Digitalization in Public Services: Process Automation and Workforce Management at BruderhausDiakonie, a Social Services Organization

2018 ◽  
pp. 313-327
Author(s):  
Ulrich Müller ◽  
Thomas Deelmann
Keyword(s):  
Social Services ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Process Automation ◽  
Workforce Management

(Neo)liberalizing the state – Privatization of core government competencies

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 612-648
Author(s):  
Johannes Scherling
Keyword(s):  
Social Services ◽  
Public Services ◽  
The State ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
Profit Motive ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
The Us ◽  
Neoliberal Economics ◽  
Corpus Size ◽  
Basic Human Needs

Abstract For a few decades now and most prominently promoted by the US, neoliberal economics have been on the rise, epitomized in recent austerity policies with regard to countries that have met financial trouble. In particular the drive for privatization of core public services relating to basic human needs, such as water, social services or pensions, has been increasingly criticized because of a perceived incompatibility between the profit motive and social solidarity. This article uses a corpus-based analysis of the discourse on privatization in the US of proponents supporting, respectively opposing it, with an overall corpus size of about 230,000 tokens. It examines how the two groups conceptualize privatization differently and which strategies are applied to fore- or background particular aspects of it.

The Controlled Arena of Contested Practices: Critical Practice in Israel’s State Social Services

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shachar Timor-Shlevin
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Public Welfare ◽  
Power Dynamics ◽  
Critical Practice ◽  
Critical Social Work ◽  
Critical Practices ◽  
Structural Levels ◽  
Critical Social

Abstract Scholars claim that the integration of critical social work into public social services is impossible considering its weak position in the managerialist context of these services. Consequently, critical practice is mainly described as covert and reflective of the hierarchical power dynamics between managerialism and critical professionalism. Thus, the option of integrating critical social work into the institutionalised operation of the profession, which involves engaging in critical practice to the extent possible in the context of public services beyond micro and covert practices, has not been sufficiently described. This study addresses this gap, exploring the process of implementing the critical professional ‘Poverty-Aware Social Work Paradigm’ (PAP) into the Israeli public welfare services. Based on twenty-five interviews with field-level social workers in the PAP programmes, the findings describe critical practices as operating simultaneously at the interpersonal and structural levels, mainly through covert actions. The discussion illustrates the significance of merging the interpersonal and structural levels of critical practice and describes the limited arena in which critical professionalism operates in public services.

scholarly journals Accountability for refugee resettlement in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Thuy Tran
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Refugee Resettlement ◽  
Public Governance ◽  
Accountability System ◽  
New Public ◽  
The Government

<p><b>Public governance in many countries has been moving toward a model called New Public Governance (NPG) to deal with the increasing complexity in the provision of public services. NPG adopts a new perspective that emphasises the importance of managing the interaction between and among organisations within and outside the government to achieve efficiency and effectiveness of public policy and service delivery. The interdependent relationships of these cross-working organisations are reflected in their accountability processes. Thus, a robust accountability system is central to managing public governance. However, accountability is complicated, and its definition is regularly debated. Accountability is even more intricate in network relationships where it is challenging to identify who has contributed in what way. However, research on accountability in networks is limited.</b></p> <p>To contribute to the understanding of the problems of accountability in public governance, this study examines the nature of accountability and evaluates the discharge of accountability in the provision of public services in practice, using a case study of refugee resettlement in New Zealand. The following research question is addressed, “What is the nature of the accountability relationships between different parties involved in, or affected by, the provision of social services to former refugees in New Zealand?”. In answering this question, the study developed a research framework that was built on insights from prior literature and stakeholder theories and employed a case study approach that analysed 32 semi-structured interviews and a range of documents related to refugee resettlement in New Zealand.</p> <p>The study finds that the current accountability system has not reflected the broader conception of multiple and interrelated accountability relationships identified in the literature on NPG. Upward accountability to powerful stakeholders is mostly prioritised, downward accountability to beneficiaries has not significantly improved, and horizontal accountability to cross-working partners is limited. The tensions between a bureaucratic need for control and a more devolved governance model that allows for the recognition of multiple contributions to both policy formation and implementation are still strong. Moving from the New Public Management (NPM) perspective involving control over public money, still codified in the Public Finance Act 1989, to something closer to NPG is evidently not easy.</p> <p>iiThe key academic contribution of this study is in adding an important piece to the nearly “empty land” of horizontal accountability research, providing an understanding of how accountability mechanisms are used in practice, and raising the voices of less powerful stakeholders about the discharge of accountability by social service providers. Regarding its practical contributions, the study provides a typical case study for research on accountability of non-government organisations (NGOs) in an NPG context, which can be valuable for policymakers wishing to develop policies that lead to an improvement in the appropriate expectations in NPG and accountability relationships between different parties in the delivery of social services. It also provides recommendations for the government, NGOs, and refugee communities for achieving greater accountability.</p>

