Organizational Culture and E-Government Performance

Author(s):  
Shivraj Kanungo ◽  
Vikas Jain

Government organizations differ significantly from private sector organizations in terms of their processes, culture, and ways of working. Plagued with phlegmatic and often lackadaisical work systems, government organizations tend to resist dramatic changes usually associated with technology based interventions. This study examines the effect of one dominant factor, organizational culture, on the success of e-government initiatives. To test the research model, survey data was collected from 315 respondents in 13 government organizations in India. The results indicate that a government organization which performs well on e-government projects exhibits specific cultural traits. Results also indicate that bureaucratic dimension, which emerges as the dominant cultural dimension in government organizations, is both positively and negatively related to e-government performance dimensions. The supportive and innovative dimensions of organizational culture are positively related to work process improvement and the job satisfaction of the user associated with e-government projects. Implications for practice and research are provided by interpreting the results in the context of the process paradox. The results show that while government and public sector organizations can use culture to positively impact efficiency dimensions of e-government performance, the dominant bureaucratic culture will tend to hinder systemic and enterprise-wide e-government performance.

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 36-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shivraj Kanungo ◽  
Vikas Jain

Government organizations differ significantly from private sector organizations in terms of their processes, culture, and ways of working. Plagued with phlegmatic and often lackadaisical work systems, government organizations tend to resist dramatic changes usually associated with technology based interventions. This study examines the effect of one dominant factor, organizational culture, on the success of e-government initiatives. To test the research model, survey data was collected from 315 respondents in 13 government organizations in India. The results indicate that a government organization which performs well on e-government projects exhibits specific cultural traits. Results also indicate that bureaucratic dimension, which emerges as the dominant cultural dimension in government organizations, is both positively and negatively related to e-government performance dimensions. The supportive and innovative dimensions of organizational culture are positively related to work process improvement and the job satisfaction of the user associated with e-government projects. Implications for practice and research are provided by interpreting the results in the context of the process paradox. The results show that while government and public sector organizations can use culture to positively impact efficiency dimensions of e-government performance, the dominant bureaucratic culture will tend to hinder systemic and enterprise-wide e-government performance.


Author(s):  
Saqib Malik ◽  
Cao Yukun

The aim of this chapter is to measure employees' total job satisfaction, using Spector's job satisfaction survey and its nine facets in Pakistani public and private sector organizations and whether cultural variable power distance moderate relationship between job satisfaction facets and total job satisfaction. On the basis of research findings, it is recommended that Spector's nine job satisfaction facets also be used as factors in determining the overall job satisfaction, in addition to Spector's own 36 items total satisfaction, in future studies. The attempt to seek whether cultural dimension “power distance” moderates each of the nine job satisfaction facets and the employees' overall job satisfaction did not succeed; the results indicate that the interaction terms in all nine job satisfaction facets cases have turned out statistically insignificant (p > 0.10), suggesting that power distance does not moderate between job satisfaction facets and overall job satisfaction. It is also recommended that cultural dimension power distance be retried as a moderator in future research to check validity of the present findings.


2019 ◽  
pp. 0734371X1988605
Author(s):  
Ines Mergel ◽  
Nicola Bellé ◽  
Greta Nasi

Attracting highly skilled IT talent has become a priority and an immense burden for government organizations—especially when they have other—higher paying—employment opportunities. We set out to explore why IT professionals choose a government job to make an impact on society. We aim at disentangling the effects of different types of motives, such as extrinsic, intrinsic, and other-oriented motivational forces on the decision to accept a challenging government IT job. We use self-determination theory (SDT) to analyze publicly available statements of former private sector IT professionals reporting their reason for joining 18F. Our study is one of the first attempts to use SDT as a comprehensive framework for conducting qualitative research into work motivation in the public sector. We shed light on the conceptual and empirical distinctiveness of motives, behaviors, and perceptions of prosocial impact, which are often lumped together in the public service motivation (PSM) literature. We contribute novel empirical evidence to a nascent stream of research that uses SDT to disentangle the intrinsic, prosocial, and purely extrinsic motives that drive individuals’ decisions to join public-sector organizations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 568-593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohsenah Al Yami ◽  
Mian M. Ajmal

