Administrative Processes Research Articles

Everyday practices of administrative ambiguation and the labour of de-ambiguation: Struggling for water infrastructure in Mumbai

In this paper, we use the notion of administrative precarity to refer to the vulnerability and insecurity experienced by marginalised and disadvantaged groups as a result of their interactions with ambiguous administrative procedures. Using the example of water infrastructure administration in Mumbai, specifically the experiences of ‘Pani Haq Samiti’– the ‘Right to Water campaign’– we formulate how administrative precarity and infrastructural violence intersect in transcalar practices of ambiguation in urban governance. We build on a nascent set of literature that illustrates how ambiguity in administrative processes is used as a tactic to avoid or deny the impacts of bureaucratic process of water and sanitation governance in Mumbai. We work through several examples of the ambiguous practices and paperwork involved in implementing the universal right to water in urban Mumbai with a specific focus on the challenges in non-notified slums. We demonstrate that the practices of ambiguation, are often entrenched in everyday interactions between citizens or activists and administrators on the ground. In enabling the continued withholding of water infrastructure these ambiguous bureaucracies create an administrative precarity and are thus constitutive to persistent infrastructural violence against marginalised groups. We show that everyday practices of activists and administrators provoke the labours of de-ambiguation as a pre-requisite to the implementation of infrastructural solutions to achieve the ‘Right to Water’ under administrative precarity. We call for more research on everyday practices of (de-)ambiguation, including highlighting the potentially transformative role that urban scholarship may take to support the labour of de-ambiguation.

Una metodología de despliegue de mejora continua replicable en escuelas de negocios en México

Continuous improvement fosters adaptability and the ability to respond to changes and challenges in the environment, so in a constantly evolving context, organizations must continuously learn to remain competitive. Continuous improvement provides a structure and mindset that promote innovation and the ability to anticipate the changing needs and expectations of consumers of goods and services, such that the focus on continuous improvement impacts efficiency, adaptability, and innovation within organizations. In this context, the research problem in this paper is to propose a methodology for deploying continuous improvement that is replicable in business schools in Mexico, based on an updated and relevant theoretical framework in line with the guidelines of a major international accrediting organization for higher education, in this case, the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. The methodology used in this research was documentary and descriptive, collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing existing information on continuous improvement in business schools according to international standards in order to provide a solid foundation for further research in this field of study, and to describe the characteristics and accurate representation of the continuous improvement process in business schools in accordance with the guidelines of leadership, planning, stakeholder listening methods, learning assessment, human capital, and administrative processes.

Enhancing Conversations in Migrant Counseling Services: Designing for Trustworthy Human-AI Collaboration

Migrants often face a complex situation for navigating services and administrative processes to transition and integrate into a new environment. They rely on guidance from service advisors and informal peers like other migrants to assist them. Service advisors try to understand, explore, and resolve migrant concerns through conversational interaction, while often seeking advice from other domain experts. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI)-mediated communication holds the potential for enhancing communication between migrants and service advisors while leveraging the expertise of service advisors and facilitating migrants' autonomy in the integration process. Our research investigates the social context, mental models, and challenges encountered in guidance counseling for migrants in Finland, while examining what role AI-mediated communication can play in supporting the process. Based on our findings, we propose design implications for improving shared understanding between service advisors and migrants through salient summarization of conversations and creating collaborative visual narratives. Our findings also indicate the crucial role of leveraging peer-based knowledge between (and within) service advisors, domain experts, and migrants, which can be facilitated by AI-based tools. Our exploratory research offers insights into human-centered AI integration in the migration process, as well as the opportunities and challenges of using AI-mediated communication to improve the migrant experience.

