Assessing the literature on school reform from an entrepreneurship perspective

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Garen
Keyword(s):  
School Choice ◽  
School Reform ◽  
Local Knowledge ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Incentive Pay ◽  
Public School Teachers ◽  
Teacher Incentives ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Alternative Approach

Purpose Enabling and incentivizing organizations to act based on their local knowledge is an important aspect of entrepreneurship. The significance of local knowledge in the context of schools is well recognized, but very little research has been done to investigate how to provide discretion and incentives to schools to use this knowledge. The purpose of this paper is to build a model to guide this understanding for policy makers who may wish to foster entrepreneurship for schools and also use it to critique the literature and provide an alternative approach. Design/methodology/approach The paper applies fundamentals of principal-agent theory to the ownership and governance of schools, the use of teacher incentive pay, and school reform efforts. Focus is on use of teacher incentives and on school choice initiatives. Findings The author found that many public school teachers will have attenuated incentives, but mandates to increase test score rewards may be counterproductive. Institutional reform via school choice seems more promising. The author identifies several institutional features that are expected to induce more entrepreneurial and productive activity by schools. The author discusses and critiques school reform efforts in this regard, including Tiebout competition, charter schools, voucher programs, and use of “best practice.” Originality/value Reform efforts often lack in addressing critical aspects of institutional empowerment and incentives, and research in this regard also is mostly absent. The author contends, however, that dealing and addressing such issues is a key to effective reform.

Energy management and its impacts on indigenous communities in Saskatchewan and Alberta

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1088-1106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ranjan Datta ◽  
Margot Hurlbert
Keyword(s):  
Energy Management ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Methodological Framework ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Processes ◽  
Alternative Approach ◽  
Marginalised Groups ◽  
Original Approach ◽  
Current Risk

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to reveal gaps in knowledge about energy industries, federal and provincial governments and indigenous communities’ energy management policies and practices, as well as to highlight areas requiring further research and knowledge development.Design/methodology/approachThis paper used a scoping review framework according to scoping methodological framework.FindingsThis paper suggests that researchers need to examine Indigenous communities on past leaks response records, pipelines leaks impacts in their health and environment and current risk management processes and regulations to identify weaknesses. This review paper also suggests that significant time will be required to meaningfully and honestly engage with communities to move from acceptance, through approval, to co-ownership of the project as the firm builds its legitimacy, credibility and trust with Indigenous communities.Originality/valueThe authors introduce an original approach to scoping methodological framework that directly addresses the processes of reveal gaps in knowledge and practice. It offers researchers, policy-makers, community and practitioners an alternative approach which is culturally appropriate for improving economic and environmental health outcomes of marginalised groups.

Understanding validity issues surrounding test-based accountability measures in the US

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-52
Author(s):  
Nancy Koh ◽  
Vikash Reddy ◽  
Madhabi Chatterji
Keyword(s):  
Public Education ◽  
School Improvement ◽  
School Reform ◽  
Public Accountability ◽  
Assessment Data ◽  
High Stakes ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Us ◽  
Test Use

Purpose – This AERI-NEPC eBrief, the fourth in a series titled “Understanding validity issues around the world”, looks closely at issues surrounding the validity of test-based actions in educational accountability and school improvement contexts. The specific discussions here focus testing issues in the US. However, the general principles underlying appropriate and inappropriate test use in school reform and high stakes public accountability settings are applicable in both domestic and international settings. This paper aims to present the issues. Design/methodology/approach – This policy brief is based on a synthesis of conference proceedings and review of selected pieces of extant literature. It begins by summarizing perspectives of an invited expert panel on the topic. To that synthesis, the authors add their own analysis of key issues. They conclude by offering recommendations for test developers and test users. Findings – The authors conclude that recurring validity issues arise with tests used in school reform and public accountability contexts, because the external tests tend to be employed as policy instruments to drive reforms in schools, with unrealistic timelines and inadequate resources. To reconcile the validity issues with respect to educational assessment and forge a coherent understanding of validity among multiple public users with different agendas, the authors offer several recommendations, such as: adopt an integrated approach to develop content and standards of proficiency that represent a range of cognitive processes; support studies to examine validity of assessments and the effects of decisions taken with assessment data before results are fed into high stakes accountability-related actions that affect teachers, leaders or schools; align standards, curricula, instruction, assessment, and professional development efforts in schools to maximize success; increase capacity-building efforts to help teachers, administrators, policy makers, and other groups of test users learn more about assessments, particularly, about appropriate interpretation and use of assessment data and reports. Originality/value – Baker points out that in response to growing demands of reformers and policy-makers for more frequent and rigorous testing programs in US public education, results from a single test tend to get used to meet a variety of public education needs today (e.g. school accountability, school improvement, teacher evaluation, and measurement of student performance). While this may simply be a way to make things more cost-efficient and reduce the extent of student testing in schools, a consequence is inappropriate test use that threatens validity in practice settings. This policy brief confronts this recurring validity challenge and offers recommendations to address the issues.

