Agency Practices Research Articles

Shaming the Untrustworthy and Paths to Relief in China’s Social Credit System

China’s social credit system (SCS) formalizes reputational regulation, thereby challenging traditional remedial paths. It adds trust assessments and their dissemination to the regulatory repertoire of Chinese state agencies across all realms. This use of adverse publicity, however, entails the loss of the agency’s control over the scope and intensity of the punishment as the punitive action is realized by information recipients, rather than the agency itself. Traditional legal controls are not fit for shaming. We map how the SCS innovates public regulation by implementing a strategy for regulatory shaming from the central level. In a second step, we discuss its consequences, specifically, how undue damages are remedied. Legal remedies for social credit shaming measures are regularly denied, as their position in the law is unclear. Other existing remedial channels likewise do not consider the particularities of shame sanctions such as irreversibility. Social credit reputational regulation might best be controlled by formulating an agency practice that retains control over the scope of punishment.

Measuring the Implementation Preferences of Emergency Medical Services Clinicians Using Discrete Choice Experiments

Introduction Prehospital research and evidence-based guidelines (EBGs) have grown in recent decades, yet there is still a paucity of prehospital implementation research. While recent studies have revealed EMS agency leadership perspectives on implementation, the important perspectives and opinions of frontline EMS clinicians regarding implementation have yet to be explored in a systematic approach. The objective of this study was to measure the preferences of EMS clinicians for the process of EBG implementation and whether current agency practices align with those preferences. Methods This study was a cross-sectional survey of National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians registrants. Eligible participants were certified paramedics who were actively practicing EMS clinicians. The survey contained discrete choice experiments (DCEs) for three EBG implementation scenarios and questions about rank order preferences for various aspects of the implementation process. For the DCEs, we used multinomial logistic regression to analyze the implementation preference choices of EMS clinicians, and latent class analysis to classify respondents into groups by their preferences. Results A total of 183 respondents completed the survey. Respondents had a median age of 39 years, were 74.9% male, 89.6% White, and 93.4% of non-Hispanic ethnicity. For all three DCE scenarios, respondents were significantly more likely to choose options with hospital feedback and individual-level feedback from EMS agencies. Respondents were significantly less likely to choose options with email/online only education, no feedback from hospitals, and no EMS agency feedback to clinicians. In general, respondents’ preferences favored classroom-based training over in-person simulation. For all DCE questions, most respondents (66.2%–77.1%) preferred their survey DCE choice to their agency’s current implementation practices. In the rank order preferences, most participants selected “knowledge of the underlying evidence behind the change” as the most important component of the process of implementation. Conclusions In this study of EMS clinicians’ implementation preferences using DCEs, respondents preferred in-person education, feedback on hospital outcomes, and feedback on their individual performance. However, current practice at EMS agencies rarely matched those expressed EMS clinician preferences. Collectively, these results present opportunities for improving EMS implementation from the EMS clinician perspective.

Agency in Development through Mobile-Technology-Assisted Interaction: Agentic Learning Behaviours and Emerging Dimensions

Discussion on agency has been well documented in language research and recently gaining more ground in the ever-changing learning environment supported by mobile technologies. In such ubiquitous settings, online interaction, as a key catalyst to promote agency, has attracted an increasing attention of researchers and educators. However, a paucity of research has been focused on investigating the way learners exercise their agency in mobile-technology-assisted online interaction and factors that may affect their practice of agency. This research employs a case-study approach to examining how interaction helps enable learners’ development of agency in a mobile social network application (WeChat) assisted informal learning environment. Data were collected through a questionnaire and recorded interaction via discussion activities on WeChat. The questionnaire data indicated that participants had overall positive attitudes towards WeChat-assisted learning and helped gauge the feasibility of implementing subsequent WeChat-assisted discussion activities in this study. Suárez et al.’s (2018) six dimensions of learner agency (goals; content; actions; strategies; reflection; monitoring) were adopted as an analytical framework to guide data analysis and discussion. It was found that towards the completion of discussion sessions on WeChat, except agency in ‘monitoring’ discussion progress, all the other five dimensions were observed and strengthened in terms of initiating discussion ‘goals’, leveraging ‘content’, implementing ‘actions’, employing discussion ‘strategies’, and ‘reflecting’ on the content and interaction. It is argued that even with practice effect, teacher intervention still seemed to be indispensable to help ‘monitor’ the discussion progress in a mobile-technology-assisted autonomous learning environment. Keywords: Learner agency, Learner interaction, Mobile-technology-assisted learning, WeChat DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-5-06 Publication date: February 28 th 2023

