Political CSR and legitimation via corporate foundation: a public management program

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 553-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Souza Bittar-Godinho ◽  
Gilmar Masiero
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Public Management ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Political Legitimacy ◽  
Management Program ◽  
The Political ◽  
Organizational Relationships ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Csr ◽  
Governance Challenges

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the political involvement of a corporate foundation (CF) though CSR under two perspectives: CF managers and the sponsor firm managers. Design/methodology/approach A single case with a Brazilian CF was conducted. Interviews with sponsor firms and foundations managers were combined with firms’ sustainability reports data and CF’s website information. Findings It was found that CF acts as an ambassador and can be a source of political legitimacy for their sponsor firm. They intermediate in governance challenges as the goals and working style of the CF, firms and municipalities can be sometimes antagonistic. Research limitations/implications The authors could not reach the municipalities officials and their perception of the Public Management Program (PMP). Practical implications The PMP creates personal and organizational relationships with public officials, a resource that can be employed to impact the political strategies of the sponsor firm. Social implications The authors also show how CF’s may help managers to deal with the typical Brazilian peculiarity of policy discontinuity in local governments. Originality/value This case study sheds light a new phenomenon: CF’s support on public management. It adds to the CSR and corporate political activities literature, the role of foundations as ambassadors of the relationship between the firm, government and society. They are not only filling gaps left by the State but are also dealing with local governments administrative deficiencies.

Leveraging resource ecologies for sustainability transitions – a waste management case

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rumy Narayan ◽  
Annika Tidström
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Social Intelligence ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Continuous Process ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Single Case Study ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Addressing fundamental sustainability challenges has now become strategic for multi-national corporations. However, such challenges by their very nature are complex and require resources that are frequently beyond those that are traditionally accepted as relevant and crucial to a firm’s core business operations. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how firms identify and integrate diverse groups of actors using social intelligence to build an ecology of resources to tackle these complex challenges. Design/methodology/approach The empirical part is based on qualitative single case study research of a packaging company and its waste management program. Findings Organizing for sustainability requires business activities to be conceptualized as a continuous process of project building, involving actors in diverse settings and responsibilities divided thematically and spatially forming nets within a network to solve problems, collectively. There is a fundamental analytical problem of integrating a diversity of value spheres, and society has a set of rational methods for planning and action where decisions are made to privilege one aspect to the exclusion of others. Artificial separation of activities that are interdependent and failure to allow these activities to evolve through interactions in time and space could threaten sustainability. Research limitations/implications This is a single case study within a certain context, therefore ways for orchestrating resource ecologies need further investigation. Practical implications For managers, it is very important to recognize and appreciate the interconnectedness of resource ecologies but also that interactions resulting in joint actions can often have different rewards and benefits for the diverse range of actors implicated in such networks. This kind of social intelligence offers managers options to experiment with transitional pathways that match the objectives of diverse network actors and provide unique resource combinations for building competitive advantage. There is only so much that is under the control of managers or even firms, which means both must embrace uncertainty and the phenomenon of emergence. Social implications From a societal perspective, the findings of the study show how the open and transparent activities for the sustainability of one firm spread through different layers of the society through connecting, sharing and developing resources. Therefore, it is important for societies to enable and support the open sharing of resources for sustainability. Investments in large programs for transitions to sustainability tend to spread from a focal company into various projects for sustainability involving several layers of actors within society. This ensures that awareness, behaviors and attitudes related with sustainability become rooted in society and give rise to valuable innovations. Originality/value This study illustrates how resources are created and shaped through nets during transitions toward sustainability using social intelligence.

Mexico's June elections face serious crime risk

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Level ◽  
The Political ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Physical Attack ◽  
Serious Crime ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Crime Risk

Subject The weakness of state and local level institutions is encouraging more intervention from Mexico City. Significance With twelve Mexican states set to go to the polls on June 5, and a thirteenth holding elections on July 3, longstanding concerns regarding the risk of criminal infiltration in local governments have returned to the fore. Beyond the political manipulation of alleged political-criminal links, political actors appear increasingly aware of their vulnerability to threats, intimidation and physical attack. Impacts How federal and local authorities manage criminal threats will be central to the outcome of the forthcoming elections. Candidate screening will be ineffective as long as federal authorities and political parties are both reluctant to lead the process. Politically motivated intervention will worsen, with all parties using criminal accusations to smear or disqualify other candidates.