Purpose Knowledge management (KM) is increasingly becoming critical to public sector organizations as it is to private sector organizations. This is because public sector organizations are increasingly held accountable for their actions and are forced to move away from traditional bureaucratic approaches to more managerial ones. For instance, public sector is facing pressure to improve its operational efficiency such as productivity, lead time and expenditure. Similarly, it is also facing pressure to improve its transparency, trust, reliability and accountability, which are key elements of sustainable development (SD). The purpose of this study therefore is to understand the intricate relationship between KM processes, operational efficiency and SD in the public sector. Design/methodology/approach A framework consisting of eight constructs (knowledge acquisition, knowledge creation, knowledge capture, knowledge storage and retrieval, knowledge sharing, knowledge utilization, operational efficiency and SD) and their underlying items was developed through an extensive literature review. Using 383 usable responses collected through a structured questionnaire from the UAE public sector, the constructs and framework were first validated and then the current level of implementation/achievement of KM processes, operational efficiency and SD was assessed along with the hypothesized relationships between the constructs. Findings The findings show that KM processes had a positive and significant direct impact on operational efficiency and SD. Also, operational efficiency was found to strongly mediate the relationship between KM processes and SD. Practical implications The findings are expected to help UAE public sector organizations devise strategies and policy interventions to align and improve their KM processes for achieving operational efficiency and SD. Public sectors looking to focus on SD must focus on KM processes and strive to improve stakeholder engagement, which is a vital aspect of SD. Originality/value Integration of KM processes, operational efficiency and SD has not been attempted previously and hence constitutes the novelty of this work.


Author(s):  
Nur Amirah Mohd Razin ◽  
Romzie Rosman

Zakat plays an important role as part of the Islamic socio-economic system. Zakat is said to be one of the financial tools to alleviate poverty apart from micro financing and micro credit. However, it is found that most of the benefits are only offered to the citizens of Malaysia and not the other untapped communities from other countries especially the refugees that seeks our government's protection. Hence, if the existing zakat recipients who are the citizens still unable to avoid from the unruly poverty, let alone the untapped group, especially the refugees. With the majority of refugees hailing from Muslim countries, Muslims around the world fulfilling zakat, a major pillar of their faith, can play an important role in alleviating their suffering and restoring their dignity as human beings. The realization of the incredible philanthropic Islamic social finance such as zakat, which can potentially exceed $300 billion a year, has driven United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to launch a Zakat Program in late 2016, namely Refugee Zakat Fund. Currently, the approach by zakat institution to help refugees are less proactive, given that most of the approach are made by the non-government organization (NGO) such as UNHCR Malaysia and local non-government organizations. The issues are very important to be solved as Islamic social finance has a huge potential mechanism to reduce poverty. Hence, the objectives of this study are (1) to explain the role of zakat in eradicating poverty among refugees for improving their socio-economic well-being, (2) to explore the issues and challenges of zakat administration in Malaysia especially in helping refugees, and (3) to explore the issues and challenges of UNHCR in managing refugees' zakat funds. This study adopted qualitative approach by conducting interview with five experts in relation to Islamic social finance especially on the issues of zakat management. These experts have vast experience in Islamic finance and in Shariah. In general, the findings suggest that (1) zakat can play a crucial role in providing assistance to those in need without exception to fulfil both Maqasid Shariah and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); (2) one of the challenges facing the zakat institution is their managements are inefficient and a lack of transparency in terms of how the funds are collected, managed, and distributed, and hence, the adoption of technology is important for effective and efficient zakat system; (3) UNHCR must take important care on governance aspects in order to manage and administer zakat funds for refugees to improve the trust of zakat payers and recipients. This study may contribute to the enhancement policies in relation to both zakat and refugees made by both federal and state government by harmonizing the policies to solve the issues on poverty of the refugees, especially in Malaysia.