Revisiting European migration industries amid the Covid-19 pandemic: Changes in the recruiting practices of Bulgarian agencies

<abstract> <p>Workforce mobility in the European Union (EU) has faced enormous challenges regarding the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020. Member-states reacted by imposing border closures and eliciting travel restrictions and sanitary measures, some of which continued well into 2022, with far-reaching consequences in all areas of mobility experience. In a time of constant changes in the regulations of the internal market, the work of labour market intermediaries deserves special attention. Recent studies have shown that, being a relatively new EU member-state, Bulgaria managed to develop an important migration industry comprising a complex network of public and private actors. We focus on an interpretative analysis of ten in-depth interviews conducted in 2017 with practitioners working in such agencies, and ten follow-up interviews five years later. The comparative analysis of these intermediaries' reflections on the mobility policies and practices before and during the pandemic allows us to examine the processes of structural and functional adaptation in the industry in multiple dimensions: assessment of changes in mobility practices, perceptions of employers' and migrants' needs and expectations, and the challenges facing their agencies vis-à-vis the role of other actors in the field. The conclusion underlines trends and transformations which are of interest for the developing recruitment sectors in other Central and East European countries, as well as for the dynamics of the East-West labour mobility throughout the entire EU.</p> </abstract>

Psychological and pedagogical aspects of the problem of supervisory practice in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia

The author in his work examines the issues of the organization of supervision from the point of view of its theoretical and practical significance for various industries and professional communities. In the course of studying this topic, an analysis of available research, conclusions of specialists based on experience and scientific achievements is carried out. The key aspects of the effectiveness of interaction between the supervisor and the supervisor during the implementation of functions, forms, approaches and methods, the purpose of which is to obtain professional skills, knowledge and skills that, after being transferred from the supervisor, will be able to be effectively applied in everyday work by specialists working in the field of assistance and support to citizens and other categories. The main conclusions of the study are the author's proposals for improving and introducing the experience of supervisors into the practice of law enforcement agencies, from the point of view of improving the quality of education, acquiring significant professional competencies through supervisory practice, which in turn allow solving complex complex tasks in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. The formats of improving the effectiveness of supervisory work in the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation are proposed, based on the analysis, practical pedagogical experience accumulated by the author over many years of work. The author highlights the key factors of the supervision process, which from a pedagogical point of view are priority and deserve the attention of specialists in this field.

Internet-Based Procurement: An Analysis of the Malpractices and Errors in the use of PHilGEPS Website of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization

The strict implementation of the use of PHilGEPS has been a major practice in government agencies, going to lengths such as moving the dates of procurement activities or cancelling bidding projects due to errors in the posting of advertisements. Moreover, it is in no discreet information that PHilGEPS experienced major errors and technical difficulties last year, even opting to use a temporary facility for revamping and improvement of the old PHilGEPS Website. However, despite the strict implementation of the use of the website, errors and malpractices are still a major problem for some government agencies leading up to disallowances and even show-cause orders. This descriptive study aimed to determine the cause of the transgressions and errors in the use of the PHilGEPS Website and the possible solutions to avoid such malpractice in the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization. To obtain the needed information, a survey questionnaire in the form of Google Forms was undertaken for this aim. The participants of the study are employees of the agency that uses and manages the PHilGEPS account of the procurement unit. Findings show the lack of training related to the use of the website contributes to the errors in the transactions. Also, strengthening and continuous improvement of PHilGEPs must be prioritized to avoid errors and transgressions in required postings.