Implementation of SCM in inter‐organizational relationships: a symbolic perspective

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederik Zachariassen ◽  
Dennis van Liempd
Keyword(s):  
Single Case ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Strategic Partnerships ◽  
Organizational Relationships ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Length Relationship ◽  
Focal Firm ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Symbolic Perspective

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate supply chain management (SCM) as a management implement from a symbolic perspective on a dyadic level. So far, no research has investigated SCM from such a perspective, although SCM researchers implicitly have noted that it would be useful to have such a study in order to broaden the understanding of the SCM concept, as such a study allows for the use of alternative sociological theories.Design/methodology/approachA single case study was chosen in order to investigate a focal firm's use of SCM. A total of 27 hours of interviews and 15 hours of observations were carried out at the focal firm and with a number of the firm's suppliers in order to investigate the subject.FindingsThe paper found that the SCM concept impacts the relationship between buyer and supplier in different ways depending on two dimensions: SCM as tool vs symbol and arm's length relationships vs strategic partnerships. Contrary to the mainstream idea of SCM as a tool for increased effectiveness of supply chains and increased collaboration with key suppliers, this paper found that SCM from a symbolic perspective at the focal firm came to function as either a justification or as a post‐rationalization for actions taken by the focal firm depending on whether the relationship can be considered a strategic partnerships or an arm's length relationship, respectively.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper was conducted from a dyadic, buyer‐supplier perspective. Being a limitation of the study, future research should investigate the proposed claims set forward in this paper on different levels (focal, chain, and network) in order to either strengthen or weaken the credibility of this present paper.Originality/valueThis is the first paper to investigate the management implement of SCM from a symbolic perspective.

Accountants as institutional entrepreneurs: changing routines in a telecommunications company

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 190-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umesh Sharma ◽  
Stewart Lawrence ◽  
Alan Lowe
Keyword(s):  
Public Management ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Content Type ◽  
State Sector ◽  
Institutional Entrepreneurs ◽  
Agents Of Change ◽  
Telecommunications Company

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explicate the role of institutional entrepreneurs who use accounting technology to accomplish change within a privatised telecommunications company. Design/methodology – The case study method is adopted. The authors draw on recent extension to institutional theory that gives greater emphasis to agency including concepts such as embeddedness, institutional entrepreneurs and institutional contradiction. Findings – As part of the consequences of new public management reforms, we illustrate how institutional entrepreneurs de-established an older state-run bureaucratic and engineering-based routine and replaced it with a business- and accounting-based routine. Eventually, new accounting routines were reproduced and taken for granted by telecommunications management and employees. Research Limitations/implications – As this study is limited to a single case study, no generalisation except to theory can be made. There are implications for privatisation of state sector organisations both locally and internationally. Originality/value – The paper makes a contribution to elaborating the role of institutional entrepreneurs as agents of change towards privatisation and how accounting was used as a technology of change.

Citizen engagement in South Africa: the case Prince Albert

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 232-244
Author(s):  
Vinitha Siebers
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Citizen Engagement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Engagement Process ◽  
South African Constitution

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to gain insight in how South African local governments organize citizen engagement. The new South African constitution provides ways to construct and implement citizen engagement at local level. However, understanding citizen engagement at local level is still a challenge and municipalities search for proper structures and mechanisms to organize citizen engagement efficiently. Design/methodology/approach Interviews with different municipal actors were analyzed using a single case study method. As a primary unit of analysis, a specific project in which citizen engagement is organized was used. In addition, document analysis and a focus group were used to deepen understanding. Findings The findings reveal that citizen engagement is a viable strategy to identify the needs of the community if facilitated by a third party and that learning leadership is important when organizing citizen engagement. Originality/value The value of this research is the exploration of the citizen engagement process. It sheds light on the conditions that play a role when a local government organizes citizen engagement. As local governments search for ways to effectively organize and structure citizen engagement, insight into these conditions is helpful.

Local government modernization in Albania

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 466-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elona Guga
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Historical Development ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Fiscal Decentralization ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Administrative Reform ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose An attempt will be made to shed light on the course and pattern of the decentralization process by analyzing the historical development of local government and the territorial-administrative reform of 2015-2020 in Albania and the factors that have been shaping it. The scope is to understand the impact of the reform elements on the subnational governments and in general their overall impact on the government. The purpose of this paper is to fill the gap in the existing literature for Albania and at offering some insights on the administrative-territorial reform. Furthermore, it will contribute to the current debate on fiscal decentralization in South Eastern European (SEE) countries and the public management model implemented after the last reforms. Design/methodology/approach The first section analyzes the historical development of local government reforms from the 1990s to today and will help to identify if there is instrumentalism advocacy. The second section explains the determinants of the local government’s fiscal autonomy in Albania of the period from 2003 to 2016. Three indicators are used as proxies for fiscal decentralization: the proportion of subnational expenditure over national expenditure, of total subnational revenues over total revenues of central government and the indicator of own subnational revenues over total revenues of the central government. The data from the budget and the revised budgets are then compared. Findings Despite Albania’s commitment to decentralize its government functions, there is still work to do. The territorial and administrative reform has not generated the expected results. Almost 90 percent of the revenues still come from the central government’s unconditional transfers. Therefore, the Albanian Government should build capacities and skills, and train the employees of each level of government that currently benefit from international assistance. Research limitations/implications The analysis represents a single case study on the territorial-administrative reform in Albania. Its implementation started in 2015 and it is probably too early to discuss outcomes. However, it might be useful to analyze the first results after a two-and-a-half-year period of implementation of reforms. Despite contributing to the existing gap in the literature, additional research will be necessary to better understand the decentralization process not only in Albania, but in all SEE countries. Practical implications It is necessary to first understand the lack of initial output, as well as the various challenges faced, in order to take the corrective measures on time. Originality/value This paper discusses in detail the reform adopted and the progress made by the Albanian local government units. The reform attempts to develop better relationships between the central and local governments and hence improve their service delivery, transparency and accountability. This paper is the first one that is attempting to analyze the initial output of the territorial-administrative reform of 2015-2020.