O devido processo legal em investigações administrativas de assédio sexual: a força do mandamento constitucional e a realidade da instrução processual disciplinar

This article aims to present the main difficulties in implementing the constitutional principle of due administrative legal process in sexual harassment investigations, especially regarding the selection and obtaining of evidence, as well as the production and evaluation of evidence. First, we analyze the contemporary contours of the principle of due administrative legal process (article 5°, LIV and LV of the Constitution of the Brazilian Federative Republic and articles 20, 21 and 22 - LINDB). Next, we present sexual harassment as an administrative disciplinary infraction. We deal with aspects related to conceptualization, typology and legal provisions. We also analyzed some jurisprudential precedents of the Federal Supreme Court and Superior Court of Justice. Finally, we point out the elements, production and valuation of evidence in the administrative disciplinary procedural investigation of conduct involving the practice of sexual harassment. At this point, we highlight how the nature of the infraction and the victim's condition of vulnerability interfere with the implementation of the guarantees of contradictory and full defense. We conclude that there is a precarious classification system regarding the administrative offense of sexual harassment. This dysfunction ends up having consequences for the development of substantial due process, including with regard to the institute of evidence collection, requiring the evolution of the legislator, in action to combat the practice of sexual harassment in the Public Administration and in terms of accountability.

The Public Service Digitalization in the Philippines Towards a National Program to Capacitate Digital Frontliners

The rapid advancement of technology has driven a global transformation in public service delivery. In the Philippines, efforts to digitalize public services are crucial for inclusive development and efficient governance. This study, titled "The Public Service Digitalization in the Philippines Towards a National Program to Capacitate Digital Frontliners," examines this transformation through the experiences of government employees, known as digital frontliners. These individuals are key to implementing and managing digital technologies across public sectors.Using a mixed-method research design, the study integrates descriptive, correlative-comparative, and phenomenological approaches to gather quantitative and qualitative data. A total of 400 digital frontliners participated in a survey, while 10 key informants were interviewed. This approach provides a comprehensive analysis of the digitalization process, focusing on demographic profiles, challenges, job satisfaction, and service effectiveness.The theoretical framework includes the Theory of Digital Government Transformation, the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), and Capacity Building and Development Theory. These frameworks help understand the dynamics of public service digitalization, technology acceptance, and the importance of capacity building.Key findings reveal a diverse workforce among digital frontliners, significant challenges such as infrastructure limitations and digital literacy disparities, and varying levels of job satisfaction. The research underscores the need for robust digital infrastructure, tailored training programs, and streamlined administrative processes. It also highlights the importance of public-private collaboration.The study proposes a national program to enhance the capabilities of digital frontliners through continuous professional development and innovation support. This program aims to improve digital public services, making them more efficient, transparent, and accessible. The findings provide a foundation for evidence-based policymaking and strategic planning, contributing to the Philippines' digital transformation and inclusive growth.

IFGAN: Pre- to Post-Contrast Medical Image Synthesis Based on Interactive Frequency GAN

Medical images provide a visual representation of the internal structure of the human body. Injecting a contrast agent can increase the contrast of diseased tissues and assist in the accurate identification and assessment of conditions. Considering the adverse reactions and side effects caused by contrast agents, previous methods synthesized post-contrast images with pre-contrast images to bypass the administration process. However, existing methods pay inadequate attention to reasonable mapping of the lesion area and ignore gaps between post-contrast and real images in the frequency domain. Thus, in this paper, we propose an interactive frequency generative adversarial network (IFGAN) to solve the above problems and synthesize post-contrast images from pre-contrast images. We first designed an enhanced interaction module that is embedded in the generator to focus on the contrast enhancement region. Within it, target and reconstruction branch features interact to control the local contrast enhancement region feature and maintain the anatomical structure. We propose focal frequency loss to ensure the consistency of post-contrast and real images in the frequency domain. The experimental results demonstrated that IFGAN outperforms other sophisticated approaches in terms of preserving the accurate contrast enhancement of lesion regions and anatomical structures. Specifically, our method produces substantial improvements of 7.9% in structural similarity (SSIM), 36.3% in the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), and 8.5% in multiscale structural similarity (MSIM) compared with recent state-of-the-art methods.

"I'm quite proud of how we've handled it": health professionals' experiences of returning additional findings from the 100,000 genomes project.