Практика использования полиграфа в Монголии: проблемные аспекты и пути их решения

The current state of crime in Mongolia is characterized by the growth of dangerous criminal manifestations. An increase in the number of serious crimes, an increase in the level of their technical equipment and a corruption component objectively require the adoption of adequate and timely measures by law enforcement agencies. In order to combat crime at the present stage, law enforcement and other state bodies are forced to actively introduce effective means, methods and forms into the practice of combating socially dangerous manifestations. One of the priority areas in this matter is the integrated use of the achievements of applied psychology in combination with technical devices. In particular, we are talking about the introduction of methods of conducting a survey using a polygraph into the practice of law enforcement agencies. The author of the study draws attention to the organizational, legal and methodological problems that arise when using a polygraph in the activities of law enforcement agencies. In the process of conducting the study, general scientific methods of analysis, synthesis, formal logical and comparative legal methods were used. Thus, in the article, based on an analysis of the current state of the practice of using a polygraph in law enforcement in Mongolia, urgent problems are identified and ways to solve them are proposed.

Prevention of Human Trafficking: The Experience of the Republic of India

To date, human trafficking is one of the most dangerous crimes that pose a threat to modern society. Such a state as the Republic of India is no exception, where human trafficking has acquired colossal proportions. Despite the prohibition and punishability in Indian legislation, human trafficking in many regions and states of India has acquired the character of an entrenched socio-cultural phenomenon. It is noteworthy that not only organized criminal groups, but often citizens themselves, are directly involved in such illegal activities. That is why it seems extremely relevant to study and highlight the mechanisms of prevention of human trafficking in India. The purpose of this work is to analyze the main causes of human trafficking in India, highlight current methods and practices of Indian law enforcement agencies for the prevention of human trafficking, cooperation of public organizations and government agencies to organize preventive measures in the field of human trafficking. The study shows that the competent authorities have developed a number of measures aimed at preventing human trafficking in the Republic of India. We concluded that in order to reduce the quantitative indicators of human trafficking, it is necessary to eliminate a number of related problems affecting the stability of the state as such, as well as to ensure that the competent authorities and their officials apply not only preventive measures, but also other forms of systemic impact on crime.

COVID-19 INTENSIFIED HOME CARE WORKFORCE CHALLENGES

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic affected home care workers in several important ways. The purpose of this study was to detail the challenges faced and the state and federal policy responses implemented to address those challenges. We conducted scans of federal and state policies enacted during the pandemic, home care agency practices described in media reports and the literature, and interviews with 25 stakeholders. Some challenges encountered were entirely new and resulted directly from the pandemic, such as limited access to personal protective equipment due to workers not being recognized as “essential.” In other cases, the pandemic worsened long-standing challenges, such as recruitment and retention. State policy responses included Medicaid rate increases, hazard pay, and changes to staff training requirements. Federal policy responses included disaster relief funding as well as allowing non-physician practitioners to order services. Stakeholders suggested additional policy changes will be needed to address ongoing challenges experienced by this workforce.

Entry Strategies and the Potential of International Travel Market: Perceptions and Practices of Macedonian Travel Agencies

Abstract Having in mind that the tourism industry has been seen as highly complex and competitive, which is driven also by the rapid change in technology, the paper examines the perceptions and practices of Macedonian travel agencies that have intentions to boost their international exposure and find new strategies to perform. Data were collected from 96 employees’ responses to identify external macro and competitive environment factors as well as to further investigate of the patterns and perceptions regarding their international strategy practices. Two considerations are taken into the discussion. What travel agencies might do in view of changes in the global environment and in view of its abilities and what entry mode is most suitable. Hence, the findings from the paper support the notion for greater internationalization and for encouraging travel agencies to establish new strategic alliances. Also, it can provide relevant and useful information for the policy makers which can be used for improving the overall tourism country internationalization efforts.

