Management information systems in social safety net programs : a look at accountability and control mechanisms

This paper is intended to provide task managers and World Bank Group clients working on Social Safety Net (SSN) programs with practical and systematic ways to use information management practices to mitigate risks by strengthening control and accountability mechanisms. It lays out practices and options to consider in the design and implementation of the Management Information System (MIS), and how to evaluate and mitigate operational risks originating from running a MIS. The findings of the paper are based on the review of several Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programs in the Latin American Region and various World Bank publications on CCTs. The paper presents a framework for the implementation of MIS and cross-cutting information management systems that is based on industry standards and information management practices. This framework can be applied both to programs that make use of information and communications technology (ICT) and programs that are paper based. It includes examples of MIS practices that can strengthen control and accountability mechanisms of SSN programs, and presents a roadmap for the design and implementation of an MIS in these programs. The application of the framework is illustrated through case studies from three fictitious countries. The paper concludes with some considerations and recommendations for task managers and government officials in charge of implementing CCTs and other safety nets program, and with a checklist for the implementation and monitoring of MIS.E-Business,Technology Industry,Education for Development (superceded),Labor Policies,Knowledge Economy

Practical Guidelines and Major Issues in Information Security Management Systems Implementations

Information is a major asset for any organization, to public or private. Threatsto information and information handling resources are getting more sophisticatedcontinuously. Also, regulatory requirements for data and system protection areincreasing in number as well as complexity. There are number of frameworks todeal with these issues systematically and effectively. One of such framework is theISO 27001 Information Security Management System (ISMS), which provides aframework for organizations to protect themselves against internal and externalthreats as well as natural disasters. The ISMS provides guidelines on how tomanage information processing, storage and transmission with appropriate controlsin order to avoid any security breaches. ISMS considers people, policies and ITtechnology as major categories of a security system. An organizations personal hasto be trained for establishing, implementing, operating, monitoring, reviewing,maintaining and continuous improving ISMS. Implementation of ISMS requiresrole-model attitude from the top management. Without a visionary and supportiveleadership, the ISMS cannot be used to properly identify and address the risks for anorganization. The practices show that an effective ISMS operation may requiremajor changes to some routine work practices. Clear direction from seniormanagers as well as coordination/support among team members is crucial for asuccessful ISMS project execution. In this work, some practical guidelines forsuccessful, cost effective and functional ISMS implementation will be provided.Also, observations gathered from years of auditing trails and lessons obtainedthrough practical applications will be presented. Major considerations for thesuccess/failure of security systems shall be discussed. It is concluded that security ispreparation of adequate policies/procedures/instructions and the support of wellinformed/diligent people, rather than utilization of sophisticated high-technologies.The importance of human factor for the success such management systems will beexemplified with real-life cases

The importance of ISO management system standards in a scenario of profound changes caused by the Covid-19 pandemic to Brazilian companies

Goal: The aim of this viewpoint is characterized by emphasizing the importance of the management standards of the International Organization for Standardization as an information base for improvements to Brazilian managers in a scenario of profound changes caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Design / Methodology / Approach: Initially, a brief bibliographic research was carried out to base some information presented in the text. Later, the authors of this viewpoint discussed their ideas and established the reflections presented here, many of them based on their experiences and the Brazilian context. Finally, the final considerations were established. Results: The main reflections are directed in the sense that most Brazilian companies have felt harshly the consequences of the economic crisis resulting from the pandemic of Covid-19 and, in some way, they need to rethink some of their administrative practices. In this scenario of profound organizational changes, we believe that the management standards of the International Organization for Standardization can be characterized as an important knowledge base, since they present information of high credibility, widely debated by experts and that are easily accessible to Brazilian managers in different themes. Limitations of the investigation: Since it is a viewpoint, part of the information presented here are the perceptions and considerations of the authors. Practical implications: This viewpoint shows that the standards of the International Organization for Standardization can be used as an important tool for management systems focused on innovation and employee skills management. Originality / Value: We hope with this viewpoint to advocate for ISO management standards as important instruments of continuous improvement in a scenario of many organizational changes for Brazilian companies

Review of best management practices for aquatic vegetation control in stormwater ponds, wetlands, and lakes