Participants in the 100,000 Genomes Project (100kGP) could consent to receive additional finding (AF) results, individual variants relating to genes associated with susceptibility to cancer and familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). In the study reported here, qualitative interviews were used to explore the experiences of National Health Service (NHS) professionals from across England who were tasked with returning over 80,000 "no AF" results and 700 positive AF results to 100kGP participants. Interviews were conducted with 45 professionals from a range of backgrounds, including Genetic Counsellors, Clinical Geneticists, FH Clinical Nurse Specialists and Clinical Scientists. Interviews were analysed using a codebook thematic analysis approach. Returning AF results has been a significant endeavour, with challenges for pathways, administrative processes and clinical and laboratory time when the capacity of NHS services is already stretched. Professionals discussed going "above and beyond" to prioritise patient care through pathway design, additional clinics, overtime, longer appointments and provision of follow-up appointments. Professionals also described facing practical and emotional challenges when returning AFs. Benefits for patients from receiving AFs in the 100kGP were highlighted and professionals were generally positive about offering clinically actionable AFs within routine NHS clinical care. Professionals were, however, cautious around the implementation of AFs into routine care and felt more research and discussion was needed to determine which AFs to offer, approaches to consent and communication of results, costs and the potential strain on NHS capacity and resources. Further consultation is required with careful review of pathways and resources before offering AFs in clinical practice.

Vox populi (Dei), vox Dei: Pope Francis’ Theology of the People of God, the Priesthood of All Believers and Democracy

The Holy See is an absolute monarchy, both as a political and as a spiritual entity. The Second Vatican Council indicated, retrieving biblical terms and metaphors, a new way of giving value to the whole people of God, the laity (laos theou), constituted by baptism. Rather than a societas perfecta in a pyramidal system, the intention was to declericalise and in this sense democratise the church and its decision-making, not least seeking to secure its witness in an ever more secular world. Even if a sacramental and ontological difference is maintained, this indicates clergy are no longer a first class of believers against which the laity would be a second class; rather, they are rooted and stand with and within the whole people of God with their specific vocation and ordination. The notion of the royal and universal priesthood of believers, taken from 1 Peter 2:9 and emphasised by Luther and other reformers as they distributed power between ordained and not ordained leaders, was visible in the Second Vatican Council and finds new enactment in the synodality process which culminated in the Ordinary Synod in Rome, in October 2024. Based on his own theology of the people of God, developed during the dictatorship and economic oppression in Argentina, with strong cultural and religious connotations, Pope Francis seeks to further major involvement of the laity and especially of women in the church’s administration and transformation processes. Not surprisingly, this process has been receiving criticism both from those who find it is not going far enough and from those who believe the process has already gone far too far. Based on bibliographical and documental research, the intention of this article is to describe and analyse the notion of the people of God as proposed by Pope Francis and its forms of concretisation including its deficiencies, as well as, in dialogue with ongoing debates on populism, highlight the precariousness of any “people” as a concept and as a reality. A dynamic notion of “people” and a theological accountability of the people and the clergy towards each other, towards God and towards the world can do justice to both the ambiguities and the irreplaceability of the people as citizens of the church as well as the world.

PEMBUATAN PETA DESA AIR MERAH KECAMATAN CURUP TENGAH KABUPATEN REJANG LEBONG BENGKULU

Maps are complex data sets containing information on the location and objects of an area. Maps can show the distribution of various things on Earth, such as settlement patterns, mountains and others. ArcGIS is software that can be used in making village maps. Air Merah village is a village in Curup Tengah sub-district, Bengkulu, which until now has not had complete mapping for the area. The purpose of this service is to help present village data that can be accessed as spatial data information in planning development progress in Air Merah Village. Community service is carried out in stages of visiting the village head's office for administrative processes, conducting discussions with the team, collecting data through field surveys and interviews, making maps, and discussing the results of thematic maps, as well as holding a presentation to discuss the results of the map and handing over map printouts to village officials. This service activity was attended by lecturers, partners and students who were involved in all series of services both in the field and discussions, so as to produce village information maps. Based on the results of field surveys and modeling, Air Merah Village has an area of ± 10.7789 km2 and is located at latitude longitude -3.4801, 102.556365. Map making has received a positive response from the surrounding community and is expected to be able to provide location information and improve the inventory of Air Merah Village.

