scholarly journals Politicising the sustaining of water supply in Ireland – the role of accounting concepts

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 164-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Jollands ◽  
Martin Quinn
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Water Utility ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Processes ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Sustainable Water Supply ◽  
The Government

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how the Irish Government mobilised accounting concepts to assist in implementing domestic water billing. While such is commonplace in other jurisdictions and is generally accepted as necessary to sustain a water supply, previous attempts were unsuccessful and a political hot potato. Design/methodology/approach The authors use an actor-network theory inspired approach. Specifically, the concepts of calculative spaces and their “otherness” to non-calculative spaces are used to analyse how accounting concepts were mobilised and the effects they had in the introduction of domestic water billing. The authors utilise publically available documents such as legislation, programmes for government, regulator publications, media reports and parliamentary records in the analysis over the period from 1983 to late 2014. Findings The analysis highlights how the implementation of domestic water billing involved the assembling of many divergent actors including the mobilisation of accounting concepts. Specifically the concept of “cost” became a contested entity. The government mobilised it in a conventional way to represent the resourcing of the water supply. Countering this, domestic water users associated “cost” with a direct impact on their own resources and lives. Thus, an entity usually associated with the economic realm was embroiled in political processes, with much of what they were supposed to represent becoming invisible. Thus the authors observed accounting concepts being mobilised to support the gaining of a specific political ends, the implementation of domestic billing, rather than as part of the means to implement a sustainable water supply within Ireland. Research limitations/implications This research has some limitations, one being the authors draw on secondary data. However, the research does provide a detailed base from which to continue to study a new water utility over time. Originality/value This study demonstrates the complications that can occur when accounting concepts are associated with gaining of a political ends rather than as a means in the process of trying to achieve a sustainable water supply. Further, the process saw the creation of a new utility, which is a rare occurrence in the developed world, and a water utility even more so; this study demonstrates the role accounting concepts can have in this creation.

Enhancing delivery: algorithms supporting performance management in the logistics sector

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khaldoon Al-Htaybat ◽  
Larissa von Alberti-Alhtaybat
Keyword(s):  
Performance Management ◽  
Detrimental Effect ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Virtual Space ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Past ◽  
National Organisation

Purpose The purpose of this study is to contribute an actor-network-theory (ANT) perspective of how algorithms are used and whether this reflects positively on organisational practices and related perceptions of organisation performance, by both customers and employees. Furthermore, the organisation’s view of adopting algorithms to manage their performance is explored. Design/methodology/approach The current study is a study set in this virtual space, as it seeks to use data available online from different stakeholders of the case organisation. Online “virtual space” studies have become more common over the past few years. Primary and secondary data are shared online, for instance on relevant rating websites for customers (such as TrustPilot) and employees (such as Indeed), which serve as a reflection of the organisational performance and the communication of their values. This type of study has become more prevalent, either as a study undertaken online fully (Hine, 2007) or partially (for instance Baxter et al., 2019), which provides a different perspective to traditionally carried out face-to-face interactions. Findings The current study has contributed insights from a global case organisation in the logistics sector originating in the Middle East (ME). The case organisation clearly indicates that its algorithm, in line with particular presentations and discussions on online platforms, is focussed on analysing limited factors, which are prediction of accurate delivery timeslot, preferred and precise location for delivery and speed of delivery overall. This reflects an inherent bias of the delivery industry, which the case organisation operates in, and may focus attention on delivering on those objectives, with a detrimental effect on the organisation’s broader organisational mindset. This refers to long-term values and sustainability-related objectives. Originality/value Findings will reflect on whether algorithms can be used to align a multi-national organisation to achieve its desired performance and related desirable results. This will be one of the main contributions of the current study, which engages with a multi-national organisation in the logistics sector that is based in the ME region.

Institutional dysmorphia: when the institutions become ill

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 478-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jefferson Marlon Monticelli ◽  
Ivan Lapuente Garrido ◽  
Marcelo Curth ◽  
Luciana Marques Vieira ◽  
Fábio Dal-Soto
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
National Development ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Institutional Isomorphism ◽  
Institutional Framework ◽  
Institutional Pressures ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
Firm Responses