Auckland Council (AC) is responsible for the development and operation of a stormwater network across the region to avert risks to citizens and the environment. Within this stormwater network, aquatic vegetation (including plants, unicellular and filamentous algae) can have both a positive and negative role in stormwater management and water quality treatment. The situations where management is needed to control aquatic vegetation are not always clear, and an inability to identify effective, feasible and economical control options may constrain management initiatives. AC (Infrastructure and Technical Services, Stormwater) commissioned this technical report to provide information for decision- making on aquatic vegetation management with in stormwater systems that are likely to experience vegetation-related issues. Information was collated from a comprehensive literature review, augmented by knowledge held by the authors. This review identified a wide range of management practices that could be potentially employed. It also demonstrated complexities and uncertainties relating to these options that makes the identification of a best management practice difficult. Hence, the focus of this report was to enable users to screen for potential options, and use reference material provided on each option to confirm the best practice to employ for each situation. The report identifies factors to define whether there is an aquatic vegetation problem (Section 3.0), and emphasises the need for agreed management goals for control (e.g. reduction, mitigation, containment, eradication). Resources to screen which management option(s) to employ are provided (Section 4.0), relating to the target aquatic vegetation, likely applicability of options to the system being managed, indicative cost, and ease of implementation. Initial screening allows users to shortlist potential control options for further reference (Section 5.0). Thirty-five control options are described (Section 5.0) in sufficient detail to consider applicability to individual sites and species. These options are grouped under categories of biological, chemical or physical control. Biological control options involve the use of organisms to predate, infect or control vegetation growth (e.g. classical biological control) or manipulate conditions to control algal growth (e.g. pest fish removal, microbial products). Chemical control options involve the use of pesticides and chemicals (e.g. glyphosate, diquat), or the use of flocculants and nutrient inactivation products that are used to reduce nutrient loading, thereby decreasing algal growth. Physical control options involve removing vegetation or algal biomass (e.g. mechanical or manual harvesting), or setting up barriers to their growth (e.g. shading, bottom lining, sediment capping). Preventative management options are usually the most cost effective, and these are also briefly described (Section 6.0). For example, the use of hygiene or quarantine protocols can reduce weed introductions or spread. Catchment- based practices to reduce sediment and nutrient sources to stormwater are likely to assist in the avoidance of algal and possibly aquatic plant problems. Nutrient removal may be a co-benefit where harvesting of submerged weed biomass is undertaken in stormwater systems. It should also be considered that removal of substantial amounts of submerged vegetation may result in a sudden and difficult-to-reverse s witch to a turbid, phytoplankton dominated state. Another possible solution is the conversion of systems that experience aquatic vegetation issues, to systems that are less likely to experience issues. The focus of this report is on systems that receive significant stormwater inputs, i.e. constructed bodies, including ponds, amenity lakes, wetlands, and highly-modified receiving bodies. However, some information will have application to other natural water bodies

Information Systems Undergraduate Degree Project: Gaining a Better Understanding of the Final Year Project Module

The place of an individual project in the final year of Information Systems (IS) undergraduate degrees at UK universities is well established. In this paper we compare the final year project modules at four UK universities: the University of Brighton, the University of South Wales, University of West London and the University of Westminster. We find that the aims of the projects are similar, emphasising the application of the knowledge and skills from the taught element of their course in a complex development project, often including interactions with a real client. Although we show in this analysis that projects serve a similar purpose in the IS degree courses, the associated learning outcomes and the assessment practice varies across the institutions. We identify some gaps in the skills and abilities that are not being assessed. In further work we are planning to consult final year students undertaking their projects and their supervisors, in order to gain an understanding of how project assessment criteria are actually put to use

Considerations about effective dissemination of improved fish strains

Aquaculture production systems in developing countries are largely based on the use of unimproved species and strains. As knowledge and experience are accumulated in relation to the management, feeding and animal health issues of such production systems, the availability of genetically more productive stock becomes imperative in order to more effectively use resources. For instance, there is little point in providing ideal water conditions and optimum feed quality to fish that do not have the potential to grow faster and to be harvested on time, providing a product of the desired quality. Refinements in the production system and improvement of the stock used must progress hand in hand. In this paper we deal separately with genetic and non-genetic issues pertaining to the multiplication and dissemination of improved strains. The separation is somewhat arbitrary, and as will be evident from our discussion, there is frequent interaction between the two

Micro-meso-macro practice tensions in using patient-reported outcome and experience measures in hospital palliative care

This article applies a micro-meso-macro analytical framework to understand clinicians’ experiences and perspectives of using patient-reported outcome and experience measures (PROMs and PREMs) in routine hospital-based palliative care. We structure our discussion through qualitative analysis of a design and implementation project for using an electronic tablet-based tool among hospital-based palliative clinicians to assess patients’ and their family caregivers’ quality of life concerns and experiences of care. Our analysis identified three categories of practice tensions shaping clinicians’ use of PROMs and PREMs in routine care: tensions surrounding implementation, tensions in standardization and quantification, and tensions that arose from scope of practice concerns. Our findings highlight that clinicians necessarily work within the confluence of multiple system priorities, that navigating these priorities can result in irreducible practice tensions, and that awareness of these tensions is a critical consideration when integrating PROMs and PREMs into routine practice