Building boundary capabilities at the base of the pyramid

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Mezias ◽  
Mohamad Fakhreddin
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Base Of The Pyramid ◽  
Social Entrepreneurs ◽  
Institutional Perspective ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
For Profit

Purpose – Over the last 15 years, articles about the base of the pyramid (BOP) have begun to appear in scholarly business journals. Although attention was driven initially by claims that corporations could earn a fortune selling to these consumers, it became clear that this is difficult. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – To move beyond this difficulty, the authors emphasize the iterative boundary capabilities built by local, for profit enterprises as the key to creating markets at the BOP. Findings – The authors argue that the evolution of the business models to permit firms to earn profits and have positive social impact requires building iterative boundary capabilities and support this claim by reviewing two cases of community based non-profits. Research limitations/implications – Future research should demonstrate that the process the authors observed in these two cases applies in other contexts. Scaling social impact will require sharing knowledge about iterative boundary capabilities and developing best practices that can help effective allocation of patient capital to share best practice and guide public policy. Practical implications – Social entrepreneurs can conceptualize their own enterprises in terms of iterative boundary capabilities. Social investors can use the framework to assess and advise enterprises in which they may or have invested. Policy makers can enact laws and other legal actions to facilitate the formation of iterative boundary capabilities. Social implications – The authors see the framework as part of a broader move toward business models that pursue both positive social impact and profits. Originality/value – The authors link a structuring approach with an institutional perspective to enhance business models that pursue profit and create positive social impact in BOP communities.

Reforming schools: the collective doubting perspective

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Schechter ◽  
Sherry Ganon-Shilon
Keyword(s):  
School Reform ◽  
School Change ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
Collective Learning ◽  
Educational Reforms ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Continuous Growth ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Literature

Purpose – The ongoing challenge to sustain educational reforms requires a learning process through which doubt is induced as a means of fostering productive school change. The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of doubt as well as the doubting process and its importance to the school community, particularly with regard to educational reforms. Design/methodology/approach – After discussing the notions of doubt and the doubting process in the context of school reform, collective doubting in school administration is presented, accompanied by empirical illustrations. Findings – Whereas existing change management literature acknowledges resistance to change as a negative phenomenon, doubt and doubting – questioning the taken-for-granted need for reform and the way the reform should be carried out – is conceptualized as a positive and constructive phenomenon, a source for collective learning. The paper presents limitations, implications, and avenues for future research regarding the doubting process in the context of school reform. Originality/value – The collective doubting perspective has been sorely under investigated in the educational context. The constructive reform framework of collective doubting may help schools and policy makers develop and sustain educational reforms to foster continuous growth within students and practitioners alike.

scholarly journals Factors for the adoption of green building specifications in China

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 254-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Wang ◽  
Shoujian Zhang ◽  
Christine Pasquire
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Green Building ◽  
Green Technology ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
Resource Saving ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Rank Analysis ◽  
Score Method

