scholarly journals The many outcomes from contracting out: The voice of public managers

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1046-1067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrej Christian Lindholst ◽  
Morten Balle Hansen ◽  
Thomas Barfoed Randrup ◽  
Bengt Persson ◽  
Anders Kristoffersson
Keyword(s):  
Complex Case ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Contracting Out ◽  
Stakeholder Approach ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Managers ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Public Manager

This paper argues that adopting a stakeholder approach to the study of contracting outcomes produces more rich and rounded representations of the realities of the contracting out of public services. We revisit the research on contracting outcomes, highlighting the public manager perspective as key for gaining deeper, more detailed insights. The public manager perspective is explored in an inductive analysis of answers to open-ended survey questions collected from public managers with contracting experience within the context of municipal park management in Scandinavia. The emerging managerial perspective is summarized in a best-case, worst-case and complex-case scenario highlighting the mix, complexities and trade-offs in a composite set of contracting outcomes. The nature of contracting outcomes as complex and composite rather than unidimensional and clear-cut is one key finding. Furthermore, the importance of some specific outcomes (e.g. learning) complements existing research themes. Our findings sustain the initial argument, demonstrating how the stakeholder approach can produce new insights. A key implication is that future research can benefit from assessing contracting outcomes by providing voice to multiple stakeholders.

scholarly journals Value Positions and Relationships in the Swedish Digital Government

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leif Sundberg
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Digital Inclusion ◽  
Digital Government ◽  
The Public ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Service Logic ◽  
Point Of Departure

Governments across the world spend vast resources on implementing digital technology. Electronic, or digital, government is the use and study of Internet-based information and communication technology in the public sector. A point of departure in this study is that investments in technology are not value-free; they require allocation of limited resources and trade-offs between values. The purpose of this paper was to investigate how values are prioritized in the Swedish digital government. This research was conducted by using quantitative data from a survey administered to Swedish municipalities and national agencies. In addition, qualitative data from a database was used to exemplify value operationalization. The research utilized a theoretical framework based on four value positions: professionalism, efficiency, service, and engagement. The findings reveal that service and quality, and productivity and legality have a high priority, while engagement values are less prioritized. Differences based on organization type and size are also discussed. Moreover, the study suggests that professionalism and efficiency are distinct value positions, while service and engagement are closely related through citizen centricity. The qualitative material suggests that citizen centricity can manifest itself as a form of service logic, but also in the form of educational digital inclusion activities for vulnerable groups. The paper concludes by suggesting that future research should further refine the concept of citizen centricity in relation to digital government values, since its current meaning is ambiguous.

Cross-scale trade-offs and synergies in aquaculture, water quality and environment: research issues and policy implications

Water Policy ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis N. Gichuki ◽  
Dekshika C. Kodituwakku ◽  
Sophie Nguyen-Khoa ◽  
Chu Thai Hoanh
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Issues ◽  
Scale Evaluation ◽  
The Public ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Empirical Context ◽  
New Research ◽  
Aquaculture Water

This paper sets the stage for this Special Issue covering a set of papers, which try to provide a cross-scale evaluation of the trade-offs and synergies evident among aquaculture, water quality and environment in the empirical context of 8 different countries from Asia and Africa. Having discussed the livelihood and policy significance of the issue of cross-scale trade-offs and synergies, this paper provides an eclectic review of literature to show how this issue has been insufficiently treated in past studies. With a brief overview and synthesis of the papers included in this Issue, this paper also indicates how they overcome the analytical, methodological, and data challenges so as to provide a cross-scale evaluation of the trade-offs and synergies in different empirical settings. After illustrating how the new research insights can be integrated into the public debates and policy processes, this paper concludes with the identification of future research and policy needs.

Capability versus efficiency: contracting out park and road services in Norway

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 474-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merethe Dotterud Leiren ◽  
Andrej Christian Lindholst ◽  
Ingjerd Solfjeld ◽  
Thomas Barfoed Randrup
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Road Maintenance ◽  
Contracting Out ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Service Production ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Local Road

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into the extent of, rationales for and outcomes of contracting out in the local road and park sectors in Norway. For understanding the use of contracting out in local governments, it highlights the relevance of the capability perspective in organisational literature as an alternative to the standard efficiency perspective. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on four expert interviews and survey data gathered from park and road managers in Norwegian municipalities in 2015. Findings – The study suggests that Norwegian municipalities primarily contract out park and road maintenance services when they do not have the capability to perform these services themselves. Cost concerns are also highlighted but of less importance. Moreover, lack of competition renders the use of contracting out as a potentially costly and less satisfying arrangement for organising service delivery. Research limitations/implications – While the scope is limited to one country, Norway, future research may benefit from the theoretical perspectives, which have been used. Practical implications – Policy guidelines should support a flexible use of various arrangements for service provision. Originality/value – The dominating view among proponents of marketisation in the public sector suggests that contracting out to private contractors is undertaken to enhance economic efficiency compared to keeping service production in-house. This study suggests that this is not always the case – even in “most likely” sectors such as park and road maintenance.