scholarly journals The Political Economy of Decentralisation and Access to Pro-poor Social Services Delivery in Pakistan

2015 ◽  
Vol 54 (4I-II) ◽  
pp. 471-486
Author(s):  
Manzoor Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Public Goods ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Public Services ◽  
The Political ◽  
Services Delivery

A key argument made by several economists with respect to decentralisation reform is that it can reduce poverty. This assertion is based on the view that it leads to improvements in public sector services delivery. The efficient provision of public goods by the local governments may occur because of their ability to take into account local determinants while providing services, such as health and education [Oates (1972)]. It may also be due to competition, as local governments encourage the provision of efficient public services to, and lower tax burdens on the lower strata of society [Brennan and Buchanan (1980)].

scholarly journals Implementation and Application of Artificial Intelligence in Selected Public Services

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 601-622
Author(s):  
Nikola Štefanišinová ◽  
Nikoleta Jakuš Muthová ◽  
Jana Štrangfeldová ◽  
Katarína Šulajová
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Delivery Of Healthcare ◽  
The Public ◽  
Artificial Intelligence Techniques ◽  
Data Intensive ◽  
Realistic Assessment

Data-intensive technologies, such as artificial intelligence, imply huge opportunities for transforming the delivery of healthcare and social services, improving people’s quality of life and working in the health and welfare system. The aim of this paper is to present examples of the implementation of artificial intelligence techniques in healthcare and social services and to sketch the trends and challenges in the adoption of artificial intelligence techniques, with an emphasis on the public sector and selected public services. Analysis is based on a realistic assessment of current artificial intelligence technologies and their anticipated development. Besides the benefits and potential opportunities for healthcare and social services, there are also challenges for governments. Understanding the huge potential of artificial intelligence as well as its limitations will be a key step forward, but it is essential to avoid the trap of an overestimation of artificial intelligence potential.

scholarly journals [FR] Le developpment du Travail Social et le pluralisme au Québec

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 78-96
Author(s):  
André Jacob
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Cultural Diversity ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Historical Perspective ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Travail Social ◽  
The Sixties ◽  
Services Sociaux

Au Canada et au Québec, traiter des questions liées à la diversité culturelle et au racisme a été un défi pour les gouvernements depuis les années soixante. Auparavant et jusqu'à présent, une grande partie des responsabilités en termes de développement ethnoculturel sensible des services publics (services sociaux, des programmes de formation en travail social, etc.) ont été laissés aux mains d’organismes de charité non-lucratifs. Cependant, peu à peu, depuis les années soixante, le gouvernement fédéral et le gouvernement provincial, ont dû développer des politiques et des programmes d'action. Au Québec, le travail social a fait partie du débat face à deux grands courants politiques, l’un canadien basé sur le multiculturalisme, et l’autre québécois basé sur l'interculturalisme. L'article vise à donner une perspective historique sur la façon dont le travail social a dû faire face à des contradictions différentes. In Canada and Quebec, dealing with issues related to cultural diversity and racism has been a challenge for the governments since the sixties. Before and up to our days, a large part of responsabilities in terms of developping ethnocultural sensitive public services (social services, training programs in social work, etc.) have been left in the hands of non profit and charity organizations. But, little by little, since the sixites then, both governements, federal and provincial had to develop politics and programs of action. In Quebec, social work has been part of the debate facing two mainstream politics, the canadian one based on multiculturalism and, in Quebec, on interculturalism. The article intends to give a historical perspective on how social work had to deal with different contradictions.