Quality of Public Services: The Role of State Civil Apparatus in Realizing Good Governance

Good governance is considered crucial in providing effective, transparent and accountable public services, so it is the main key to sustainable development. This research aims to analyze the role of the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) in improving the quality of public services as an integral part of efforts to achieve good governance. This research uses a qualitative approach with descriptive methods. The results of this research highlight the central role of the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) in realizing Good Governance, especially in improving the quality of public services. The findings show that service efficiency can be improved through efficient management of resources and administrative processes by ASN. Transparency, accountability and active participation of ASN in the decision-making process have also been proven to have a positive impact on the quality of public services. Involving the public in decision making not only increases policy responsiveness, but also creates strong legitimacy. In conclusion, ASN who play an active role in implementing the principles of Good Governance are able to form a government environment that is effective, trustworthy, and able to better meet the needs of the community.

What’s in a Name? Children’s Rights and Legal Voice within Administrative and Juridical Procedures of Recognition of Same-Sex Filiation

This performative text, consisting of writing and visualizations, explores children’s voices within court proceedings connected to the legal recognition of intended mothers within lesbian-parented families. The research used long-term ethnographic observations and biographical interviews focused on French and Italian families from the “activist generation” who devoted their efforts to obtaining reproductive and family rights. The article provides a critical account of the implementation of Article 12.2 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 (UNCRC)—that is the right to be listened to in judicial and administrative proceedings affecting children. Our main argument is that, in contrast to the intention of Article 12.2 of the UNCRC, children are given a more symbolic than substantial voice in court proceedings and administrative procedures. The text situates children’s voices both in the wider context and in everyday life. Drawing on ethnographic research data, we show where and to what extent children’s voices emerge or, on the contrary, are silenced. Keywords: same-sex parenting; filiation; children’s rights; ethnography; creative writing; visual methods; performative text; Euro-American kinship; Italy; France.

APOSENTADORIA RURAL POR IDADE E OS MEIOS DE PROVAS NECESSÁRIAS PARA A CONCESSÃO DO BENEFÍCIO DIREITO PREVIDENCIÁRIO

This work addresses the analysis of the necessary requirements for granting the rural retirement benefit to rural workers, taking into account their difficulties and facilities for granting the benefit, after the various system updates until the benefit is granted. This sets out the approach method used in this article, which will be deductive where the general arguments will be analyzed. Its objective is to analyze and understand the various situations encountered and faced by special insured persons when applying for retirement, to list the difficulties in proving their rights, which in most cases occurs through proof of facts that are not registered, and to estimate the facilities established by the National Social Security Institute (INSS), which simplify the social security administrative process. Thus, to characterize the obstacles and difficulties during the process of granting retirement by age, promoting the verification of the essential elements that make up this set of means, the changes during the administrative social security process and in the legislation regarding rural retirement by rural age, as well as the difficulty in proving the exercise of rural activity, a burden that lies with you.

SOCIO-CULTURAL STUDY OF GOPALI CASTE OF NEPAL: A CASE STUDY IN MACHHEGAUN, CHANDRAGIRI 9, KATHMANDU, NEPAL

The Gopali caste, a subgroup within the Newar community, has a unique socio-cultural heritage that remains under-researched and underrepresented. This study examines the social and cultural conditions of the Gopali caste in Ward No. 9 of Chandragiri Municipality using a qualitative approach. Data was collected from primary sources such as on-site observation, participant observation, focus group discussions, and interviews, and secondary sources including books and online materials. The findings reveal that the Gopalis, who migrated from the Mathura region of India around 3,500 years ago, have historically maintained unique social and ritual practices while living in seclusion. Today, Gopali settlements are primarily in the southwestern Kathmandu Valley and Makwanpur district. Despite diversifying into various occupations, they face limited participation in Nepal's administrative and political processes. This research underscores the importance of recognizing the Gopalis as a separate ethnic group to preserve their cultural heritage. Future research should focus on detailed ethnographic studies to document their traditions and explore ways to integrate the Gopalis into Nepal's broader socio-political landscape while preserving their distinct identity.