Knowledge risk management in the public sector: insights into a Swedish municipality

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 717-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Durst ◽  
Birgitta Lindvall ◽  
Guido Bruns
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Single Case Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public

Purpose This study aims to contribute to the understanding of knowledge risk management (KRM) and a range of related knowledge management practices in the public sector through a case study conducted in a Swedish municipality. Design/methodology/approach A single case study was conducted in a Swedish municipality involving two offices. Data were collected through an online survey, group interviews and group exercises involving members of the offices who represented different functions, roles and age groups. Findings The findings underline the need for a systematic approach to KRM for being in a position to continuously deliver the municipality’s products and services, specifically against the knowledge challenges ahead. In addition, the authors identified a number of internal and external factors that are challenging KRM. Research limitations/implications Data were collected from a single case study, to generalize the findings future research should study additional local governments. Practical implications A holistic KRM framework is proposed intended to help managers tackle present and future challenges in the public sector. Originality/value The study contributes to the underdeveloped field of KRM by providing insights into KRM and KRM-related activities found in a Swedish municipality.

Bargaining with the devil? A politicized view on cross-sector partnerships targeting the BoP

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Hussler ◽  
Marielle Payaud
Keyword(s):  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
Single Case ◽  
The Political ◽  
Bottom Of The Pyramid ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Political Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Political Roles ◽  
Corporate Social

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate whether and how cross-sector partnerships (a growing yet controversial phenomenon) contribute to both non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and multinational companies (MNCs) political powers.Design/methodology/approachThe method consists of a single case study on a partnership involving a large MNC and a small NGO, in the delivery of lighting and cooking devices to BoP (bottom of the pyramid) populations.FindingsThanks to economic compromises and structural arrangements, both partners succeed to take advantage of the partnership to strengthen their respective (local and transnational) political power and to serve deprived populations’ needs.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper contributes to the political corporate social responsibility (CSR) literature by presenting cross-sector partnerships as a potential means to reconcile the “brother enemies” and increase both firms’ and nonprofit organizations’ political roles.Practical implicationsThe results help both NGOs and MNCs in understanding the political stakes of cross-sector partnerships and in envisioning mechanisms to handle those collaborations so as to deepen their respective goals and build public goods.Originality/valueWhile most of the literature focuses on the strategic rationales, this paper provides political rationales for cross-sector partnerships linking MNCs and NGOs.

Attitudes towards risk and decision-making within local government

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mairead Grimley ◽  
Kevin John Burnard
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Public Involvement ◽  
Local Authority ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThis case study aims to explore the perceptions and attitudes towards risk within a UK local authority and the subsequent effects on decision-making. Through a qualitative analysis of both primary and secondary data, this study advances current understanding of the complex relationships between risk and decision-making. The study concludes by suggesting how local governments may better provide value to constituents.Design/methodology/approachThis research follows a single case study approach. Data were collected through both a focused online survey and semi-structured interviews. Respondents were selected through purposive sampling in order to capture direct insights and understanding of the concepts under consideration. The study focuses on a single local authority within the UK.FindingsBuilding on extant literature, this case study highlights both the individual and organisational considerations towards risk perception. Following the analysis of collected data, the study highlights the influence of risk aversion and public involvement within decision-making.Originality/valueBy aiming to improve and advance understanding of risk and decision-making in a local authority setting, the relevance of this research may be wider than internal organisational structures. The study provides recommendations for further research towards facilitating the inclusion of the citizen within decision-making processes.

scholarly journals Institutionalising federalism in Nepal: operationalising obstacles, procrastinated progress

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-139
Author(s):  
Keshav Kumar Acharya ◽  
Habib Zafarullah
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Public Management ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Government Grants ◽  
The People ◽  
Government Legislation ◽  
And Control

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how local government bodies in Nepal are empowered to play their constitutional roles and engage in activities to deliver public services at the doorsteps of the people effectively. The focus is on the institutionalisation of federalism, its implications for local governance, and capacity development of local authorities.Design/methodology/approachIdeas of decentralisation, governance and public management have been used to interpret findings based on qualitative research methods by key informant interviews, focus group discussions and personal observations conducted in five selected municipalities in Nepal.FindingsThe process of operationalising the power of local government bodies is more conventional and hierarchic. At the same time, the formulation and implementation of inclusive plans and budgeting are confined with certain formalities that do not necessarily allow citizens the space for voices. Federal government grants constrain fiscal jurisdiction and control over resource mobilisation. The mere preparation and administration of local government legislation and relevant by-laws have weakened the capacity of local government bodies.Originality/valueFrom interpretation of first-hand data, this paper has identified the pitfalls of the federalisation process, the constraints deter the devolution of power to local bodies as well as the transformation of local governments into autonomous institutions in Nepal.

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