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the influence of SOEs on institutions. The authors argue that in some cases there are differences in institutional shape between the shape that is actually demanded by an institution’s institutional environment and the shape that the institution itself believes is demanded of its institutional framework. The authors observed a behavior specific to institutions that change their institutional shape in response to demands, irrespective of whether these demands are legitimate, and this behavior was primarily in response to demands from governments and SOEs. The authors call this situation institutional dysmorphia and contrast it with institutional isomorphism. Design/methodology/approach This study is characterized by the qualitative approach and descriptive form. It is also a documentary study employing the systematic review technique and critical appreciation in a research group. The case of the Brazilian National Development Bank (BNDES) is analyzed to examine the different relationships between Brazilian SOEs and BNDES. It used secondary data provided by reports, papers and relevant magazines. The authors compare them with the conceptual purpose originated in the Medicine field. Findings The study is illustrated by the case of the BNDES and the various different relationships between Brazilian SOEs and BNDES are examined. This is a qualitative and descriptive documentary study, employing the systematic review technique. Specific behavior is observed in institutions that change their institutional shape in response to demands, irrespective of whether these demands are legitimate, and these demands mainly come from the government and from SOEs. Research limitations/implications The authors use of secondary data from only one country that was used to present these arguments. The focus was restricted to the institutional framework comprising one institution and SOEs. Private firms were not considered in this institutional framework, but they must be included in a macro-environment. Institutional pressures are dynamic and asymmetric. The dynamism of institutional change was not evaluated, and neither was the evolution of the relationships between government, SOEs and institutions. Finally, researchers need to understand not only top-down models of institutional effects but also the institutional process that incorporates both institutional influence and firm responses. Originality/value The term institutional dysmorphia is proposed through the contrast with concepts such institutional isomorphism, with reference to the institutional logics and institutional complexity of these institutions’ and SOEs’ environment. The situation described institutional dysmorphia happening in emerging countries context and might open new avenues for research.

Factors impacting the adoption of m-banking: understanding brand India’s potential for financial inclusion

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhurima Deb ◽  
Aarti Agrawal
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Personal Innovativeness ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Government ◽  
Digital Channels

Purpose The purpose of this study has been to understand brand India’s potential for financial inclusion in the future. As, digital channels like mobile banking (m-banking) are likely to provide better coverage and more cost-effective services to the unbanked population of India. Conventional banking might not be cost-effective for low-ticket-size transactions, hence financial inclusion, which is on the “Digital India” agenda of the Government of India (GoI), might not be feasible. However, to understand brand India’s potential for financial inclusion in the future, it would be essential to understand Indian customers’ attitudes toward m-banking, especially those who have not yet adopted it. This would bring out the potential of m-banking as a channel to drive financial inclusion based on customers’ intentions to adopt it. Until every Indian has access to a wider range of financial services, there cannot be financial inclusion. Similarly, until every Indian adopts digital channels to access a wider range of financial and non-financial services, the GoI’s initiatives for “Digital India” cannot be realized. Furthermore, a review of the literature suggests that there are very few studies concerning m-banking worldwide and still fewer in the context of India. Design/methodology/approach The present study used IBM SPSS and Amos software to test the conceptual model developed using secondary data. Findings The findings of the study suggest that subjective norm, output quality and personal innovativeness have impacts on the perceived usefulness of, and attitudes toward, the ultimate adoption of m-banking. Originality/value The paper is the original work of the authors. An attempt has been made to integrate all the existing literature on m-banking to develop a complete model for the technology’s adoption.

scholarly journals Farmer-Led Irrigation and Its Impacts on Smallholder Farmers’ Crop Income: Evidence from Southern Tanzania

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1512
Author(s):  
Maurice Osewe ◽  
Aijun Liu ◽  
Tim Njagi
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Household Welfare ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
The Government ◽  
Crop Income

Irrigation projects in sub-Saharan Africa are mostly unsustainable because of lack of maintenance by their users or government planners. By contrast, evidence shows that the smallholder farmers are developing and expanding the irrigated land, using their initiatives. Farmer-led irrigation, a revolutionary agricultural intensification approach, is already in progress with the magnitude to significantly transform the living standards of smallholder farmers. However, a rigorous assessment of its impact on household welfare to ascertain this is lacking. This paper bridges this gap by assessing factors influencing the adoption of this particular approach as well as its effects on the farmers’ per capita net crop income. Our data set consists of 608 smallholder farmers in Southern Tanzania and used propensity score matching to estimate the effects of adoption on the per capita net crop income. Our results indicate that the uptake of farmer-led irrigation practices is influenced by drought experience, water user group membership, farmer organization membership, and government extension, as well as the sex of the household head. Further, there was a positive and significant effect on the adopters’ per capita net crop income, thus encouraging the need to promote farmer-led irrigation as a complement to externally promoted innovations in achieving sustainable food security. This study, therefore, recommends that the government should support the farmers’ initiative by improving roads, removing market barriers, and helping farmers who have not yet taken up the initiative. Also, the government should enact regulations to make sure farmer-led irrigation initiatives do not harm the eco-environment such as protecting domestic water users. Finally, the government should leverage microservices to the farmers such as promoting affordable and appropriate credit facilities. It is necessary to continue pursuing this vein of research to gain information regarding the definite impact of the farmer-led irrigation on household welfare.

