scholarly journals The Cumbria spree killing – how mobility affects the policing of critical incidents

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart Kirby ◽  
Jerry Graham ◽  
Michelle Green
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Source Information ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Media ◽  
Management Approaches ◽  
And Control

Purpose – Spree killing impacts significantly on emergency services and is becoming more prevalent across the world. The purpose of this paper is to explore the Cumbrian spree killing, which resulted in the fatal shooting of 12 people with a further 11 wounded. This study highlights why these events are so difficult to manage in an attempt to assist policy makers and practitioners deal with them more effectively. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative methodology was used, examining open source information and internal police documentation. This was supported by semi-structured interviews with command staff (three), and questionnaires involving a representative group of police staff (11), who were all deployed on the incident. Findings – This case study mirrored the characteristics of many other spree killings. The sophistication of the killer, together with the speed of mobility, significantly increases the challenges posed to the police, specifically in terms of: deployment, decision making, interoperability and managing the media. Further, it questions the effectiveness of normal command and control management approaches that are typically used in these situations. Practical implications – Spree killing (active shooter) events are increasing across the globe. This study highlights the critical challenges to be dealt with. It argues a more innovative inter-agency paradigm is needed to deal with crimes in action. Originality/value – There are few academic papers in relation to spree killing. This paper analyses the factors that impact upon the effectiveness of the police response.

Accomplishments and relevance of consumer protection organizations

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 160-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnaldo L. Ryngelblum ◽  
Nadia Vianna
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Protection ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
Business Interests ◽  
The Media

Purpose Despite the special attention given to consumers by the business and academic literature, the dissatisfaction of Brazilian consumers has increased significantly. This manifest mainly through the initiation of complaints’ procedures against companies at Procon and other civil society consumer protection organizations (CPOs) that began to take over these issues complementarily to governmental action. This paper aims to examine the accomplishments and relevance of these organizations in protecting consumers and in preparation of related public policies. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative case study was conducted involving an in-depth collection of information about a restricted system, which included multiple sources. The information was obtained through semi-structured interviews conducted with CPOs’ executives and documents from the other participating organizations in the consumer protection field. Findings The CPOs have been positively evaluated by participants from the consumer protection field, for their effective action in the intermediation of complaints and in proposing laws and regulations on consumer protection. However, this picture is contrasted with the difficulties imposed by the practices of other field logics, such as legal procedures, media priorities and business interests that, however, collaborate in various occasions. Research limitations/implications CPOs’ relevance is more easily evaluated through social legitimation such as endorsements and declarations by the media, the public, by the CPOs’ own publicity and so on. As consumers can choose from alternative channels for redress, firms should be updated with the different procedural norms of each. Originality/value This paper draws a picture of the work developed by CPOs and indicates a possible assessment of their relevance in a scenario of logics complexity, which can be useful for policy makers.

scholarly journals Fraud in overseas aid and the challenge of measurement

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Button ◽  
Chris Lewis ◽  
David Shepherd ◽  
Graham Brooks
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
International Development ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the challenges of measuring fraud in overseas aid. Design/methodology/approach – The research is based on 21 semi-structured interviews with key persons working in the delivery of aid in both the public and voluntary sectors. It uses the UK Department for International Development as a case study to applying more accurate measures of fraud. Findings – This paper shows there are significant challenges to using fraud loss measurement to gauge fraud in overseas aid. However, it argues that, along with other types of measures, it could be used in areas of expenditure in overseas governments and charities to measure aid. Given the high risk of such aid to fraud, it argues helping to develop capacity to reduce aid, of which measuring the size of the problem is an important part; this could be considered as aid in its own right. Research limitations/implications – The researchers were not able to visit high-risk countries for fraud to examine in the local context views on the challenges of measuring fraud. Practical implications – The paper offers insights on the challenges to accurately measuring fraud in an overseas context, which will be useful to policy-makers in this context. Social implications – Given the importance of as much aid as possible reaching recipients, it offers an important contribution to helping to reduce losses in this important area. Originality/value – There has been very little consideration of how to measure fraud in the overseas aid context, with most effort aimed at corruption, which poses some of the same challenges, as well as some very different challenges.

scholarly journals People in suits: a case study of empowerment and control in a non-profit UK organisation

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 511-528
Author(s):  
Roxana Corduneanu ◽  
Laura Lebec
Keyword(s):  
Control Systems ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Interactive Systems ◽  
Employee Perceptions ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
And Control