The Phenomenon of Model Legislative Acts of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Decisions of Courts of the Russian Federation

This study is focused at studying decisions of courts of the Russian Federation, containing references to model legislative acts and other documents of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (hereinafter referred to as the IPA CIS).Aim. Determine the types of appeals by courts of the Russian Federation to the texts of the recommendatory acts of the IPA CIS, adopted for the purpose of forming and implementing coordinated legislative activity on issues of common interest to the member states of the organization.Tasks. Collect and study acts of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, as well as the system of federal courts of general jurisdiction and arbitration courts headed by it.Methods. The disclosure of the main trends in the courts’ resort to model laws and other documents of the CIS IPA occurred according to the following criteria: level and type of court that adopted the decision; the entity on whose initiative the appeal to the model act of the CIS IPA took place, as well as the consequences of the initiative on the part of the applicant or other participant in the process; the meaning (variant of manifestation) of the model document in the court ruling.Results. The study showed that courts at all levels of the judicial system of the Russian adopted decrees, rulings and decisions adopted in constitutional, civil, criminal and administrative proceedings, the content of which included references to model legal provisions. The initiative to use model legal norms came both from the court and from other participants in the process.Conclusion. The court decisions collected for the study presented different options for the use of model laws and other documents of the CIS IPA by courts, which provides grounds for redetermination of the nature of model legislative acts of the CIS IPA.

Factors that Hinder the Return of the IDPs to their Homes at Marawi’s Most Affected Areas

ABSTRACT This study is designed to investigate the factors hindering the return of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Marawi City resulting from the May 2017 Marawi Siege to the most affected area (MAA), revealing the urgent need for holistic solutions that address property ownership, socio-economic challenges, security concerns, administrative hurdles, and psychological trauma. The primary data required in the study were scientifically obtained through the use of the FGD and key informant interview (KII) methods. More specifically, the study findings disclosed that despite the fact that over 86% of Marawi's displaced longing to return home, a multitude of obstacles stand in their way such as inadequate housing, insecure land ownership, limited livelihoods, lingering trauma, and bureaucratic hurdles create a tangled web of challenges. Moreover, the aforementioned findings were further exacerbated by the exclusion of undocumented residents from reconstruction efforts, widening inequalities and stalling progress. To facilitate a smooth return, comprehensive solutions addressing financial constraints, trauma, community rebuilding, and streamlined administrative processes are critical. Only then can Marawi's displaced rebuild their lives and restore their shattered sense of home. Hence, a comprehensive housing plan offering reconstruction support, flexible payment options, and diverse shelter models for non-owners is crucial; exigent empowerment through financial assistance, skills training, and infrastructure development; addressing psychological well-being through culturally sensitive mental health programs; building trust and accountability requires transparency in resource allocation and addressing concerns about bogus beneficiaries and unauthorized demolitions; and collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, and communities empowers IDPs and ensures their voices are heard.

Greensill capital and the use of the administration process in UK company law: an incomplete case study

ABSTRACT This paper examines the Greensill collapse, with a central focus on the UK company administration procedure under the Insolvency Act 1986, exploring its broader implications for international corporate finance regulation. It analyses the events leading to Greensill’s collapse and the challenges encountered during the administration process, shedding light on stakeholder rights and the delicate balance between national and international legal frameworks. This case illustrates the intricacies of contemporary administration practices, demonstrating how administration can serve as both a rescue mechanism and as a tool for a more efficient liquidation, aimed at maximising asset value to provide better dividends for creditors. Ultimately, the paper underscores the risks inherent in financial innovation, offering lessons for the ongoing evolution as regards to the usage of administration. As the Greensill saga continues, the paper anticipates future developments, emphasising the need for systematic understanding and vigilance in complex financial scenarios.