Development of a framework to capture the maturity of food safety regulatory and enforcement agencies: Insights from a Delphi study

The purpose of the paper is to present the first stage of work being undertaken to develop and evaluate a maturity framework designed to assess and benchmark the effectiveness, ability to achieve continuous improvement, and optimise processes and functioning of food safety regulatory and enforcement agencies across the world. To achieve this aim, a comparison of global food safety regulations, and Delphi-interviews with stakeholders of food safety regulatory and enforcement agencies from Australia, Canada, Ireland, and USA were carried out. Through inductive, textual data analysis, three dimensions and thirteen sub-dimensions were identified that covered cultural and systems elements influencing the quality and impact of food safety regulations across the world as well as the gaps identified by the stakeholders. The conclusions of the paper are that whilst there is broad support by food safety regulators for developing a benchmarking and evaluation framework for food safety regulatory and enforcement agencies, there are also some outstanding challenges such as defining globally applicable measures, buy-in from specialised agencies and senior management to adopt a maturity framework to change the culture within regulatory agencies, and the role played by governments in influencing the efficiency and functioning of regulatory systems. While more research would be required to further develop a maturity scale to assess food safety regulatory and enforcement agencies, it is concluded that evaluating the maturity of food safety regulatory and enforcement agencies (FSRA) by food safety regulators is a realistic possibility but needs to take account of some of the lessons which could be learnt from guidance frameworks with similar goals (e.g., the Food and Agriculture Organization's Food Control System Assessment Tool). Evaluation of the framework should be carried out by national agencies to develop a user-centred maturity toolkit. • Food safety regulators' perspectives on the building blocks of agencies were identified. • Actions required to help agencies evolve into mature organisations were explored. • Globally applicable model to capture the maturity of food safety agencies was developed. • Diverse regulatory and enforcement practices of agencies were identified. • Challenges faced by agencies and their impact on public health and trade were identified.

Non-resource exports of developed and developing countries: Major support measures and challenges of the current stage

Aim. The presented study aims to form an objective idea of factors affecting the system of support for non-resource exports and ensuring the validity of decisions.Tasks. The authors summarize the main ways of supporting non-resource exports of developed and developing countries; analyze changes in the international regulation of export activities associated with the formation of national support systems for commodity producers; systematize major opportunities for supporting export credits.Methods. This study analyzes the practices of export credit agencies in various countries in the context of opportunities provided to foreign trade participants; identifies problem areas typical for the current stage of development of trade relations; draws attention to emerging contradictions in the field of support for national non-resources exports by countries.Results. It is shown that the participants of the Arrangement on Officially Supported Export Credits (OECD) operate in an extremely aggressive, yet increasingly unmanageable environment. To secure export contracts, both the domestic industry and the export credit agencies of the OECD member countries should enhance competitiveness by following the rules of the trading system. Otherwise, they risk upsetting the balance on the playing field and hinder sustainable development.Conclusions. The participants of the OECD Arrangement face a difficult tactical choice: either to take a strong position in support of competition both within the country and within international organizations (WTO, OECD), or to develop their own export credit programs that are not related to the OECD Arrangement. The first option, although preferable in terms of ensuring economic efficiency, long-term competitiveness, and sustainable development, may lead to a reduced role of export credit agencies.

Unfolding the typology and quality of the learner agency practices in the teachers’ implementation of the 2013 curriculum in Indonesia: the normalisation process theory perspective

Unfolding the typology and quality of the learner agency practices in the teachers’ implementation of the 2013 curriculum in Indonesia: the normalisation process theory perspective

COVID-19 Exacerbated Long-standing Challenges for the Home Care Workforce

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to understand staffing challenges faced by home care (including home health) agencies due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the policies and practices put into place by the federal government, state governments, and home care agencies themselves to mitigate these challenges. This study included a review of federal and state policy changes enacted in reaction to the pandemic from March through December 2020, a review of home care agency practices described in media reports, peer-reviewed literature, and gray literature focused on responses to workforce challenges encountered during the pandemic, and interviews with a variety of stakeholders. Some of the challenges encountered were entirely new and resulted directly from the pandemic. In other cases, the pandemic worsened long-standing challenges in the industry. States and the federal government addressed some of these issues through changes to policies, regulations, and guidance. Home care agencies also responded with changes to their own policies and practices.