PurposeDrawing on Simons's levers of control (LoC) framework, the primary aim of this study is to advance an understanding of the balance between empowerment and constraint in a non-profit UK organisation. In particular, this study examines the antecedents and manifestations of LoC (im)balance, in relation to employees' level of engagement with the control systems in place.Design/methodology/approachFor this study, 27 semi-structured interviews were conducted with different organisational members, from directors to non-managerial staff, to gain an in-depth appreciation of the main differences between managerial intentions in the design of management control systems (MCS) and employee perceptions regarding the role of such systems.FindingsThis research reveals that suppression of interactive systems and internal inconsistencies between different types of controls hinder the balance between empowerment and constraint. This imbalance is then found to have important consequences for employee buy-in, in some cases, defeating the purposes of control.Research limitations/implicationsThis study enhances our understanding of the gap between the design of control systems and the employee perceptions of it in an unusual organisational setting (non-profit and bringing together clinical and non-clinical staff and operations).Originality/valueThe study of MCS and its role in organisations has long been the focus of both academic and practitioner research. Yet, while extant literature focused on management's perspective on MCS, few studies have explored employees' attitudes and behaviours that accompany the implementation of control. What is more, little is known about the specific uses and behavioural outcomes of MCS in the context of non-profit organisations. Drawing on Simons's LoC framework, this paper addresses these gaps in the literature and investigates the balance between control and empowerment of employees in a UK non-profit organisation with significant clinical remit.

scholarly journals Business process prioritization criteria: a case study in the financial market

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robson Porfírio dos Santos ◽  
Thaiane Martins Salgado ◽  
Veridiana Rotondaro Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Financial Market ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Practical Implication ◽  
Financial Sector ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Careful Study ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type

Purpose This paper aims to analyze and examine how an organization from the financial sector prioritizes its business processes and what criteria are adopted to select the most appropriate process for improvement projects. Design/methodology/approach This descriptive research is based on an exploratory approach. Qualitative methodology was applied to a case study through on-site observation, documentation analysis and semi-structured interviews. Findings The results confirm criteria mentioned in the literature, such as financial aspects and strategic impacts, but also raised a new critical issue: automation potential of manual processes, reflecting the current movement of process automation. Research limitations/implications As a limitation of this study, it is worth mentioning the application in only one organization in the financial market and the small number of respondents, even though they occupy leadership positions in the organization. Practical implications As a practical implication, the present work offers a direction for managers of the financial sector in structuring and applying models for prioritizing processes aimed at organizational efficiency. Social implications Automation solutions for process improvement need careful study to minimize impacts in human resources reduction. In this sense, the eligibility of a process for automation must be carefully considered. Originality/value This paper presents the evolution of the process prioritization model adopted by a large institution in the financial market, which has a significant presence in the Brazilian and international markets as a commercial and wholesale bank.

Beliefs, barriers and control: a model for research into social exclusion

2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 423-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Suckling ◽  
Paul Ryan ◽  
Mike Dent
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Policy Decision ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Youth Workers ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Efqm Model ◽  
And Control

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to introduce an innovative qualitative methodology, the beliefs, barriers and control (BBaC) model. The BBaC model facilitates the understanding of how perceptions are formed through actors' interactions with their environments and each other, enabling targeted solutions for social and organisational questions.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on a case study of a sports‐based intervention that addresses the physical activity levels of at risk youths in Stoke‐on‐Trent. It is an account of how the BBaC model was used to provide an understanding of barriers to participation in sport and active recreation amongst the target population. The study involved youth workers utilising the BBaC approach in focus groups with young people (YP) and staff. Moreover, the model was used in this case study in conjunction with the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) framework, which demonstrated how this qualitative methodology can be used with “harder” focused management tools to produce strategies for social and organisational improvement.FindingsThe BBaC model was used to collect rich qualitative data from the target YP. This was translated into action points using the EFQM model which were used in strategic and policy decision making; delivering improved results for the target YP.Originality/valueThe paper introduces an innovative and original methodology, the BBaC model, and demonstrates how it can be used to deliver strategies that have positive impacts.

scholarly journals Malaysian experience with public-private partnership (PPP)

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 508-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Imran Zin Zawawi ◽  
Udayangani Kulatunga ◽  
Menaha Thayaparan
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Public Private Partnership ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Private Partnership ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainable Procurement ◽  
The Government ◽  
Quality Infrastructure

Purpose Lack of competition in procurement processes may affect the sustainable procurement due to overpriced and low-quality infrastructure. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the current practices in Malaysian public-private partnership (PPP) in handling unsolicited proposals within PPP and to suggest ways in which the practices can be improved to achieve sustainability. Design/methodology/approach Case study was conducted within which 13 semi-structured interviews were carried out with different groups: the policy makers, the practitioners and the experts. The study also scrutinised published guidelines and relevant regulations used by in management of unsolicited proposals in Malaysian PPP. Findings The Government of Malaysia welcomes unsolicited proposals from the private sector, even though it does not publish any established mechanisms to handle such proposals. Lack of competition in unsolicited proposals is a major concern in achieving sustainable goals of procurement. This could be addressed by introducing a competitive element to unsolicited proposals. Originality/value There are limited study and reports on the implementation of unsolicited proposals by the Malaysian Government. Besides adding to the literature, this paper reveals the management of unsolicited proposals. Most importantly, it is useful in assisting potential Malaysian PPP stakeholders and investors in what to expect, based on findings from the actual practice.

