The impact of accreditation agencies and other powerful stakeholders on the performance measurement in Polish universities

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorota Dobija ◽  
Anna Maria Górska ◽  
Anna Pikos

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to extend the understanding of how internal organisational processes change in response to external demands, by investigating the changes undertaken by two Polish business schools (b-schools) in anticipation of and in response to the demands of accreditation agencies (AAs) and other powerful stakeholders. Specifically, it examines the internal research-related performance measurement (PM) system and changes in the use of performance information (PI). Design/methodology/approach The case study method is adopted, using data from publicly available documents and interviews with the faculty and management at the two schools. The data are interpreted and analysed using the neo-institutional theory. Findings Powerful stakeholders are the primary reason for changes in PM systems and the manner in which PI is used. Specifically, AAs reflect an additional layer in the PM system, allowing for a downward cascading PI effect. This also leads to a wider use of PI across different organisational levels. Research limitations/implications This study focusses on two case studies in a region still undergoing transition. Thus, this analysis could be reinforced through additional cases, different data collection methods and cross-country and between-country comparative analyses. Originality/value The changes in PM systems and particularly the use of PI are discussed in the context of Polish higher education (HE) and, more broadly, the entire Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region. Moreover, the consideration of two b-school cases facilitates a comparative analysis of the differences in PM systems and the use of PI in the context of stakeholders’ PI needs.

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 451-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karina Kenk ◽  
Toomas Haldma

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study more deeply the use of performance information (PI) in the context of the administrative-territorial reform, e.g. amalgamation in the local governments (LG) with an example of Estonian LGs. Design/methodology/approach The case study method is adopted, using data from publicly available documents and interviews with the politicians and officials at the five merger cases of Estonian LG units. The data are interpreted and analysed using attribution theory. Findings The results show that amalgamation patterns do have an influence on PI use – in particular, the authors see that PI is reported to be used more frequently in cases of voluntary mergers, which may be related to the different motivations to make attributions in cases of voluntary and compulsory mergers. Originality/value The study contributes to the debate on the importance and usefulness of different types of PI, as financial as well as non-financial information and for different information users in the light of LG reform in Estonia as being a Central and Eastern European country.


2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 450-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin K. Jones ◽  
Richard L. Baskerville ◽  
Ram S. Sriram ◽  
Balasubramaniam Ramesh

Purpose The purpose of this study is to show how the presence of change caused a shift in the roles and responsibilities of the internal audit function (IAF). Design/methodology/approach The methodological design/approach was constructed by combining specific aspects of widely known management accounting and organizational change frameworks. The theoretical premise was based on the old institutional economics component of institutional theory. As such, this study used the case study method to examine and analyze the impact of this change in eight specific organizations using the new two-tiered organizational change framework. Findings This new framework analyzes the multidimensional facets of organizational change in the IAF. From the findings, it was observed that the change can be evolutionary, episodic, continuous and/or teleological, and people, organisms and organizations that are subject to it will react or respond to that change in a myriad of ways. Practical implications Moreover, the implications of change can be environmental, socioeconomic and political. Originality/value This study makes an intellectual contribution by introducing a new two-tiered organizational change framework to explain the IAF’s response to the environmental change factor of regulation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 458-466
Author(s):  
Sandeep Kulshreshtha ◽  
Ruchika Kulshrestha

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the potential of “homestays” and also observe the trends related to this emerging concept in India. This paper also discusses various challenges faced by the owners of homestays. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on an exploratory study that sought to collect factual data about the present scenario and the emerging trends related to homestays. A qualitative case study method was used to analyse the actual practices followed by stakeholders. This paper expresses the viewpoint of the authors on the augmented demand for homestay supported by secondary data published in several academic papers and reports published by various government departments. The author interviewed a number of homestay owners to obtain a first-hand perspective. Findings This paper brings to light the rising trend toward homestays, the benefits of homestay tourism from the perspective of homestay stakeholders (both tourists and owners) and the impact on economic, social and cultural life, as a result of growth in the homestay concept. Originality/value The current level of discussion about homestays is limited, as there are relatively few prior studies reported in the literature.