2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 200-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E Terpstra ◽  
André L Honorée

This study reports on the results of a content analysis of federal court cases examining employment discrimination litigation in private, federal, and state/local sector organizations. One objective was to determine whether there are differences in the types of employment discrimination claims (e.g. race, sex, age, and disability) across the different sectors. A second objective was to determine whether there are differences in the outcomes (whether the case outcome or ruling was for the plaintiff or the defendant) of the different types of employment discrimination cases across the different sectors. The results of this study indicate that there are substantial differences in both the types of discrimination charges and the outcomes of those discrimination charges across the different sectors. The implications of the most significant findings are discussed, and recommendations are offered to organizations interested in reducing the occurrence of employment discrimination and the costs associated with employment discrimination litigation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 333-340
Author(s):  
Saša Baškarada ◽  
Brian Hanlon

PurposeAlthough corporate portfolio management (CPM) has been a popular tool for strategic management of multi-business portfolios in the private sector since the late 1960s, it has received limited attention in the public sector. Accordingly, empirical research on the use of CMP in government organizations is virtually non-existent. The purpose of this paper is to partially fill that gap in the literature by highlighting and discussing some of the key points that public sector organizations may need to consider when adopting CPM.Design/methodology/approachRather than deductively proposing and testing narrowly specified hypotheses, this study aims to answer a broad research question, namely: What are the key points that public sector organizations may need to consider when adopting CMP? Hence, the study adopts the qualitative interpretive research paradigm. The findings are based on empirical research conducted in a large Australian publicly funded research organization. Potential application of CPM was iteratively and incrementally explored with a reference group comprising 15 middle management representatives and several members of the senior leadership group over the course of one year.FindingsAssessment criteria traditionally used in CPM (e.g. growth potential and market share) are generally not applicable in public sector organizations. This paper suggests that government organizations should instead consider past performance and future potential of individual business units, which may be operationalized via capability (a function of human capital and associated resources/infrastructure) and delivery (a function of the demand for, and the impact of, relevant business units). The paper also highlights the importance of organization-wide consultation, evidence-based decision making, and contestability.Originality/valueFrom a practical perspective, the paper may assist public sector organizations with adapting and applying CPM. From a theoretical perspective, the paper highlights an important and relatively neglected research problem, and suggests several avenues for future research.


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Shalini Rahul Tiwari ◽  
Rakesh Chopra

Subject area Social Entrepreneurship/management of non-profit organizations (and non-government organizations). Study level/applicability Undergraduate/MBA/Executive MBA. Case overview PUKAR is a niche non-government organization (NGO) working on a unique concept of “Right to Research”. It has several themes aimed at democratizing research and broadening access to knowledge among the disenfranchised or the weakly institutionalized groups. The resulting output is disseminated through media such as lectures, Web site, books and newsletters, thus initiating local, national and global debates about future of these groups. PUKAR conceptualizes all projects around this philosophy, which are supported by few specialized funding organizations. Funding organizations, on the other hand, are trying to support many causes aimed at improving the quality of life of citizens of various countries. Thus, PUKAR's growth is constrained by limited funds. Nevertheless, PUKAR has been able to create transformation in the lives of youth who carry out these projects. PUKAR, therefore, faces a continuous challenge of conceptualizing proposals that are meaningful and impactful for the society and to stay true to its core philosophy. Expected learning outcomes The expected learning outcomes include: to understand the nature of challenges (both strategic and operational) faced by a niche NGO; to analyze how the strategy of an NGO evolves with time; to analyze the impediments of growth for a niche NGO; and to analyze the strategic options for growth and sustenance of an NGO. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes.


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