Leadership on the run: time management among deputy ministers in Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrice Dutil ◽  
Andrea Riccardo Migone
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Time Allocation ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Survey Instrument ◽  
Public Servants ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe authors examine the time allocation and management of deputy ministers (DMs) in Canada.Design/methodology/approachThe authors analyze the results from a 2020 survey of DMs.FindingsThe authors observe that, like private sector leaders, DMs work very long hours and tend to allocate their time fairly consistently across functions. Nevertheless, important differences exist particularly depending on the size of their department.Research limitations/implicationsWhile a substantial percentage of answers were returned, these skew toward provincial rather than federal public servants and not all jurisdictions are equally represented.Practical implicationsThe distribution of areas of focus for DMs and their time allocation differences speak to potentially important discussions to be had in time management practice.Originality/valueThis is the first and only analysis of time management for senior public service executives based on a survey instrument.

scholarly journals Whole community co-production: a full picture behind the successful COVID-19 response in S. Korea

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jungwon Yeo ◽  
Eun Sun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Current Response ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Community Approach ◽  
Full Picture ◽  
Pandemic Response ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This study aims to examine and understand South Korea’s (S. Korea) COVID-19 response operations, a notable case for other countries to emulate, and suggest some practical implications for other countries struggling with coping with the current pandemic. Design/methodology/approach To examine the case, the authors propose a new theoretical framework based on concepts of the whole community approach in the emergency management field and on co-production in public administration studies, and use the theoretical framework to analyze the details of S. Korea’s whole community co-production for COVID-19 response. Findings The findings demonstrate that the successful pandemic response in S. Korea is attributable to a nationwide whole community co-production among multiple actors, including government, various industries, sectors, jurisdictions and even individual citizens, within and across relevant public service and public policy domains. Originality/value This study suggests a new theoretical framework, whole community co-production, which contributes to the conceptual advancement of co-production in the field of public administration and a whole community approach in the field of emergency and crisis management. The framework also suggests practical implications for other countries to integrate whole community coproduction that may transform current response operations to cope with COVID-19.

Used vehicle global supply chains: perspectives on a direct-import model

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yangyan Shi ◽  
Tiru Arthanari ◽  
V.G. Venkatesh ◽  
Samsul Islam ◽  
Venkatesh Mani
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Global Supply Chains ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the supply chain (SC) operations of importing used vehicles into New Zealand and how such SCs affect business practices and performance. Design/methodology/approach The study uses an exploratory qualitative semi-structured interview approach to interview the different stakeholders involved in the global used vehicle SC. Findings The research identifies the overall network structure of the used import vehicle SC from Japan to New Zealand and characterises key aspects of its operations and network connections. This paper finds that Japanese buying agents have integrated increasing numbers of services to provide a trouble-free trading platform, which has created a direct-import model for used vehicle companies in New Zealand. Practical implications The findings and recommendations are useful in designing and managing the used vehicle SC for all stakeholders and effective real-time management of uncertain factors. Originality/value The paper primarily analyses SC operations by researching the cooperation and coordination between SC components and networks, based on providing the flow of used vehicles from Japan to New Zealand. It constitutes a pioneering practice-perspective research paper in this domain.

scholarly journals Strategies for transcending the chaos of societal disruptions

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 5-14
Author(s):  
John C. Camillus ◽  
Jeffrey E. Baker ◽  
Anushka I. Daunt ◽  
Jungyoon Jang
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Societal Change ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Real Options Approach ◽  
Management Processes ◽  
The Social ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This study aims to offer a strategic management response to societal disruptions of the magnitude triggered by the agricultural, industrial and information revolutions. These pose challenges that are much greater and different in kind than the industry-wide disruptions that businesses have learned to manage. Pandemics, climate change, biotech and artificial intelligence guarantee that such societal disruptions will be an inescapable and recurring reality. Design/methodology/approach The paper builds on the strategic management responses to wicked problems, which possess in microcosm the chaotic ambiguity that characterizes societal disruptions. Findings The authors propose a management process that affirms a sense of identity, identifies robust actions, adopts a real-options approach and uses a platform organization. Research limitations/implications The primary limitation is that the recommendations and findings are extrapolations of organizational practices in analogous situations. No examples of formal management processes specifically designed to address societal disruptions were identified. Practical implications The practical implications are significant. The specific recommendations in the paper directly address strategic management practice in organizations. Social implications The social implications are integral to the motivation of the paper as it describes the intrinsic characteristics of societal change and transformation, enabling organizations to interact with society on a dynamic basis. Originality/value While there has been growing interest and research into business and industry disruptions, the challenge of societal disruptions, which is the focus of this paper, has not been directly addressed.