Assessment of corruption in the humanitarian assistance in Puntland State of Somalia

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-118
Author(s):  
Abdinur Abdirisak Sofe
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Humanitarian Aid ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Humanitarian Assistance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fear Of Victimization ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Government

Purpose Corruption in humanitarian aid is one of the most worried and worst problems around the world. The existence of corruption acts in humanitarian aid delivery can endanger the already susceptible lives of the neediest individuals in the community. Amid serious humanitarian allegation in the country, this study aims to capture meaningful insights in humanitarian aid corruption in Puntland State of Somalia. Design/methodology/approach The study applied qualitative method and used interview as a technique of data collection. The information obtained through the interview was analyzed by quoting and narration forms. Findings The findings indicated numerous acts of corruption in all project stages including corruption in project granting and humanitarian staff employment, distortion of project targets and diversion of humanitarian project from targeted communities. The research also found that governmental and non-governmental actors are involved in the humanitarian corruption such as project managers and support staffs in addition to line ministries, parliament and community representatives. Research limitations/implications Corruption is a taboo and is difficult to research; people do not want to share the information for fear of victimization. Concerned institutions were not willing to provide necessary materials which led to shortage of secondary data. Another problem encountered during the study has been that the humanitarian stakeholders (for instance, government, non-government and private institutions) acted reluctantly to cooperate because of suspicion that disclosing information may lead to negative effect on their business. To overcome the challenges, the study assured the confidentiality of the members and that information collected would be used for research purposes only. The study further combined various tools of data collection so that the weakness of one tool becomes the strength of the other; while the researcher made efforts to build rapport with the research participants. Originality/value This study will contribute to the literature on corruption in the humanitarian aid. Specifically, the findings of this study will benefit academicians/researchers by giving empirical insights of corruption in the humanitarian aid in Puntland. It will benefit the government policymakers in the formulation of policies to combat corruption in the sector. Donors and aid agencies may also find the findings useful as they are key stakeholders who are interested in corruption in the humanitarian sector and finally the findings will benefit the wider society that is the primary victim of corruption in the humanitarian sector.

War could leave Libyans without water

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Water Shortages ◽  
Water Supplies ◽  
Social Unrest ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government

Significance Greater Tripoli is particularly vulnerable to any disruption of the infrastructure, while the COVID-19 pandemic makes adequate water supply to the capital and other urban centres even more critical. Impacts Fresh disruption of water supplies would fuel public anger and exacerbate social unrest, probably causing more armed clashes. Service disruptions and unrest would worsen tensions within the Government of National Accord, further undermining its authority. Water shortages will also undercut efforts to develop Libya’s agricultural sector as a way of diversifying its oil-dependent economy.

scholarly journals Revival of Traditional Cascade Tanks for Achieving Climate Resilience in Drylands of South India

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pennan Chinnasamy ◽  
Aman Srivastava
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Water Demand ◽  
South India ◽  
Recent Decade ◽  
Water Shortage ◽  
Agricultural Water ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
North East ◽  
Sustainable Water Supply ◽  
South West Monsoon

Traditional tanks in arid regions of India have been working to address water demands of the public for more than 2000 years. However, recent decade is witnessing growing domestic and agricultural water demand coupled with rising encroachment and ignorance toward tanks; consequently, intensifying water shortage issues. While climate change is impacting at alarming rates, local agencies have forgotten these tanks that have aided in sustainable water supply solutions for decades apart from municipal water supply. This research, for the first time, estimates water supply-demand for an arid region in South India (Madurai) and lists out the benefits if tanks were managed and desilted. Exploratory investigations for documenting seasonal domestic and agricultural unmet water demand were conducted followed by their validation through ground-truthing across the study period 2002–2019. Results indicated high unmet domestic water demand, estimating ~73% [maximum 365 thousand cubic meters (TCM)] for summer (March to May) and ~33% (maximum 149 TCM) for winter (January and February), and high unmet agricultural water demand estimating ~90% (maximum 5,424 TCM) during North-East monsoon (October to December), and ~95% (maximum 5,161 TCM) during South-West monsoon (June to September). Erratic rainfall pattern was identified as a major cause for higher fluctuations in water availability inside tanks ranging 0–50%, while lack of ownership resulted in increased siltation load ranging 30–70% of the tank's volume. The study found that the major portion of the unmet water demand can be accounted for through rehabilitation of the tanks, as under the rehabilitated tank irrigation scenario the tank storage could attain 200–400% more water than the estimated agricultural water demand. It was concluded that if the cascade tanks were managed appropriately, they could have positive impacts by reducing floods and providing water for drought seasons.