scholarly journals Apresiasi Masyarakat Miskin Terhadap Layanan Sosial Dasar Pemerintah

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nihayatus Sholichah
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Direct Access ◽  
The Public ◽  
Fishing Villages ◽  
Food Education ◽  
The Government

Changes in the role of local government as stipulated in Law No. 23/2014 on Local Government, demanding the role of public services for quality local government to the community. In addition, the demand for public services as the rights of citizens who have direct access to the Government brings impacts on climate change in the Local Government, especially as a state servant and community service. Especially when associated with one of the factors that affect the success of an organization, which is oriented to the public service, namely its success in performing the service function to the public (public service) either in the form of goods or services in accordance with the desired needs. The phenomenon that occurs in the fishing community shows that, the level of welfare of life is low. Difficulties in overcoming the problems of daily living and poverty have made people in fishing villages have to bear the burden of life that can not be ascertained when the end. As a result of poverty, there is a difficulty in accessing services in the field of basic social services from the Government which includes food, education and health. Keywords: People's Appreciation, Poverty, Government

Illegal Immigrants in Texas: Impact on Social Services and Related Considerations

1984 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 733-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sidney Weintraub
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Public Services ◽  
San Antonio ◽  
El Paso ◽  
The State ◽  
Illegal Immigrants ◽  
Distinct Population ◽  
Detention Centers ◽  
The Cost

A survey conducted of undocumented aliens and providers of public services showed that the state of Texas receives more from taxes paid by undocumented persons than the cost of the state to provide them with public services, such as education, health care, corrections, and welfare. The same survey showed that six cities in the state (Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, McAllen and San Antonio) together expended more to provide services to undocumented aliens than they received in taxes. The survey concentrated on undocumented persons not detained by the immigration authorities and found that this group constituted a distinct population from those in detention centers in that the former exhibited normal characteristics of settled families while the latter were predominantly the familiar young, single and peripatetic male.

Foresights and Practice in Technology Development for E-Government Applications

2015 ◽  
pp. 1649-1661
Author(s):  
Kelvin Joseph Bwalya
Keyword(s):  
Public Services ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Foreseeable Future ◽  
Process Automation ◽  
The Public ◽  
Design And Implementation ◽  
Local Contexts ◽  
The World ◽  
Organisational Cultures ◽  
Different Parts

Although a lot has been achieved with regards to technology development for e-Government applications, there are still no global technological conceptual frameworks and models that define e-Government platform design and implementation the world over. This has partly been attributed to the differing local contexts and organisational cultures in the public services departments (even within the same government). Because of this scenario, there is need to review the different technology design endeavours geared towards achieving process automation and application integration in the different government departments to achieve meaningful and robust e-Government development. This lead chapter intends to review the different approaches that have been done on the technology front of e-Government (especially design of interoperability frameworks and ontology platforms) in different parts of the world and outlines the future works that e-Government researchers and practitioners need to concentrate on. This chapter sets the tone for the remaining chapters of this book, which discuss various aspects of e-Government implementation from the technological front (deployment, design, and customization of e-Government solutions). The chapter posits that with the current pace of technological advancements and efforts by the OASIS forum and other interested parties, it is not difficult to notice that global technological models of e-Government are to be realized in the foreseeable future.

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