CURRENT ISSUES OF FORENSIC MEDICINE IN THE CONDITIONS OF MILITARY ACTIONS

Forensic medicine is a science that uses medical and general biological knowledge to solve issues that arise in the practice of law enforcement agencies. Therefore, the range of issues studied by forensic doctors is quite wide. This includes the study of death and cadaveric changes (forensic thanatology), the study of injuries (forensic traumatology), forensic medical examination of living persons regarding bodily injuries, sexual crimes, etc., forensic medical examination of material evidence, identification of a person, forensic medical examination in cases of medical errors and offenses and many others. The fact of military operations on the territory of Ukraine requires that in the training of medical students and interns in the field of «forensic medical examination», special attention should be paid to the issues that a doctor may encounter both in the combat zone and in rear health care facilities. After all, in the conditions of martial law, not only military personnel, but also medical workers are on the front line in the fight against military aggression. Therefore, it is important to pay great attention to the training of medical personnel at a high level, regardless of the difficulties faced by medical education institutions under martial law. That is why this article highlights the key points and problematic issues that must be paid attention in the course of training students and interns at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Medical Law. Algorithms for solving problematic practical tasks that arise before the forensic medical expert in the conditions of martial law are also proposed to ensure high professionalism and reliability of the performed forensic medical examinations. Thus, focusing the attention of forensic medics on the main principles and algorithms, highlighting and discussing problematic issues related to the actions of forensic medics in wartime, namely those issues related to the order of dissection of corpses, their identification and description of bodily injuries have the priority place and are able to significantly facilitate the work of forensic medical experts in such a difficult time. After all, every forensic medic who competently performs his work before conducting active military operations must be familiar with a clear algorithm of actions, which does not contradict the main provisions of Resolution No. 205 dated 03.05.2022 "On approval of the procedure for ensuring the collection of bodies (remains) of fallen military personnel of the state- of the aggressor (the Russian Federation), as well as illegal armed formations, in particular from the temporarily occupied territories in certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions", which was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine with the beginning of a full-scale military invasion of the territory of Ukraine by the aggressor state. This resolution regulates the actions of military administrations, the territorial defense forces of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the National Police, the State Emergency Service, representatives of the relevant expert (medical) services, interested bodies and public organizations (associations), which are aimed at ensuring collection in the territories of military operations (armed confrontation) unburied bodies (remains) of fallen servicemen of the aggressor state (Russian Federation), as well as illegal armed formations, in particular from temporarily occupied territories in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (hereinafter - bodies), in order to prevent the deterioration of the sanitary and epidemic situations, the occurrence of dangerous infectious diseases on the territory of Ukraine.

Referral-marketing practices of travel agencies

Organisations can make use of high levels of customer-service delivery to stimulate positiveword-of-mouth referrals. Referral marketing is primarily applied by organisations when the budgetis the marketers’ largest limitation. The purpose of the article is to indicate the current status of therelationships that travel agencies in the Western Cape Province have with their referral market,and to provide recommendations to the management of travel agencies in said province regardingthe improved application of the principles of relationship marketing to this market. The targetpopulation for this study comprised 118 travel agencies of which 61 managers and/or ownersparticipated through personal interviews in the completion of questionnaires. Data analysis wasdone by calculating averages and standard deviations, explorative factor analysis, CronbachAlpha-values and practical significance by means of effect sizes. The findings stipulate that theowners and managers of travel agencies must create and establish more closely integratedrelationships with strategic suppliers to increase the value offering of their products and servicesto customers, whereby the travel agencies can ensure that the needs and wants of customerscan be satisfied more successfully, which, in the long run, could lead to positive word-of-mouthreferrals.