Legal analysis of the CITES convention in terms of Turkish administrative and judicial processes

Legal analysis of the CITES convention in terms of Turkish administrative and judicial processes

Measures to increase the retention of migrant healthcare professionals in Germany

Abstract Background The shortage of skilled workers in the healthcare sector is a pressing issue in Germany that has been worsening in recent years. It is often compensated by the deployment of specialists from abroad. However, this is accompanied by various challenges. This article synthesizes challenges from nine years of research and proposes approaches to solutions that have proven successful in practice in Germany as well as in international settings. Methods The insights presented here condense the results from a total of six research projects (four on physicians and two on nursing). The research projects are based on exploratory qualitative interviews, quantitative questionnaires, mixed-methods designs, and the generation and testing of measures that can help with the integration of foreign skilled workers. Results The main challenges for migrated skilled workers are inadequate language and communication skills, lack of knowledge about the national healthcare system, disease and therapy concepts, unfamiliar forms of inter-hierarchical and inter-professional collaboration, a lack of understanding of administrative and bureaucratic processes and social integration. The following measures have proven successful in Germany and abroad: increasing social integration of physicians (e.g. through partner or peer programs), streamlining systems, establishing professional structures for the integration of foreign skilled workers, and creating a positive work environment. Conclusions Compared to findings from international studies, in Germany the hurdles of administrative processes, the peculiarities of the healthcare system (e.g. social medicine), and learning the language are considered to be the highest. It is important to counteract these challenges with appropriate measures in order to prevent a migration of healthcare professionals already in Germany to (mostly English-speaking) foreign countries. Key messages • In Germany the hurdles of administrative processes, the peculiarities of the German healthcare system (e.g. social medicine), and learning the German language are considered to be the highest. • It should be considered to no longer leave the migration of healthcare staff to individual integration efforts, but to create appropriate government structures that focus on their social integration.

On the Issue of Unification of Legislation on Forensic Examination in the Civil and Administrative Proceedings

The article deals with the comparative analysis of the procedure of forensic examination commissioning and carrying out in arbitration, civil and administrative legal proceedings. The author examines procedural codes regulating the expertise and identifies the differences in courts’ approaches to its commissioning and to judiciary powers, rights, and responsibilities of experts. Special attention is paid to court limitations regarding examination commissioning on its own initiative in the arbitral procedure as well as to its broader powers in civil and administrative proceedings.The article also analyzes the need to unify the legal regulation of forensic activities, which in the author’s opinion will lead to increased predictability and transparency of legal proceedings, improve the quality of expert opinions and reduce the risk of legal errors. The author emphasizes that, despite the differences in legislation, basic principles of carrying out forensic activities remain consistent, which makes the measures on procedural norms unification not only possible, but also the necessary ones to enhance effectiveness of legal proceedings.The paper proposes specific unification measures that will help eliminate existing legal uncertainties, improve the quality of justice, and create a more uniform judicial practice.

Claimant and clinician perspectives on sources of claimant distress in interactions with Australian compensation schemes: a qualitative study

Purpose Recovering from compensable injuries can be influenced by a variety of factors including the claimant’s experience of distress during the claims process. In order to develop cross-scheme, nation-wide strategies to improve claimants’ interactions with the compensation system, reduce claimant distress, and improve claimant outcomes, it is important to understand sources of claims-related distress from the perspective of both claimants and clinicians. Methods An exploratory qualitative design was undertaken using semi-structured interviews with 13 claimants and 26 clinicians from four injury compensation schemes in five Australian states. A collaborative and reflexive thematic analysis was undertaken with an inductive approach to coding, and themes were constructed for claimants and clinicians across compensation schemes. Results Claimants and clinicians interviews revealed four main sources of distress, including (1) complexity and delays in administrative processes, (2) interruptions to recovery caused by treatment delays, (3) non-individualised approaches to care, and (4) a lack of support for navigating the claims process. Conclusion Sources of claims-related distress identified by claimants and clinicians in the present study point to the urgent need for nationwide systems level changes to reduce claimant distress in the pursuit of better claimant outcomes.