Government Decision Research Articles

Government decisions for relief materials reserve under supply uncertainty within government-enterprise agreement

Pre-positioned inventory of relief materials is crucial for the rapid response to potential disasters. Storing relief materials near disaster-prone areas facilitates quick delivery after a disaster. Consequently, governments often collaborate with local enterprises and stores to store materials. However, the proximity to disaster sites can result in the damage of relief materials, exacerbating shortages, particularly during major disasters. Despite this, the literature has not thoroughly addressed how governments pre-position materials considering damage risk. Therefore, this paper constructs a model for the relief supply chains, including a local government, a local supplier and a non-local supplier to determine the government's optimal reserve strategy and quantity. The demand and damage to materials depend on disaster intensity. We derive the conditions under which a specific reserve strategy (no-external reserve, local reserve, non-local reserve, bi-site reserve) is optimal and corresponding reserve quantity. The impacts of supplier characteristics, government-owned reserves, emergency procurement price, disaster intensity distribution, demand-intensity and supply-intensity relationships on optimal prepositioned reserves are identified. Several management insights are drawn from extensive numerical experiments.

An Assembled Feature Attentive Algorithm for Automatic Detection of Waste Water Treatment Plants Based on Multiple Neural Networks

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) play a vital role in controlling wastewater discharge and promoting recycling. Accurate WWTP identification and spatial analysis are crucial for environmental protection, urban planning, and sustainable development. However, the diverse shapes and scales of WWTPs and their key facilities pose challenges for traditional detection methods. This study employs a Multi-Attention Network (MANet) for WWTP extraction, integrating channel and spatial feature attention. Additionally, a Global-Local Feature Modeling Network (GLFMN) is introduced to segment key facilities, specifically sedimentation and secondary sedimentation tanks. The approach is applied to Beijing, utilizing geographic data such as WWTP locations, treatment capacities, and surrounding residential and water distributions. Results indicate that MANet achieves 80.1% accuracy with a 90.4% recall rate, while GLFMN significantly improves the extraction of key facilities compared to traditional methods. The spatial analysis reveals WWTP distribution characteristics, offering insights into treatment capacity and geographic influences. These findings contribute to emission regulation, water quality supervision, and enterprise management of WWTPs in Beijing. This research provides a valuable reference for optimizing wastewater treatment infrastructure and supports decision-making in environmental governance and sustainable urban development.

Exploring governance frameworks and decision processes in ‎blockchain-based decentralized autonomous organizations

Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), which employ smart contracts and blockchain technology to facilitate decentral-ized, ‎democratic, and transparent decision-making, are an innovative change in organizational governance. This study examines the basic architecture of DAOs in the larger blockchain ecosystem, emphasizing how smart contracts help automate governance proce-dures. On-chain and ‎off-chain governance models are the main topics of this thorough analysis of DAO governance systems. Off-chain governance refers to the ‎decision-making process that happens outside the blockchain to increase flexibility and efficiency. In contrast, on-chain governance uses ‎blockchain-based voting to guarantee transparency and immutability. A comparison of these models assesses their benefits, drawbacks, and ‎compromises, especially regarding decentralization, security, and decision-making efficiency. There is also discussion of developments in DAO ‎governance, such as cross-chain interoperability, hybrid models, and AI-assisted decision-making. The results highlight the necessity of a ‎well-rounded governance strategy that incorporates both off-chain flexibility and on-chain security. By providing insights on optimizing ‎decision-making frameworks for decentralized organiza-tions, this research adds to the continuing discussion on DAO governance‎.

Biodiversity Conservation: An Examination on Environmental Conservation Within the Communities of Chongwe District

The purpose of the study was to examine environmental conservation within communities under biodiversity conservation. The general objective of the study was to examine environmental conservation within rural communities. The specific objectives include examining knowledge levels of rural communities on environmental conservation; establishing the effectiveness of strategies used by communities on environmental conservation; ascertaining how government policy engages with the community on environmental conservation and evaluating the effectiveness of mitigation measures on environmental conservation by rural communities. A descriptive case study approach was adopted to match the nature of the topic. The study used open ended questionnaires and guided oral interviews. In this research, the target population was 100 participants of which 60 were community members and 40 were policy makers. A random sampling of respondents was used to pick the respondents. In this study, the sample size of 100 respondents was be targeted using purposive sampling. The main instruments used are questionnaires and personal interviews. The questionnaires comprised closed and open-ended questions. Questionnaires were administered or handed out to the respondents depending on their business operating schedules. Qualitative and quantitative data analysis was done. Quantitative data was used because it was easier to present using tables and qualitative data helped express the data collected. The data collected was analyzed using tables and figures. For the qualitative data, the descriptive method was used, while for quantitative data analysis was done using Microsoft Word and Excel to generate tables and other graphic illustrations. The results showed that 37.5% of participants had a high knowledge level, and an equal percentage of participants exhibited moderate knowledge level. Meanwhile, 25% of the participants had low knowledge level. With regards to how effective the strategies used by communities on environmental conservation, it was found that there is a significant relationship between the conservation strategy used by the communities and their perceived effectiveness. To find out how government engages the community on environmental conservation we first had to find out how many participants were aware of the government policy regarding the topic and it was discovered that 65% of the participants were aware suggesting that a significant portion of the community were informed about the policy. The distribution on how effective the mitigation measures are in environmental conservation reviewed a mixed perception among the participants, with a relatively balanced view between those who see the measures as effective and those who do not. Based on the findings it was recommended that continued engagement of the communities should be maintained. High level government actors must be in attendance of Community meetings to bring about key government decisions.