Purpose Green specifications are some of the most important strategies for energy saving and describe the best practice in the field of sustainable construction. They have great effects on resource saving and environmental protection. The demand of sustainable construction has spurred the emerging and development of green specifications. However, there are many factors that affect the adoption of green specifications in China. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that affect the adoption of green specifications in China. Design/methodology/approach Based on the comprehensive literature review, a questionnaire survey has been conducted to with major stakeholders in construction area to identify issues concerning the adoption of green specifications in China. In total, 18 variables that affect the adoption of green specifications in were summarized. Then this study uses factor analysis and mean score method to analyze 18 variables which the authors get from the questionnaire. Findings Using the rank analysis and factor analysis, the variables have been ranked, analyzed and categorized into five independent factors. They are summarized as: green technology and techniques; awareness and attitude; policies and regulations; market; and economics. This study provides a variable reference for policy makers to put forward focused policies and incentives for green specifications implementation and industry practitioners to better understand of green specifications adoption in China. Originality/value This paper makes a contribution to the understanding of the factors that affect the adoption of the green specifications in China. The results can also contribute to better adoption of green specifications in other developing countries.

Appropriate polypharmacy: a barometer for integrated care

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alpana Mair ◽  
Eleftheria Antoniadou ◽  
Anne Hendry ◽  
Branko Gabrovec
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Care ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Integrated Policy ◽  
Integrated Practice

PurposePolypharmacy, the concurrent use of multiple medicines by one individual, is a common and growing challenge driven by an ageing population and the growing number of people living longer with chronic conditions. Up to 11% of unplanned hospital admissions in the UK are attributable to, mostly avoidable, harm from medicines. However, this topic is not yet central to integrated practice. This paper reviews the challenge that polypharmacy presents to the health and care system and offers lessons for integrated policy and practice.Design/methodology/approachTwo commonly encountered scenarios illustrate the relevance of addressing inappropriate polypharmacy to integrated practice. An overview of the literature on polypharmacy and frailty, including two recent large studies of policy and practice in Europe, identifies lessons for practitioners, managers, policy makers and commissioners.FindingsComprehensive change strategies should extend beyond pharmacist led deprescribing initiatives. An inter-professional and systems thinking approach is required, so all members of the integrated team can play their part in realising the value of holistic prescribing, appropriate polypharmacy and shared decision making.Practical implicationsAwareness and education about polypharmacy should be embedded in inter-professional training for all practitioners who care for people with multimorbidity or frailty.Originality/valueThis paper will help policy makers, commissioners, managers and practitioners understand the value of addressing polypharmacy within their integrated services. Best practice national guidance developed in Scotland illustrates how to target resources so those at greatest risk of harm from polypharmacy can benefit from effective pharmaceutical care as part of holistic integrated care.

A methodology for analyzing shipyard supply chains and supplier selection

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 443-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Vlachakis ◽  
Athanassios Mihiotis ◽  
Costas P Pappis ◽  
Ioannis N Lagoudis
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Supplier Selection ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Lead Times ◽  
Supply Chain Performance ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on shipyard supply chains in order to identify the processes that take place and evaluate the risks associated with suppliers. Design/methodology/approach – For this analysis two methodologies are applied. The first is the understand, document, simplify, optimize, where the first two steps are used for analysing the processes and the documentation of the best practices, which take place in the daily operations. The second tool is Kraljic’s matrix, which is applied for the identification of supplier selection and associated risks. Findings – The analysis shows that strategic co-operations between shipyards suppliers are essential for improved supply chain performance since supplier improvement in terms of lead times and product quality are achieved. It is also seen that the shipyard supply chain performance can be improved by adjusting the best practices to the needs dictated each time by the project’s specifications. Practical implications – The findings provide valuable insights for practitioners, as well as academicians, policy makers and also integrate supplier selection under the supply chain. Managers can acquire reliable information about those suppliers who exhibit best practice. Originality/value – A number of key processes and best practices have been identified, which are essential for the upstream and downstream coordination of the shipyard supply chain. The present work is an approach to evaluating the risks associated with the shipyard’s suppliers and assists in benchmarking their risk profile.