AXBOROT TEXNOLOGIYALARI SOHASIDA SODIR ETILADIGAN JINOYATLARNI TERGOV QILISHDA JAMOATCHILIK BILAN HAMKORLIK

The article is devoted to the investigation of crimes in the field of information technology, which are becoming more and more dangerous in our society and are relatively new to the practice of law enforcement agencies. This article directly analyzes the dynamics of growth and current statistics of crimes committed with the help of information technology, the indicators of detection of investigated crimes in this area. The article also substantiates the necessity and conditions for the interaction of investigating authorities with the public in the investigation of crimes committed with the help of information technology. In the article, the authors describe the international legal framework and the importance of cooperation between the investigative authorities and the public in pre-trial proceedings. In particular, today there is an objective need to establish cooperation with financial institutions, banks, mobile operators, Internet providers, and payment systems to detect, investigate and prevent crimes committed using information technology. At the same time, the need for the Central Bank to create a single base for interaction with law enforcement agencies of the country is substantiated. The authors of the article analyze the problems associated with the involvement of specialists in the investigation of this category of cases and make a number of proposals to address these issues.

The Special Dietary Needs of Pilgrims and Practices of Agencies Regarding Food Quality and Safety During the Hajj

It is necessary to take the pilgrims' dietary needs into consideration to avoid the complication of health especially chronic diseases, which will lead to reduce expenditure on health services. This study aimed to explore the availability of special meals that are provided to pilgrims according to their health condition, highlight the Hajj agencies’ practices with regard to food quality and safety for pilgrims and investigate the prevalence of the diseases requiring special diets among pilgrims. A cross-sectional study design was used. The data was collected via an online questionnaire. This study included 394 pilgrims who attended Hajj at least once from 2015-2019. About 20% suffered from chronic diseases; the most common: hypertension, diabetes and allergy. 15.7% required a special diet. There was an increase in the healthy method of meal preparation, the amount of water and vegetables/fruit, however, unhealthy sweets too. About 82% were overall satisfied with services; there were significant associations between it and some parameters: such as specified meal times, cleanness of eating place, utensils and hygiene of workers. In conclusion, most agencies did not provide special meals. It is important to take into consideration the calorie, nutrients and safety of food. This study recommends pre-Hajj electronic orders of meals due to health condition and using meal vending machines.

Exploring Citizen Participation in Smart City Development in Mexico City: An institutional logics approach

We explore smart city development, with a focus on the modalities of citizen participation, using an institutional logics approach. Taking Mexico City as our case study, we describe the presence and dynamics of several logics influencing smart city development. At an organizational level we identify the bureaucratic and technocratic logics underpinning the practices of the governmental agency leading smart city development. Characterized by centralization and the pursuit of efficiency, and framed by a discourse of austerity and financial control, these logics promote a modality of citizen participation that is limited and unidirectional in nature, with citizens positioned largely as users. At a supra-organizational level, we identify a logic of active citizen participation in urban governance that is formalized in city laws. However, this logic is itself entangled in a logic of clientelism and patronage, manifested through networks of power. These logics work synergistically to limit broader, inclusive citizen participation in, and realization of benefits from, smart city agendas. We conclude that a richer understanding of institutional logics enhances the analysis of the social construction of the smart city in particular, situated contexts.

Predicting Retention for a Diverse and Inclusive Child Welfare Workforce

ABSTRACT Retaining staff remains a challenge for public and private child welfare organizations, and current research does not explain the underrepresentation of workers of Color in leadership and supervisory positions.This study used data from a multi-site survey of child welfare staff to compare factors associated with intention to remain employed between caseworkers of Color and White caseworkers using path analysis.Factors associated with job satisfaction, the strongest predictor of intention to remain employed for both groups in our path analysis, differed slightly between workers of Color and White workers. Age and job stress were significantly more influential for workers of Color, while work related burnout was more more influential for White workers.For workers of Color, perception of leadership was significantly more influential on workers’ of Color intention to remain employed, compared to White workers, and having an MSW was a significant predictor of intent to remain employed for White workers, but not for workers of Color. Implications for agency practice and policy, including suggested strategies to address retention of workers at the caseworker level, are discussed.