Artificial Intelligence and Its Context: An Introduction

About the Authors

PurposeThis paper aims to present a meta‐model for electronic government (e‐government) which takes account of the broad nature of this contemporary socio‐technical phenomenon. As such it contains within it a number of possible “business models” for the development of e‐government – strategies for e‐government focused around key business processes and information systems.Design/methodology/approachThis meta‐model is built from literature taken from the domains of informatics, business and public administration. It is also built on established academic, policy and practitioner literature from the domain of e‐government itself.FindingsThe paper demonstrates and validates the use of this meta‐model in three ways. First, it is used as an explanatory tool to help review the contemporary experience of e‐government in the UK. To help in this process we position specific case examples of e‐government against the model from this experience. Second, it is used to evaluate a number of existing models of e‐government, particularly those which provide an explicit framework of e‐government progress. A number of deficiencies in such models are identified from this evaluation. Third, the meta‐model is proposed as a framework for evaluating and potentially benchmarking e‐government. The intention is to raise the perspective of evaluation and benchmarking in this area beyond its contemporary focus on electronic service delivery.Originality/valueTo demonstrate the worth of this approach, the paper describes the application of elements of this meta‐model in two evaluation/benchmarking exercises undertaken by the author in the context of regional e‐government.

Citation (2023), "Prelims", Caruana, J., Bisogno, M. and Sicilia, M. (Ed.) Measurement in Public Sector Financial Reporting: Theoretical Basis and Empirical Evidence (Emerald Studies in Public Service Accounting and Accountability), Emerald Publishing Limited, Bingley, pp. i-xxiv. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80117-161-820231012

This is the fourth volume of a four-volume encyclopaedia which combines public administration and policy, and contains approximately 900 articles by over 300 specialists. It covers all of the core concepts, terms and processes of applied behavioural science, budgeting, comparative public administration, development administration, industrial/organizational psychology, industrial policy, international trade, labour relations, management, non-profit management, organizational theory and behaviour, policy analysis, political economy, political science, public administration, public finance, public law, public management, public personnel administration, public policy, and taxation. There are also entries on individuals who made significant intellectual and technical contributions to the development of public policy and administration, such as Louis Brownlow, John Maynard Keynes and Leonard White; significant organizations such as the American Society for Public Administration, the International Institute of Administrative Sciences, and the National Academy of Public Administration; and historically important committees or commissions, such as the Fulton Committee in Great Britain and the Hoover Commission in the United States. Each article tackles its subject from a generic perspective, with examples from as wide a range of states as practical. Typically, an article deals with historical and theoretical developments, then explains how relevant concepts and practices are applied in varying cultures, such as the United States, Western Europe or Asia, and in varying regimes, such as presidential, parliamentary or monarchical. An underlying theme of the encyclopaedia is that the various aspects of public administration in all developed states are essentially the same. It is designed so that its contents - a combination of historical and descriptive articles, procedural presentations and interpretive essays - will be accessible to the general reader as well as of interest to the specialist.

Public administration and political science: From monogamous marriage to professional partnership

The general articulation of the issue andits connection with the important research and practice tasks . Analysis of the current development of information and communication, the effectiveness of communication policy in Ukraine, the level of public trust in public institutions, some reforms and social changes, the position of the state in the world competitive rankings, demands and expectations demonstrates the institutional failure of public authorities to such of varied activities. Therefore, appropriateness of this study determined an effective methodological tool for solving the problem - the restoration / formation of trust as an important strategic nonmaterial resource. The analysis of the recent publications regarding the issues this article deals with; identification of parts of the general problem that have not been previously addressed. Investigating to the formation of trust as a strategic non-material resource and efficient use of space communication thoroughly reflected in a number of scientific, sociological studies and monographs, including Bezverkhnyuk T., Bourdieu P., Castells M., Kozhemyakin O., Collis J., Luman N., Ryabtsev G., Fukuyama F. and others. However, comprehensive analysis study on improving the trust in governmental institutions, identifying the main causes and consequences of the prediction weren’t implemented. The purpose (the objective) of this article is to analyze the problem of the formation and functioning strategic communications in Ukraine due to the analysis of low level of trust in the state institutions; identify the main causes of its occurrence, as well as priority directions of effective use of communication potential and opportunities of public administration in forming a strategic trust resource. The key results and the background . The formation of trust is a strategic goal in the interaction of public authorities and society, which can only be provided by a planned and effective communication process. Knowledge, understanding and acceptance belong to the function of communication in the process of reaching consensus and confidence, whereas trust is defined as a strategic goal. An important feature of the new model of relationship between political, administrative institutions and society is the focus on defining, formulating goals and results, that is, focus on the consequences, rather than on the process, and strengthening of feedback mechanisms. An important disadvantage is the lack of certainly defined strategy in the development of the Ukrainian state, which would be supported by most of the population and which would not cause any objections. Based on the consequential analysis, conducted by the author, the main problem in the governmental institutions is an inefficient use of communication potential and opportunities of public administration, the main reasons of those are: the lack of strategic communications and effective strategic management, non-system and inconsistency of developing communication strategies, the lack of communication competences among specialists in public administration. It’s proved that defiance of such problems may lead to a threat to the national security. Conclusions and the prospects of the further research. Within the research there were determined the following priorities of effective and efficient use of the communication potential of public administration: - The institutionalization of strategic communication in the system of public administration as a system of targeted communication campaigns, fashion events aimed at reaching an agreement with all stakeholders to achieve strategic goals. - Creating an integrated system of strategic development, which involves the development of national (general) strategy Grand Strategy Forsyth using the methodology and agreement with the various sectorial and regional development strategies. - Ensuring communication activities provides professional training of civil servants in the formation and analytical work, and strategic communications for public administration. The directions abovementioned are interconnected and interrelated, they are formed strategic goals and efficient priorities of the national information space to achieve the success that will increase the level of trust in public administration