Adaptability assessment of the Enning road heritage district in China based on GA-BP neural network

In complex urban systems, heritage districts must adapt beyond their original functions, requiring innovative reuse strategies to meet urban development demands. This study integrates socio-cultural and qualitative factors to enhance adaptive reuse predictions while fostering inclusive, community-driven renewal. Using a GA-BP neural network model, stakeholder mapping, and focus group interviews, the findings highlight two key aspects: (1) cultural significance, per capita consumption, and functional type serve as critical indicators for sustainable adaptive reuse, and (2) participatory governance and transparent decision-making are essential for effective implementation, with professional mediators and targeted support aiding conflict resolution. The governance transformation of Enning Road exemplifies a multi-network approach that integrates government leadership, enterprise-driven operations, multi-stakeholder participation, and benefit-sharing mechanisms. These insights contribute to the sustainable revitalization of heritage districts, offering a replicable model for balancing heritage preservation with urban development.

QUIC, or the battle that never was: A case of infrastructuring control over Internet traffic

This article investigates the development and deployment process of QUIC, a new standard of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) that is fostering momentous architectural change in the ways in which communication and data packets transport happens on the Internet. We present QUIC’s standardization process as an analytical site to capture recent evolutions in the balance of power between the so-called “Big Tech” actors, other actors of the Internet industry, and states. The article focuses on three key socio-technical controversies that have shaped its standardization process, and, in particular, explores Google’s capabilities in re-shaping the technical architecture of the Internet. This research contributes to unveiling how control over Internet traffic is “infrastructured” by the QUIC process, highlighting the place of the private sector in standardization processes; the processes of consolidation and concentration of the Internet around dominant actors that are influenced by the making of standards; and the discussions and controversies regarding specific technical aspects of a standard that reconfigure broader balances of power and decision-making in Internet governance.

Policy advisory systems and crisis governance: the advisory committee architecture within different politicization settings

PurposeAn Advisory Committee (AC) is a particular type of crisis governance device that provides evidence to inform government decision-making. This article explores AC architecture and how it may determine a government’s response capacity during the COVID-19 crisis by politicization settings (i.e. meritocratic vs highly politicized/patronaged).Design/methodology/approachThis study compares two cases with contrasting politicization archetypes: Ireland as meritocratic and Slovakia as patronaged. A pattern-matching approach is applied in the case study design.FindingsThe findings illustrate how different politicization settings impacted COVID-19 crisis governance. The Irish case demonstrated hierarchical and traceable decision-making and AC membership was composed of bureaucrats and independent experts focused on evidence production. The politicized Slovak case was characterized by centralization around the prime minister, informal governance structures, circularity in decision-making procedures and unclear accountability.Research limitations/implicationsThe study provides conceptual insights that may be deployed to interpret the impact of politicization in diverse settings.Practical implicationsThe existing organizational capacity determines government response during a crisis and strengthening AC architecture is essential. Explicit and documented governance design is critical to accountability, transparency and societal trust.Social implicationsThe design architecture of ACs can empower evidence production and contribute to effective governance in a meritocratic setting. In contrast, a highly politicized setting may result in promoting patronage characteristics.Originality/valueThis article contributes to emerging research on the system level arguing that the character of the organization of expertise conditions adoption of expert ideas. It proposes a framework for comparative analysis.

Historical Process of State and Non-state Media during the Reign of Ghazi Amanullah Khan

When Amanullah Khan declared the country's political independence at the beginning of his reign, Mohammad Wali Khan continued his diplomatic and political efforts all the way to Washington, introducing Afghanistan to the world as an independent country. After the declaration of independence, the country also began to make efforts to strengthen the political and cultural consciousness of its citizens. In addition to achieving other human rights, the Afghan people and the population also obtained the right to freedom of the press and expression by government decision. At the same time, radio and cinema were made available for use. Music education officially began. At the same time, the government officially authorized state and non-state media and established a large number of schools and media outlets to strengthen the political and cultural consciousness of its citizens and populations so that the educational level of the citizens and populations could be increased.