scholarly journals Value generation from open government data in the public sector: Development and validation of a multidimensional scale

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 58-88
Author(s):  
Vanessa Hernandes Oliveira de Oliveira ◽  
Paulo Gonçalves Pinheiro ◽  
Nelson Guilherme Machado Pinto
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Open Government ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Analysis Tool ◽  
The Public ◽  
Multidimensional Construct ◽  
Public Managers ◽  
Open Government Data ◽  
Government Data ◽  
Development And Validation

The use of open government data by governments can create opportunities and drive the digital transformation of the public sector. However, there is no integrative measure that assesses the factors that enable public organizations to effectively utilize open government data. The objective of this research was to develop and validate an instrument to assess the factors related to value generation from the use of open government data in the public sector. The construction of the scale was a three-step process. First, the items were structured. Next, a pilot study was performed. Lastly, the instrument was validated. The results indicate that the measure of value generation from the use of open government data is a multidimensional construct, which presents promising implications for future research. This study contributes by developing an instrument that can serve as an analysis tool that will aid public managers who are interested in utilizing open government data.

Observing organisational transformation of the public sector in the e-government era

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janja Nograšek ◽  
Mirko Vintar
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Information Communication ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Public Managers ◽  
Comprehensive Framework

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to develop a more comprehensive framework that would provide better insight into the characteristics of organisational transformation (OT) of the public sector organisations in the e-government era. Despite the widespread opinion that successful implementation of information communication technology (ICT) is strongly correlated with the appropriate OT of the public sector, a critical analysis of the available literature within the field indicates that this important dimension of e-government development has been dealt with only partially. Accordingly, the paper attempts the following: to develop a more comprehensive framework for observing OT, to empirically explain the framework through analysis of three Slovenian e-government projects and to develop some general characteristics of ICT-induced OT in the public sector. Design/methodology/approach – The development of the framework is based on an analysis of the available literature, whereas the explanation of such is based on a multiple-case study approach. Findings – The paper contributes to a clearer understanding of what the main characteristics of OT in the e-government era are and how they should be observed. Research limitations/implications – The findings can help researchers to more accurately focus their attention on the most critical aspects of OT. The identified attributes can provide an important basis for future research, particularly from the methodological perspective. Practical implications – The framework can help public managers to focus their attention on the most important attributes of ICT-induced OT to exploit ICT potentials more efficiently. Originality/value – The paper attempts to demystify the concept of OT in the e-government field and place it in a more solid theoretical and empirically explained framework.

scholarly journals Professionalism is the Key to Create Public Value

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3.30) ◽  
pp. 583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Sami ◽  
Ahmad Jusoh ◽  
Khalil Md Nor ◽  
Asmara Irfan ◽  
Sobia Irum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Management ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
Specialized Knowledge ◽  
Public Value ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Managers ◽  
Public Sector Organizations ◽  
Public Manager

Public value is a new and important concept in the public management research. This concept give a new idea of public management with theme of peoples first approach to facilitate them. Public value creation is the main concern of public mangers in today’s public sector organizations. Public value is based on three building blocks of public value that are services, trust and social outcome. Professionalism is an esential requirement to achieve these building blocks of public value. A professional public manager by virtue of his possition will be in a better position to create public value. The important attributes of a professional public manger includes honesty, competency, accountability, self regulation and specialized knowledge of his field and duties. These attributes of public managers will create public value and ultimately establish the trust of public on the organization and as a result, the country will become a welfare state. 

scholarly journals TOMATOD: EVALUATION OF OBJECT DETECTION ALGORITHMS ON A NEW REAL-WORLD TOMATO DATASET

2020 ◽  
Vol XLIII-B3-2020 ◽  
pp. 1077-1084
Author(s):  
V. Tsironis ◽  
S. Bourou ◽  
C. Stentoumis
Keyword(s):  
Object Detection ◽  
Real World ◽  
Species Recognition ◽  
Tomato Fruit ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
The Public ◽  
Detection Algorithms ◽  
Core Areas ◽  
Class Information

Abstract. The integration of modern technologies in farming poses a challenging task to the research community. In this work, the task of selective cropping and treating is considered, whereas learning algorithms can provide essential assistance on crop growth and disease prediction, species recognition and fruit detection. In this paper, we introduce a highly specialized object detection (OD) and classification dataset of tomato fruits that contains class information for the ripening stage of each tomato fruit apart from its corresponding bounding box. With this dataset we aim to encourage the development of task-specific production ready object detection algorithms, as well as to evaluate and provide a baseline result of common state-of-the-art generic OD algorithms. In detail, a thorough presentation of the most common OD datasets takes place, where we discuss both generic OD and some highly specialized datasets. Our dataset contains more than 250 images and 2400 annotations in total. The dataset contains class information for three ripening stages of a tomato fruit provided by expert agriculturists, while providing views consistent with the targeted real-world use case scenario. Compared to other OD datasets our proposition differs in core areas such as the quality of the annotations, the object size distribution and the public availability. Evaluating the performance in our dataset for six object detection models we draw conclusions about the strength and weaknesses of each one’s performance. Finally, we present a future roadmap of revisions and discuss some future research topics that could improve the performance of OD algorithms in our dataset.