scholarly journals Public servants coping with competing demands on their agency in client relationships

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 595-611
Author(s):  
Tiina Tuominen ◽  
Mervi Hasu
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Public Servants ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Discursive Strategies ◽  
Client Relationships ◽  
Competing Demands ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
Improve Service Quality ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis paper analyzes how public servants who work with young people discursively cope with competing demands on their agency, defined as their orientation toward and capabilities to influence their clients. Previous studies revealed how public servants treat their clients when facing competing demands but paid less attention to how public servants define their agency.Design/methodology/approachMicro-level discourse analysis is applied to analyze how public servants represent their agency in client relationships, drawing on interviews with nine individuals in a Finnish city who work with young people lacking jobs or school placements.FindingsInstead of describing their agency coherently, the interviewees applied several discourses to represent their agency differently in relation to different demands. This ability to navigate contradictory discourses is discussed as reflexive discursive coping strategy, which enables public servants to maintain a positive image of their agency despite tensions at work.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the method does not allow direct generalizations, it reveals discursive strategies likely to be found in many contemporary public organizations.Practical implicationsThe study indicates a need to better acknowledge and nurture the multifaceted nature of agency to improve service quality.Originality/valueThe findings deepen the view on tensions in public servants' work and show that diverse discourses not only create anxiety but also help individuals dealing with contradictory work.

Why does performance management not perform?

2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 673-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Pina e Cunha ◽  
Daniel Veiga Vieira ◽  
Arménio Rego ◽  
Stewart Clegg
Keyword(s):  
Performance Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Increase Productivity ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to ask why poor performance management practices persist in Portugal, in the middle of claims to increase productivity. Design/methodology/approach An inductive micro-practice analysis is used to understand barriers to management practice that do not require massive institutional changes. Findings The practice of performance management in Portugal typically displays three weaknesses: (1) insufficient planning (2) process and integrity issues, and (3) a non-meritocratic logic. Research limitations/implications The paper discusses the important topic of persistence of bad practices, showing how institutionalized patterns might be difficult to eradicate even they are suboptimal. Practical implications The authors identity key issues in the functioning of performance management, therefore helping managers in developing remedies to improve the quality of their practice. Originality/value The paper explains the persistence of bad management practice whose continuity hinders not only organizations’ effectiveness but also that of their members.

AstraZeneca’s prescription for more women in the workforce

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 8-9
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Talent Management ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Female Representation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Workforce ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Japan And China

Purpose – Reveals how pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca is attempting to boost the number of women in its workforce in Japan and China and help more of them to rise to senior positions. Design/methodology/approach – Describes the Asia for Global talent program, a winner in the Opportunity Now awards, which are part of Business in the Community’s gender-equality campaign. Findings – Examines the reasons for the program and the successes it has achieved. Practical implications – Shows that AstraZeneca is employing more women in its senior positions than equivalent companies in Asia and that they are among the most engaged employees in its global workforce. Social implications – Considers briefly how the economy and society as a whole in Japan and China can benefit from greater female representation in the higher echelons of private sector companies. Originality/value – Describes an effective talent-management program operated in Asia by an international pharmaceuticals company.

scholarly journals Private police legitimacy: the case of internal investigations by fraud examiners

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 628-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petter Gottschalk
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Institutional Theory ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Police Legitimacy ◽  
Financial Crime ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Private Policing ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the legitimacy of private policing of financial crime by fraud examiners. Design/methodology/approach The literature on fraud examiners is interpreted in the legitimacy context. Findings A number of critical issues based on the institutional theory and social psychology issues are discussed that question the legitimacy of private policing of financial crime. Research limitations/implications There is a need for regulation of the private fraud examination industry. Practical implications A number of legitimacy issues should be addressed by financial crime specialists. Social implications Victims of private investigations require regulation of the investigation industry. Originality/value Criteria for police legitimacy are applied to the private sector.