4D Bridge Information Modelling for management of bridge projects: a case study from India

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 423-435
Author(s):  
Aneetha Vilventhan ◽  
R. Rajadurai
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Development ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Monitoring And Control ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Modelling ◽  
Planning Project ◽  
Delivery Planning ◽  
And Control

Purpose The rapid development of the construction industry requires effective ways to monitor and control the project, and the use of 4D BIM is found to be very efficient. The purpose of this paper is to consider development, application and evaluation of 4D Bridge Information Modelling (BrIM) models for an ongoing bridge project. Design/methodology/approach An ethnographic action-based case study research methodology is adopted in this study. An ongoing bridge construction project in India is chosen and the 4D BrIM application is evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively using planned percentage complete (PPC) measurements and semi-structured interviews, respectively. Findings The evaluation of the case study shows an increase in PPC values from 26.5 to 56.4 per cent after implementation of 4D BrIM in the project. The application of 4D BrIM in the construction phase benefits the project team in material delivery planning, project monitoring and control, construction schedule improvement, documentation and coordination. Practical implications The developed models are practically applied to the ongoing project and the positive benefits are observed. It is shown that 4D BrIM has the potential to improve the construction of bridge projects. Originality/value Studies have contributed towards the development and implementation of 3D BrIM models for bridge projects. Limited efforts have been taken to analyse how 4D BrIM models help in the overall management of bridge projects. This study adds value to the existing literature through development, implementation and systematic qualitative and quantitative evaluation of 4D BrIM models.

scholarly journals The process of opening innovation networks: open innovation at Embrapa Florestas

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Filipe Carvalho Vieira ◽  
Leandro R.C. Bonfim ◽  
Aline Cristina da Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Open Innovation ◽  
Strategic Orientation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Innovation Network ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Network Characteristics ◽  
Innovation And Technology

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to map the process of opening an innovation network in the context of the Brazilian agroforestry sector.Design/methodology/approachQualitative case study of the open innovation network Embrapa Florestas (17 semi-structured interviews, observation and documentary data). Social network analysis (SNA) of the open innovation network from primary data is available at Embrapa Florestas’ system.FindingsThree primary triggers to the opening process of Embrapa Florestas’ innovation network were identified. The process starts with an innovation network with closed network characteristics. The process of opening the innovation network is motivated by a restructuring in its source of fundraising (trigger 1), by the change in strategic orientation toward the internationalization of its network activities (trigger 2) and by opening the black box of its innovation with greater proximity to the productive sector and partner universities (trigger 3). Comparing the pre-opening and post-opening networks (open innovation network), sociometric data allows us to verify that the opening of the innovation network presents better density, clustering and centrality indexes for the network as a whole and for the Embrapa Florestas specifically.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies that aims to investigate the transition from a closed innovation network to an open innovation network by a public research institute. It may also be considered innovative because it presents practical and managerial relevance – in addition to contributions to public policy makers – which allows for improvements in the development of innovation and technology in the country's strategic sectors.

Internal performance management with UK higher education: an amorphous system?

2010 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Broad ◽  
Andrew Goddard
Keyword(s):  
Performance Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
University Management ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
Uk Higher Education ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide insights into the internal performance management of UK universities.Design/methodology/approachSemi‐structured interviews were undertaken with numerous staff within each university, attendance at key meetings and reviews of documentation. Grounded Theory was adopted to analyse the information obtained to understand how the strategy and accounting interacted with performance systems in the universities studied.FindingsAn amorphous, decoupled system was identified with poor feedback loops resulting in a lack of accountability and ownership of the system.Research limitations/implicationsThe research reported on the experiences of two universities through case study analysis. Further research is required to understand the extent to which the issues reported here are more widespread and the implications of such.Practical implicationsThe paper suggests that the challenge for policy makers/university management is to facilitate a change in the managerial weltanshauung to one where the environment is more conducive to performance management in a constructive mannerOriginality/valueThe notion of managerial weltanshauung in universities is developed and discussed in relation to nurturing performance management. The paper will be of interest to university managers and policy makers.

Choice editing as a retailers’ tool for sustainable consumption

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 464-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeline Gunn ◽  
Oksana Mont
Keyword(s):  
Critical Role ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Product Category ◽  
Business Case ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Governmental Regulation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Uk

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how and why choice editing is being used as a tool to promote sustainable consumption, using the choice editing of fish as a case study. Design/methodology/approach – This study is explorative in nature and is based on a case study of choice editing of fish as a product category that has undergone fairly widespread choice editing. The case is built on primary empirical data from three Swedish and four British retailers collected through semi-structured interviews. These retailers are of different sizes, but together represent over 50 per cent of the food retail market in both Sweden and the UK taken by market share. Findings – The findings suggest that the main business case choice editing is the creation of a responsible brand image and is often based on pressure from wider societal norms. The case for choice editing is therefore ultimately reliant on consumer recognition of sustainability issues as valuable, and it is unlikely to be taken up when retailers see no added brand value in acting responsibly on a certain issue. Clearer product-based indicators and stronger governmental regulation of unsustainable products may enable further choice editing for sustainability by retailers. NGOs and the media also play a critical role. Originality/value – To enable further choice editing for sustainability by retailers, there is a need for clearer product-based indicators and stronger governmental regulation of unsustainable products.

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