Author(s):  
Aki Jääskeläinen ◽  
Niklas Luukkanen

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how middle managers utilize performance measurement information in their work. More specifically, the study gives understanding on the impact of performance measurement, policies and procedures (formal controls), and individual intuition and experiential knowledge (informal controls) on strategy implementation and decision making. The study also identifies hindrances to the use of measurement information. Design/methodology/approach The study is carried out as a semi-structured interview study in Finnish companies representing five industries and 29 interviewees. Empirical data were analyzed deductively according to the research framework combining informal and formal management controls with two managerial processes. Findings The work of middle managers is clearly affected by informal controls. Much of the managerial work relies on individual intuition and judgment based on experience instead of performance information or formal instructions. The study also unveiled that top management sees the status of utilizing performance measurement information in a more positive light than do middle managers. This is the case especially in strategy implementation. Deficiency of measurement information was found to be a key factor hindering the use of measurement information but improper analysis of results is also a challenge. Research limitations/implications This study examined the work of middle managers widely in different positions and industries which means that the findings are rather explorative. Simplification was required in order to operationalize the complex tasks of strategy implementation and decision making. Further, more contextually focused research is required in order to understand better the contextual causes of the findings and to provide more understanding on the appropriate ways of improving the utilization of performance measurement information. Practical implications The practical contribution of this study lies in the detailed description of strategy implementation and decision-making processes based on observations in several large companies representing different industries. The study also suggests areas to which development efforts should be concentrated on in order to improve the use of performance information among middle managers. Originality/value This study contributes to the earlier literature by highlighting the usage of performance measurement information as opposed to developing new measures. In addition, the novelty value of the paper relates to the focus in the work of middle managers which has gained less attention in the previous research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 134-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Proscovia Svärd

PurposeUsing a case study method, the article investigates the impact New Public Management (NPM), through outsourcing has had on the management of government information at the Swedish Transport Agency. In April 2015 the Agency outsourced its IT-operations to IBM company. Some of the IBM sub-contractors had not been cleared by the Swedish Security Service. This exposed the Agency’s information to risk. By outsourcing the IT operations, the General Director of the Agency deviated from the laws governing government information such as the Swedish Security Protection Act, the Personal Data Act and the Publicity and Secrecy Act.Design/methodology/approachThe researcher has applied a case study method as the investigation focuses on a phenomenon in a real-life setting. The case study method entails the use of past studies, which facilitates the exploration and understanding of a complex issue. The phenomenon under investigation is NPM’s impact, through outsourcing, on the management of public information at the Swedish Transportation Agency.FindingsOutsourcing should be foregone by well-formulated contracts that should put into consideration the management of government information and the involvement of all stakeholders such as records managers/archivists, IT personnel, heads of departments, lawyers and business analysts. Outsourcing risks to compromise the two tenets of democracy that is, accountability and transparency which are central to Swedish public administrations’ operations.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited by the fact that it only presents the views of the archivists. This was, however, purposely done because their voice was missing during the discussions that followed after the data breach scandal had become public knowledge. Additionally, archivists are supposed to play a major role in the management of government information at Swedish institutions. Further research that will involve different categories of employees might give a deeper and better understanding of the impact that NPM, through outsourcing, is having on the management of government information and what implications this might have on issues of trust, transparency and accountability.Practical implicationsThe study demonstrates the need for well-formulated outsourcing contracts that will include information management clauses. It is of crucial importance in a democratic society that access to government information is not compromised as institutions endeavor to achieve efficiency and high-quality service delivery.Social implicationsIt is government information that gives citizens knowledge about the various processes of government institutions. It is therefore of paramount importance that government information is not left in the hands of unauthorized companies that are involved in the outsourcing activity but should be securely managed and guarded, as the opposite might pose privacy and national security challenges and hence undermine the trust that citizens have in government institutions.Originality/valueThe search that the author conducted confirmed paucity in research that discusses issues related to NPM, outsourcing and the management of government information. This paper is therefore a contribution to the discourse from an archives and information management perspective.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 247-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Höglund ◽  
Maria Mårtensson ◽  
Aswo Safari

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study how different types of trust develop and change over time in the collaboration between an organization and its board. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a response to a recent call to apply the concept of trust in understanding the collaboration between a public organization, its board, and other stakeholders. Here, the authors study a single case, and based on a longitudinal in-depth case study method covering the period of 2003–2015, the authors have conducted 27 interviews, including the CEO and all the board members. Findings The authors introduce and advance the concept of trust in the public sector literature on board work. This paper shows that trust is complex and multidimensional at different units of analysis. The types of trust discussed in this paper are cognitive, affective, contractual, competence, and goodwill. Different types of trust are developed to make the collaboration between a governed organization and its board to work. Research limitations/implications Because this paper uses the case study method and only studies one single case, the findings of this paper might be questioned on the issue of generalization. Originality/value The authors conceptualize and adopt trust as a multidimensional, dynamic concept, and with different units of analyses, capture the nature of the collaboration between a public organization and its board, and its complexity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-98
Author(s):  
Yuliana Sri Purbiyati

