economic costs. In this paper, we describe the Spanish model of tourism, the results it has achieved, the reasons for its longevity and the obstacles facing any attempt to change it. Given the failure of individual, collective and political action to solve the problems ofoverdevelopment, we ask whether corporate social responsibility and its theoretical foundations and instruments offer a solution.Spanish model of tourism; Corporate social responsibility; Overdevelopment; Tourism; Residential tourism;
Global Innovation Policy Index
Ranks fifty-five nations' strategies to boost innovation capacity: policies on trade, scientific research, information and communications technologies, tax, intellectual property, domestic competition, government procurement, and high-skill immigration
An overview of marketing opportunities in wine tourism with special reference to Malta
Wine tourism has become the latest âbuzz wordâ in niche tourism marketing along with the slow-food movement. It is growing in popularity in traditional wine-making regions, such as Italy and France (old world wine), but also in the new world of wine production, namely Australia, New Zealand, and America where wine tourism is a major industry. This has been assisted by the prominent sales and exposure of their wines globally. As a result, most available research in this field has been conducted in the new world and wine-makers have a good, although not conclusive understanding of their consumers and also the wine tourist. It is an important segment with many governments supporting initiatives undertaken by wineries as they understand the value of such a market and its âknock onâ
effect on the local economy and other areas of industry such as accommodation, restaurants, and farmers. Since Malta has a tradition of wine-making, critical success factors as identified by Getz et al (2006) were considered in a Maltese context to
determine its potential as a wine tourism destination. Although, Malta does exhibit many positive criteria for success in this area, there are also many challenges. There is the need for substantial academic research in this area and further co-operation between
various stakeholders, both private and public, in order to create a synergy that could determine a positive economic outcome and opportunity.peer-reviewe
Between patronage and good governance: organizational arrangements in (local) public appointment processes
This article investigates whether certain organizational arrangements in (local) public appointment processes could encourage the use of appointments as a tool of good governance rather than as a tool of patronage. Specifically, we studied the role of six organizational arrangements in 10 case studies of intra- and inter-organizational public appointment processes held in Italian local government. We found that good governance (in terms of perception of overall integrity and fairness) was found in processes of public appointments where there was independent scrutiny, and when the process involved local councillors and/or external stakeholders â that is, actors beyond those with the formal power to appoint. In these cases, making appointments was seen as a tool of good governance rather than of patronage. These organizational arrangements were more relevant than other ones such as the transparency of public advertisements, job descriptions and educational/professional requirements, and media and public awareness. The article describes the relevant literature and the research study, and discusses implications for research, policy and management
- âŠ