Strategic communication research has received increased attention during the last 10–15 years, predominantly viewing the it as an interdisciplinary concept and employing various theoretical concepts as a basis for research – communication and media theories, organizational and management theories, as well as sociological and political science theories. Strategic communication is still used in different senses and meanings, however, most frequently it is applied as a synonym for purposeful management of the communication process in general, or management of specific communication disciplines. The most important aspect in this is being purposeful and tied to the strategic goals of the organization. Public sector organizations manage, lead and ensure the functionality of the public sector and provide services to citizens, including supplying the information process. In the tense situation of today, strategic communication is especially important for public administration in the context of ensuring national security. Latvia has a relatively good experience in this regard due to “The National Concept on Strategic Communication and Security of the Information Space 2023–2027” approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia in early 2023. The concept has been approved, but, of course, it is impossible to fully implement the concept in less than a year. Nevertheless, the Department of the Strategic Communication Coordination of the State Chancellery is actively working to make strategic communication an understandable, valued and professionally performed public administration function.

The International Journal of Strategic Communication, published by the Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, issued a specially themed edition entitled “Future Directions Of Strategic Communication” in November 2018. In the foreword the editors, Howard Nothhaft from the Department of Strategic Communication, Lund University Campus Helsingborg, Sweden; Kelly Page Werder from the University of South Florida, USA; Dejan Verčič from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia; and Ansgar Zarfass from the Norwegian Business School in Oslo, Norway, explain how the idea of the special edition emerged at the pre-conference of the International Communication Association’s 67th Annual Conference, held in May 2017 in San Diego, California. The conference hosted 42 academics from 14 countries who delivered 21 presentations. The special edition features 10 articles which are undeniably excellent. The aim of the editors was to provide answers to some key questions; one of their findings was that a universal understanding of the key pillars underlining strategic communication was still missing. They also explored the idea of the key perspective and its contribution, the use of appropriate strategies and concepts of communication, lessons learned from recent debates on strategic management and strategic connections, how empirical studies have contributed to the discussion, and the development of the field in different parts of the world. In the first section, entitled The Emergence of a Paradigm, the editors offer an interdisciplinary perspective within academic strategic communication, which will provide a permanent definition of its purpose, so far lacking. The second section, entitled Conceptual Foundations of Strategic Communication, includes four articles by six different authors. The articles are mainly theoretical and connected to other fields in addition to strategic communication. The third section, Expanding the Body of Knowledge, consists of three articles by eight authors. They focus on the key concepts, identity and function of the basic discipline. The final section, Future Directions of Strategic Communication, contains a single article written by all four editors, and will likely attract the most attention, especially from those dealing with strategic communication in security, defence and military contexts. The authors introduce the term strategic communication and its history, which are both understood very differently in different fields. They then describe the origins of the two, also referring to Edward Bernays’ significant role, with his Propaganda and the development of the term public relations. Throughout history, both of them have been and still are closely linked to security, defence and military topics. This connection is explained in great detail through an explanation of the terminology and its nuances; for example, the use of the concept of strategic communication in public administration, while the term corporate communication is mostly used by the private sector. The old, yet recently growing, interest in communication in the context of military and national power is highlighted. These topics are not usually very popular with the public, particularly in the case of new weapons with a strong deterrent effect and the related collateral damage, which demands more versatility and skill in communication. Logically, Bernays is credited as the ‘father of communication’, developing his skills mostly after World War II through various American assistance programmes for the old European continent. Some light is also shed on the term strategic, i.e. what is and what is not strategic in the field of communication. The special edition of the International Journal of Strategic Communication, entitled Future Directions of Strategic Communication, is targeted at strategic communication enthusiasts. It is recommended for academics and experts who deal with strategic communication in any form, especially those who work in security, defence or military structures and would like to explore this further in the future. The existing high quality theory and excellent practical experience are the best combination for the development of new theories, concepts and ideas.