Street-level planning; the shifty nature of “local knowledge and practice”

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Holm Vohnsen
Keyword(s):  
Local Knowledge ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Distinct Group ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ethnographic Fieldwork ◽  
Street Level ◽  
Concurrent Processes ◽  
Knowledge And Practice ◽  
The One

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore and problematizes one of the oft-cited reasons why the implementation of public policy and other development initiatives goes wrong – namely that there is a mismatch or antagonistic relationship between street-level worker’s decisions and priorities on the one hand and on the other hand the policy-makers’ or administrators’ directives and priorities. Design/methodology/approach – The paper builds on seven months of ethnographic fieldwork set in a Danish municipal unit which administered the sickness benefit legislation. Findings – Through the reading of an ethnographic example of implementation of labour market policy this paper suggests that when policy invariably is distorted at the administrative level it is not necessarily due to lack of will among street-level workers to comply with legislation or centrally devised directives but rather because: in practice, planning and implementation are concurrent processes that continuously feed into each other; and that the concerns and the “local knowledge and practice” that guide planning-implementation do not belong to individual people but are dynamic perspectives that individual people might take up in certain situations. Originality/value – This challenges conventional descriptions of street-level workers as a distinct group of people with distinctive concerns and attitudes to their work. The paper suggests instead the metaphor “vector of concern” to capture the way street-level workers’ changes of perspectives might cause interventions to disintegrate and evolve in potentially conflicting directions.

Financial access and economic development: the moderating role of financial consumer protection

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 406-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Kriese ◽  
Joshua Yindenaba Abor ◽  
Elikplimi Agbloyor
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
World Bank ◽  
Financial Literacy ◽  
Compliance Monitoring ◽  
Financial Access ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The World Bank ◽  
Moderating Role

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the moderating role of financial consumer protection (FCP) in the access–development nexus. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on cross-country data on 102 countries surveyed in the World Bank Global Survey on FCP and Financial Literacy (2013). The White heteroscedasticity adjusted regressions and Two-stage least squares regressions (2SLS) are used for the estimation. Findings Interactions between FCP regulations that foster fair treatment, disclosure, dispute resolution and recourse and financial access have positive net effects on economic development. However, there is no sufficient evidence to suggest that interactions between financial access and enforcement and compliance monitoring regulations have a significant effect on economic development. Practical implications First, policy makers should continue with efforts aimed at instituting FCP regimes as part of strategies aimed at broadening access to financial services for enhanced economic development. Second, instituting FCP regimes per se may not be enough. Policy makers need to consider possible intervening factors such as the provision of adequate resources and supervisory authority, for compliance monitoring and enforcement to achieve the expected positive effect on economic development. Originality/value This study extends evidence in the law–finance–growth literature by providing empirical evidence on the effect of legal institution specific to the protection of retail financial consumers on the access–development nexus using a nouvel data set, the World Bank Global survey on FCP and Financial Literacy (2013).

Conference report: innovation, interaction … and a lot of data: first time reflections on Internet Librarian International, UK 2018

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-22
Author(s):  
Ray Harper
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Conference Report ◽  
Library Services ◽  
New Techniques ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Making A Difference ◽  
Analyse Data ◽  
Physical Spaces ◽  
First Time

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to summarise a number of presentations at Day 1 of the Internet Librarian International conference, London, UK (16 October 2018). This was the 20th conference in the series, and the three key themes included were the next-gen library and librarian; understanding users, usage and user experience; and inclusion and inspiration: libraries making a difference. Design/methodology/approach This paper reports from the viewpoint of a first-time attendee of the conference. This summarises the main issues raised by each presentation and draws out the key learning points for practical situations. Findings The conference covered a variety of practical ways in which libraries can use technology to support users and make decisions about services. These include developing interactive physical spaces which include augmented reality; introducing “chat-bots” to support users; using new techniques to analyse data; and piloting new ways to engage users (such as coding clubs). A key theme was how we use and harness data in a way that is ethical, effective and relevant to library services. Originality/value This conference focussed on practical examples of how library and information services across sectors and countries are innovating in a period of huge change. The conference gave delegates numerous useful ideas and examples of best practice and demonstrated the strength of the profession in adapting to new technologies and developments.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document