This research is a qualitative research with a case study method approach that aims to find out the efforts to build belarasa habits, various forms of belarasa, and the impact of carrying out belarasa or compassion carried out by students of Darma Cendika Catholic University scholarship recipients from academic scholarship Aquinas. Thus, students of Darma Cendika Catholic University who received scholarships from academic scholarship Aquinas as many as 105 students were the subject of this research. Data collection methods use observation, interviews, and documentation. In data analysis using data reduction methods, data presentation, and inference. The results of this study showed that 1) 77% of the scholarship students from Academic Scholarship Aquinas consistently build attitudes and actions carried out through a six-step practice of habituation to build belarasa; 2) found various forms of belarasa, such as providing direct assistance in the form of goods, establishing cooperation to create business opportunities, providing inspiration; 3) the impact after doing belarasa can be felt both for yourself and the environment. The impact for one another is the existence of mental satisfaction or life satisfaction and encourages life to be more able to be grateful so that it becomes happy because it can do so, such as spontaneously being able to give thanks, can pray for those who suffer, can make decisions to provide assistance in what form. The impact for the environment is to form an environment around where scholarship students live felt more positive because it starts from him who develops sensitivity to be more able to carry out belarasa so that it can be transmitted to others around him, building networks by forming cooperation with institutions or other parties.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 498-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sohel M. Imroz

Purpose Although the numbers of online community members continue to increase every day, most of the user-generated content in online communities comes from only a small percentage of members who are motivated to participate and contribute. While studies have been conducted on other professional online communities (e.g. teachers, mathematics practitioners, software developers, etc.), the online community for ServiceNow practitioners is not fully understood. Studies of this group could be useful to organizations that seek to understand ServiceNow practitioners’ motives to participate in these communities, fulfill their specific needs, and build and maintain a thriving community of users. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative case study method was used to learn what motivates ServiceNow practitioners to contribute and participate in ServiceNow communities. Data were collected from interviews with the participants, their stories and testimonials and physical artifacts created and used by them. Data analysis was carried out using data triangulation and continuous coding process. Findings Three primary motives were identified: find answers to questions or issues, learn about ServiceNow products and services, and share knowledge and expertise with others. Research limitations/implications As a single-case research method was used, findings of this study may not be generalized to a larger population. Originality/value Results should encourage and increase participation by ServiceNow Community's members, create a repository of knowledge and relationships that can improve their value and effectiveness, and help their organizations maintain competitive advantage.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Martin-Sardesai ◽  
James Guthrie

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the perceptions of academic human capital (HC) towards a university’s research performance measurement system (PMS), in response to a national research assessment exercise (RAE). Design/methodology/approach This paper draws on a subset of the data from a large mixed method case study research project about the impact of ERA on an Australian public sector university. Findings The findings reveal that the research PMSs were designed, implemented and used as a tool to measure and manage the research performance of HC within the university. The case study university performed well in the RAE. However, this also led to several unintended consequences in the form of fear and anxiety, gaming and strategic initiatives, a focus on quantity and not the quality of research, and increased workload, which led to a loss in the stock of HC. Practical implications This empirical evidence can inform governments and policy makers of the unintended consequences of government research evaluations on academic HC. University managers could improve the design of HC management systems by not only measuring academic HC performance, but also providing training and resources to enhance, support and maintain the overall well-being of academics. Originality/value This study provides insights regarding the connection between a university’s PMS and academic HC and contributes to the academic literature on intellectual capital and PMSs.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurélien Ragaigne

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the empowering and constraining effects of performance measurement. The levers of control perspective emphasises the fact that interactive processes play an important role in balancing these effects. This paper proposes to extend the analysis of effects in this literature, by looking at them in conjunction with the role of dialogue.Design/methodology/approachThis paper analyses a longitudinal case study of the use of user satisfaction indicators in the reception of a French local authority. The data were collected using a three-year longitudinal case study method from semi-directive interviews and participations at meetings.FindingsThe case study shows that performance measurement was introduced to encourage reception employees to make changes to the experience of service users. Employees were involved in the design phase of the survey and in the development of proposals. The dialogue approach represented a way of encouraging employees to agree to accept changes. However, this dialogue offered greater empowerment of employees by the managers.Research limitations/implicationsFurther work would be needed to enrich the characteristics of the dialogue and its effects on other performance measurement systems.Practical implicationsThe dialogue between employees and managers was designed to be interactive and created a situation with both empowering and constraining effects. The method of organisation, involving regular meetings with formal tasks to be accomplished at each meeting, appears significant for the evolution of the effects.Originality/valueWe extend the levers of control perspective to demonstrate the importance of the dialogue in balancing the effects. The case study makes it easier to understand how the empowering effects are related to the objective of constraint in the dialogue approach, and how these effects evolve.


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