Skills utilisation in Scotland: exploring the views of managers and employees

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 458-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsteen Grant ◽  
Gillian Maxwell ◽  
Susan Ogden
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Work Processes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Opportunities For Promotion ◽  
Employee Focus ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore empirically manager and employee views on employees’ skills utilisation in organisations in Scotland. Design/methodology/approach – Questionnaires to managers and employees, plus three case studies comprising manager interviews and employee focus groups. Findings – Highly significant differences are found between manager and employee views on: the match of employee skills to their current jobs; the extent of utilisation of employees’ skills; and opportunities for promotion. The main difference in views is on the match of employee skills to their current jobs, with employees opining more than managers that employees’ skills exceed the requirements of their job. Also, for managers and employees alike, the meaning of skills utilisation is obscure despite the language of skills being widely used in organisations. Research limitations/implications – The scale of the empirical research is possibly limited. There is potential for manager and employee bias. A case study of a private sector organisation is not included. Practical implications – It is apparent that there is potential to increase employees’ skills utilisation in organisations in Scotland. Managers are challenged with better utilising the skills within their workforces by using these skills to drive improvements in work processes and practices. Originality/value – Previous commentary and research on skills utilisation mainly centres on policy and employer standpoints. This paper focuses on manager and employee viewpoints on employees’ skills utilisation.

Contradictions in TQM implementation

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 564-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis Yaw Banuro ◽  
Alexander Ntiri-Ampomah ◽  
Joseph Kwaku Banuro
Keyword(s):  
Quality Management ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Total Quality Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Survey Instrument ◽  
Multinational Companies ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The World ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to confirm the existence of contradictions in total quality management (TQM) implementation among some Ghanaian companies and to provide a framework for balancing these contradictions. Design/methodology/approach Closed-ended questionnaires were used as a survey instrument. A sample of 80 managers from 40 Ghanaian multinational companies implementing TQM responded to the questionnaires. Findings The results showed that the implementation of TQM comes with inherent contradictions, which may hinder the success of TQM if not checked. Three pairs of contradictions were established in this study, namely “Standardization vs Innovation,” “Manipulation vs Empowerment,” and “Collectivism vs Individualism.” A framework was proposed to balance these contradictions in order to ensure TQM success. Research limitations/implications The study used all the 40 ISO certified firms in Ghana, but this number is quite small relative to ISO certified firms worldwide. Further, the study was done in Ghana and, for these reasons, generalization to the rest of the world is limited. Practical implications The proposed framework when applied by managers to balance the contradictions will achieve success in TQM implementation. Originality/value Previous studies have talked about the existence of the contradictions. This paper proposes a framework to balance the existing contradictions. This framework is new and has never been proposed in the literature to minimize the adverse effects of these contradictions on a firm’s profit generation.

scholarly journals Towards the incorporation of activity-based learning and reflection into Botswana information systems development practice

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-127
Author(s):  
Tjongabangwe Selaolo ◽  
Hugo Lotriet
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Practice Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Cultural Historical Activity ◽  
Practice Framework ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Development Practice

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on a co-design process that was initiated between government and the private sector in Botswana to redesign current ISD practice with particular focus on finding a solution for learning failure. Learning failure was analysed retrospectively using concepts of “task conscious” and “learning conscious” learning. Design/methodology/approach – On the basis of a typical Botswana ISD project in which the lead researcher participated, inefficiencies and shortcomings in the standardised Botswana ISD process in terms of full utilisation of learning processes to support systems success were examined. Through the Developmental Work Research (DWR) methodology, which is based on Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) principles, IS practitioners from government and the private sector, together with users collaborated to redesign the current Botswana ISD work practice in order to address this shortcoming. Findings – The result has been the incorporation of activity-based learning and reflection into a proposed improved ISD practice framework for Botswana. Practical implications – Through collaborative redesign between government and industry, a new Botswana ISD practice model that incorporates activity-based learning and reflection has been designed, and findings from examination of the model suggest that it has potential to address current learning deficiencies and thus contribute to efforts of avoiding IS failures. There have also been contributions to DWR resulting from the way in which the methodology was applied. Originality/value – This is the first known study that uses concepts of “task-conscious” and “learning-conscious” learning to analyse learning retrospectively and at the same time adopting the DWR methodology in the social context of a developing country such as Botswana.

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