scholarly journals Window of Opportunity for Mitigation to Prevent Overflow of ICU capacity in Chicago by COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergei Maslov ◽  
Nigel Goldenfeld
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Emergency Situation ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
List Type ◽  
Window Of Opportunity ◽  
High Confidence ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Executive Summary ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Trade Offs

Executive SummaryWe estimate the growth in demand for ICU beds in Chicago during the emerging COVID-19 epidemic, using state-of-the-art computer simulations calibrated for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The questions we address are these:Will the ICU capacity in Chicago be exceeded, and if so by how much?Can strong mitigation strategies, such as lockdown or shelter in place order, prevent the overflow of capacity?When should such strategies be implemented?Our answers are as follows:The ICU capacity may be exceeded by a large amount, probably by a factor of ten.Strong mitigation can avert this emergency situation potentially, but even that will not work if implemented too late.If the strong mitigation precedes April 1st, then the growth of COVID-19 can be controlled and the ICU capacity could be adequate. The earlier the strong mitigation is implemented, the greater the probability that it will be successful. After around April 1 2020, any strong mitigation will not avert the emergency situation. In Italy, the lockdown occurred too late and the number of deaths is still doubling every 2.3 days. It is difficult to be sure about the precise dates for this window of opportunity, due to the inherent uncertainties in computer simulation. But there is high confidence in the main conclusion that it exists and will soon be closed.Our conclusion is that, being fully cognizant of the societal trade-offs, there is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to avert a worst-case scenario in Chicago, but only with strong mitigation/lockdown implemented in the next week at the latest. If this window is missed, the epidemic will get worse and then strong mitigation/lockdown will be required after all, but it will be too late.

How Staged Head-On Collisions Changed Public Perception of Railroads

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leanne Thurston
Keyword(s):  
Public Perception ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
The United States ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
The Public ◽  
United States Population ◽  
Mode Of Transportation ◽  
Transcontinental Railroad

With any new mode of transportation comes new fears for both the public and those involved in the industry. The advent of the transcontinental railroad was no different. When the transcontinental railroad was complete and trains became more commonplace for travel, the biggest fear became the worst case scenario: a head on collision between two trains. The idea of the head on collision remained the biggest fear of the public because it happened and was based on reality, but was rarely witnessed, which made the idea even more lofty. But with the standardization of time in the 1880’s, there were fewer crashes and collisions of railroads, but people were still afraid. Railroad companies began to brainstorm the best way to change public perception, and began to stage head on collisions open to public viewing for a small fee. Naturally, the idea took off, and head on collisions between trains became the next source of entertainment. For $2, spectators could watch two locomotives crash into each other at speeds of 58 miles an hour in Crush Texas, or even cheaper in Ohio. But this was more than just entertainment. William Crush, the most famous locomotive smasher had actually worked on the railroad known as the Katy. When asked by the executives of the railroad to boost sales, head on collision was his solution. Despite multiple injuries suffered in the crowd from shrapnel and an exploded boiler, this showcase worked, and ridership of the Katy increased dramatically. Crush’s display was not the first, or last time this took place around the country, but it was the most deadly, which makes it the most memorable and begs the question “what role do these staged collisions play in railroad history?” Ridership in the decades leading up to these staged collisions was steadily declining, and safety measures were not taken into consideration. But with these staged collisions that turned around. People, not just the public were able to see and study the different collisions and put minds at ease. But it also tells about the United States population at the time. These staged collisions could not have happened in any other era because of the industrial revolution which allowed railroad companies to begin to replace old locomotives and iron tracks with steel.

scholarly journals A Review of the Effects of Climate Change on Chelonians

Diversity ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Butler
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Careful Consideration ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Proactive Management ◽  
Limited Dispersal ◽  
Management Recommendations

Climate change is occurring at an unprecedented rate and has begun to modify the distribution and phenology of organisms worldwide. Chelonians are expected to be particularly vulnerable due to limited dispersal capabilities as well as widespread temperature-dependent sex determination. The number of papers published about the effects of climate change on turtles has increased exponentially over the last decade; here, I review the data from peer-reviewed publications to assess the likely impacts of climate change on individuals, populations, and communities. Based upon these studies future research should focus on: (1) Individual responses to climate change, particularly with respect to thermal biology, phenology, and microhabitat selection; (2) improving species distribution models by incorporating fine-scale environmental variables as well as physiological processes; (3) identifying the consequences of skewed sex ratios; and (4) assessments of community resilience and the development of methods to mitigate climate change impacts. Although detailed management recommendations are not possible at this point, careful consideration should be given regarding how to manage low vagility species as habitats shift poleward. In the worst-case scenario, proactive management may be required in order to ensure that widespread losses do not occur.

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