Currently, in the globalized context the information flows spread rapidly and affect all spheres of life, Strategic communications obviously are the key factor of a purposeful impact on nations, institutional bodies, associations, and business entities. The article addresses the role of present-day strategic communications, the major challenges that arise in this area, and the response capacity of state authorities. In the modern information society, with the access to information being increasingly wide and fast, strategic communications are becoming a key tool to achieve success in various fields: politics, business, public sector, and so forth. The effective use of strategic communications helps the authorities influence public opinion, engage stakeholders, and achieve relevant goals. Empirical research such as surveys, interviews, focus groups or document analysis can be conducted to understand the role of strategic communications in the modern world. Case studies allow the researcher to study specific cases or activities of organizations that successfully use strategic communications. Drawing on the insight into such cases, it is feasible to analyze applicable strategies, tactics, and results that can help to understand the effectiveness and capacity of strategic communications. The method of comparative analysis allows comparing diverse countries, organizations or areas in order to identify similar and different aspects of the use of strategic communications. However, the research revealed certain challenges associated with the strategic communications, such as the emergence of fake news, information overload, the complexity of communication channels, and so forth. With the aim of efficiently implementing strategic communications, it is necessary to consider the aforesaid challenges and develop adaptive strategies. It is claimed that the effective use of strategic communications helps public authorities maintain public trust, build a positive image, and achieve their social, political, or military goals. The use of present-day communication tools and constant analysis and updating of communication strategies are indispensable factors to achieve success in this area. Recommendations are put forward for state authorities in terms of enhancing the existing communication strategies, in particular, taking into consideration the features of the target audience, ensuring transparency and accessibility of information as well as an active use of social media and conducting public consultations. Key words: strategic communications, information security, public administration, media, technologies.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine if business and public administration have distinct identities based on perception of curriculum areas.Design/methodology/approachPROSCAL, and algorithm for multidimensional scaling was used.FindingsBusiness and public administration faculties have different identities based on their perceptions of curriculum areas.Research limitations/implicationsRelied on a maximum likelihood probability approach. The study should be replicated using other psychometric techniques, or be extended to other disciplines.Practical implicationsPublic administration is empirically validated as distinct from business administration and political science. Care must be taken when borrowing ideas from either field, though results indicate that communicating with business administration would be easier due to the shared space.Originality/valueIt is one of the few (if not the only) papers using PROSCAL. It is one of the first to mathematically determine if groups were understanding and processing stimuli similarly enough to be compared.

The article describes peculiarities of the strategic communications implementation into the public system which is based on the project approach, expecially, the management of the portfolio of communication projects. It is determined that strategic communications achieve a change in the perception and behavior of the whole society or a part of it, it is involved the coordinated activities of the public administration in the humanitarian, information and media sphere. The complex is integrated with each other communication activities and actions require special forms of implementation: coordination between themselves and strategic goal; implementation at the national level, for the whole society: coordination at regional and local levels. The necessity of the use of project-based approach in the implementation of communication strategies, which is an effective strategic management technology development and contributes to proactive public administration. It is determined that the most appropriate way to coordinate the overall communication in the implementation of the national development strategy is project portfolio management as an effective management tool to achieve strategic goals. Prioritizing communication projects and their effective implementation will provide a number of advantages: the rational allocation of resources, ensuring that strategic plan projects according to their values and preferences. Technological implementation of portfolio management communication projects at the state level justified by the need to ensure constant and continuous process coordinated communication of public authorities and society at the strategic, operational and tactical levels. Combining individual communication, cultural, educational and scientific projects in the portfolio provides new quality management, to enhance the overall effect of projects and project portfolio themselves are one of the most effective mechanisms of strategic management. The organizational structure that standardizes management processes, facilitates sharing of resources, methodologies, tools and techniques have office management and communications programs and projects whose primary purpose: management implementation support communications projects and direct management of individual projects at the state level. It is proposed to establish an official management of communication projects in Ukraine, which rejected the highest minimum effectiveness in the field of communication strategy and opened the possibility to deny public authority in the strategic communications. The authority of the office is to coordinate communication activities both in the government and with other governments and with the public and foreign nationals (in the public diplomacy).