scholarly journals Collaborative public service provision archetypes in healthcare emergencies: a case of COVID-19 administration in Sri Lanka

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelum Jayasinghe ◽  
Chandana Wijesinghe ◽  
Chaminda Wijethilake ◽  
Raj Prasanna
Keyword(s):  
Public Service ◽  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Incident Command ◽  
Public Service Provision ◽  
Organisational Values ◽  
The Government

PurposeThis paper examines how the properties and patterns of a collaborative “networked hierarchy” incident command system (ICS) archetype can provide incident command centres with extra capabilities to manage public service delivery during COVID-19.Design/methodology/approachThe paper illustrates the case of Sri Lanka's COVID-19 administration during its “first wave” (from 15 February to 1 September 2020). Primary data were collected through in-depth interviews with government officials who were directly involved in the administration of the COVID-19 outbreak. Secondary data sources were government publications and web sources. The data were analysed and interpreted by using narrative analysis and archetype theory respectively.FindingsThe findings highlight how Sri Lanka's public sector responses to COVID-19 have followed a collaborative “networked hierarchy” ICS archetype. More specifically, the government changed its normative ICS “properties” by incorporating a diverse group of intergovernmental agencies such as the police, the military, the health service and administrative services by articulating new patterns of collaborative working, namely, organisational values, beliefs and ideas that fit with the Sri Lankan public service context.Originality/valueIn responding to high magnitude healthcare emergencies, the flexibility of a collaborative networked ICS hierarchy enables different balances of organisational properties to be incorporated, such as hierarchy and horizontal networking and “patterns” in public service provision.

Unions could hamper new Tunisian unity government

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Political Parties ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Labour Unions ◽  
Political Processes ◽  
The Government ◽  
Work Stoppages

Significance Representatives of leading political parties and the two largest labour unions are negotiating proposals for a unity government. President Beji Caid Essebsi accused the ruling coalition -- comprised of Nidaa Tounes, Ennahda, Afek Tunis and the Free Patriotic Union (UPL) -- in early June of "failing to meet the country's needs", and urged it to join with the main labour unions and opposition forces to overcome divisions and set new priorities. Impacts Political dysfunction is likely further to discredit the government, political processes, and politicians. Continued delays in decision-making will further the economic crisis. Strikes and work stoppages will keep plaguing the country without an agreement with the unions.

scholarly journals Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Situation in Nepal: A Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 65-76
Author(s):  
Chitra Bahadur Budhathoki
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Water Supply Systems ◽  
Sanitation Services ◽  
Piped Water ◽  
Sanitation And Hygiene ◽  
Toilet Facility ◽  
The Government ◽  
Supply Systems ◽  
Water Supply And Sanitation

Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal is a landlocked country located in South Asia. Nepal has made its considerable efforts to improve the water supply and sanitation (WASH) situation in the country by formulating and enforcing a number of WASH policies, guidelines and acts for the last two decades. But WASH situation of Nepal has not been well documented so far. Aim of this article is to describe the situation of water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in Nepal by analyzing secondary data and information obtained from published and unpublished literature. About 97 of the total population have access to basics anitation facilities and 87 percent access to basic water supply facility. Sanitation coverage is95 percent in six Provinces and below 90 percent in Province no. 2 of Nepal. The momentum of sanitation coverage was accelerated immediately after internalization and implementation of the Sanitation and Hygiene Master Plan in 2011 and Nepal reaches at close to the elimination of open defecation. The gap between rich and poor in accessing to and using toilet facility has been narrowing down due to the nationwide sanitation campaigns. But there is disparity in accessing and using piped water between rich and poor. Only 25 percent of water supply systems are well functioning and 68 percent can supply water to water taps throughout year. One-fourth of the existing toilet facility across the country are poorly constructed that needs to be upgraded. The government should make consolidated and integrated efforts to reduce existing inequity in the WASH sector and enhance the sustainability of water supply and sanitation services.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document