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Abstract: This chapter on "Global Business and Trade Strategies" provides a comprehensive exploration of the key concepts, economic impact, and historical evolution of global business and trade. It highlights the fundamental importance of international trade in promoting economic growth, improving efficiency, and fostering innovation. The chapter traces the historical context through an examination of early trade routes, the colonial trade era, the Industrial Revolution, and modern trade agreements like GATT, WTO, NAFTA, and TPP. The chapter delves into the drivers of global business, including economic policies, market demand, technological advancements, and cost efficiencies, and explores how globalization has reshaped business strategies to achieve competitive advantage. It analyzes the global trade environment through the lens of economic, political, legal, and cultural factors, and discusses key international trade theories such as comparative and absolute advantage. The roles of international economic institutions, trade policies, tariffs, and trade agreements are examined, along with strategies for managing cultural diversity in international business. Market entry strategies such as exporting, importing, foreign direct investment (FDI), joint ventures, strategic alliances, licensing, and franchising are thoroughly examined, with a focus on benefits, challenges, and best practices. The chapter also emphasizes global supply chain management, including logistics, risk management, and the role of technology. International marketing strategies, financial management, and legal and ethical issues are addressed, highlighting the importance of digital marketing, currency exchange mechanisms, compliance, and corporate social responsibility. The chapter concludes with case studies of successful global business strategies and a summary of key points, future trends, and recommended further reading. Keywords: Global Business,International Trade,Economic Impact,Historical Trade Evolution,Globalization,Trade Theories,Economic Indicators,International Economic Institutions,Trade Policies,Cultural Differences,Market Entry Strategies,Exporting and Importing,Foreign Direct Investment (FDI),Joint Ventures,Strategic Alliances,Licensing,Franchising,Supply Chain Management,Logistics and Distribution,Risk Management,Digital Marketing,Financial Management,Currency Exchange,Risk Management,Budgeting and Forecasting,International Trade Laws,Ethical Business Practices,Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR),Intellectual Property Rights,Case Studies,Multinational Companies,Innovation,Competitive Advantage,Sustainability and Global Business Strategies.

Strategic communications are one of the key instruments of national security strategy, enabling states to manage the information space, shape the perception of security threats, and support the realization of national interests. Although the concept of strategic communications is relatively new, its application dates back to the earliest forms of military and diplomatic strategy, and today it has become an essential element of international relations and security policy. The development of technology, especially artificial intelligence, has significantly improved strategic communications, enabling automated analysis, personalized information distribution, and proactive crisis management. This paper explores the place and role of strategic communications in national security through the prism of realist, liberal, and constructivist theories of international relations. The aim of the research is, on the one hand, to determine how modern technologies, primarily artificial intelligence, are changing the scope and character of strategic communication, and on the other hand, to analyze how theoretical models can serve as a basis for the design and implementation of communication strategies in the context of national security. The paper starts from the hypothesis that effective strategic communication requires an integral approach that connects technological tools, institutional practice, and scientific reflection. By applying content analysis and the hypothetical-deductive method, the paper also considers specific case studies on the conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, and Israel, in which strategic communications play a key role in shaping public perception, delegitimizing opponents, and mobilizing support. The research confirms that integrating artificial intelligence into strategic communications significantly improves the ability of states to protect their interests and act in a complex international community. The scientific contribution of the work is reflected in the theoretical articulation of strategic communications as a structural component of national security strategy, but also in the recognition of their transformative potential in the digital era. It is concluded that strategic communications have become an indispensable mechanism of national and foreign policy, whose scientific and technological foundation is the basis of modern security strategies.

In the epistemology of administrative science, one of many important dimensions has been the different subfields of the study of administration. Perhaps the biggest, longest running ‘turf’ battle between these different areas of administrative knowledge is that between public and business administration. This is a controversy that goes back at least to Adam Smith, with his specific limitation of the role of ‘the sovereign’ (government, or public administration) to justice, defense, and public works. In limiting government to these areas, note that Smith was also implicitly asserting that these were market, or ‘invisible hand’ failures: areas where the pursuit of self-interest would not yield the good of society, the specific moral justification Smith identified for market exchange. Contemporary discussions of the relative role of market and state are generally framed in terms of the role of the State, with market provision the default option. We will argue that even discussions of the role of the State can best be assessed through the concept of market failure. The nine broad types of market failure discussed include institutions, public goods, monopoly, asymmetric information, externalities, substantive issues, principal/agent problems, irrationality, and the implications of ‘creative destruction’.