AI Alignment: Ensuring AI Objectives Match Human Values

Abstract : As artificial intelligence systems grow more advanced and self-governing, the issue of AI alignment—ensuring that these systems follow objectives consistent with human values—has become one of the most pressing topics in AI safety and ethics. Even in well-constructed systems, misaligned goals can result in unexpected behaviors that might lead to harmful or ethically dubious outcomes. This research paper delves into the conceptual underpinnings, technical strategies, and societal impacts of AI alignment. The discussion starts by exploring the theoretical foundations of alignment, focusing on models related to human values, utility functions, and the learning of preferences. Following this, the paper evaluates existing approaches like inverse reinforcement learning, cooperative inverse reinforcement learning, and reward modeling, analyzing their advantages, drawbacks, and real-world applicability. By conducting a comparative analysis of case studies and simulations, the research underscores significant challenges in implementing human values, such as ambiguity in values, dependence on context, and the potential for specification gaming. It also stresses the necessity of integrating ethical pluralism and a variety of human viewpoints. Additionally, the study examines the significance of interpretability, transparency, and interdisciplinary collaboration in improving alignment results. Research indicates that no single method provides a comprehensive solution; however, a hybrid, multi-dimensional strategy—rooted in human-centered design and ongoing feedback—appears most promising. The study emphasizes the pressing need for proactive alignment strategies as AI systems become more integrated into critical areas like healthcare, governance, and autonomous decision-making. Ultimately, achieving strong AI alignment is not merely a technical issue but a profoundly human challenge that necessitates contributions from technologists, ethicists, and society as a whole to ensure AI benefits the common good. Keywords: AI Alignment, Human Values, Ethical Artificial Intelligence, Value Learning, Inverse Reinforcement Learning.

The Effects of Monetary Policy on Stock Market Performance

This research paper analyzes the impact of monetary policy on the volatility of the Indian stock market. Using secondary data from the past 20 years, the study reviews existing literature on stock market volatility, especially during COVID-19, and the role of government decisions. The researcher applied inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure data accuracy and used both qualitative and quantitative data for analysis.

Analyses of Technological Processes of Automobile Compressed Natural Gas Stations and Development of Methods for Loss Reduction

This article is dedicated to the detection and calculation of unavoidable gas losses due to the measuring devices and technological processes of auto-gasification pressure stations (CNGs), which are conditioned by the productivity of CNGs. The productivity of CNG stations operating in the territory of RA differs according to their daily charging capabilities, i.e. according to the number of existing gas pressure stations. The need of analysis and development of such methodology stems from new approaches in flow measurements, which are of high importance in ensuring uniformity of measurements in gas transportation and distribution systems. The accurate determination of CH4 emissions is of high necessity in the scope of environmental management systems, which already function according to the international requirements prescribed by ISO 14001 as well. In the territory of the Republic of Armenia the development of such a methodology result from the implementation of Article 150 of the Government Decision No. 1101-N of August 28, 2008 "On approving the technical regulation of the minimum requirements for the construction and operation of gas filling stations" of the Republic of Armenia.

A qualitative study exploring how local politicians influence healthy local planning policies

ABSTRACT The built and green environment influences population health and wellbeing. Urban development is complex, with many stakeholders and issues influencing decision-making. An important element is planning policy which informs planning applications for new urban development. This study explores how local politicians influenced the creation of local planning policies in an urban local planning authority in England. Observations were conducted of 18 closed meetings with a group of local politicians, and local government officers. Field notes were collected and later analysed using deductive and inductive coding, with thematic analysis. The study identifies that while local politicians can have high ambitions for healthy urban development, health impacts are rarely explicitly considered, and policy compromises are likely due to national government house building targets, resulting in discussions being dominated by housing numbers and locations. Public opinion and financial viability also influence policy development. There may be trade-offs between quantity- and quality-related local housing policies. The group was a safe space for local politicians to have challenging conversations. This helped to turn emotive issues into governance decisions and build cross-party support for policies. Understanding the influence of local politicians, and the limitations on their influence, can help to inform interventions for healthier urban development.

Adaptation Analysis of Urban Village Resettlers Based on Lefebvre’s Spatial Production Theory in Qingdao, China

The demolition and resettlement of urban villages is a new urbanization strategy widely used by the Chinese government. It is a massive development intervention designed and implemented by the Chinese government to promote the relocation and resettlement of the rural-to-urban population. However, limited research has focused on how rural residents adapt to their new urban lives within these large-scale relocation and resettlement projects. This paper aims to analyze this adaptation process. This study employs Lefebvre’s spatial production theory, based on a survey of 256 resettled residents in Qingdao, China, using a structured questionnaire and the statistical analysis software SPSS 24.0 to quantitatively evaluate the adaptability of resettled residents based on three dimensions: material space, institutional space, and social space. Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses are conducted to explore the relationships among these dimensions. Our findings reveal an association between high adaptation levels and urban resident identity recognition among the resettled residents. Our research findings raise more substantial concerns about the transparency of government decision-making and the community participation of resettlers in the current resettlement process.

Sustainable Development in the Textile and Apparel Industry: ESG Performance, Digital Transformation, and Corporate Value

As China progresses with its "dual carbon" strategy and the deepening concept of sustainable development, there is a growing focus among consumers and investors on the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of businesses. As a high-pollution and resource-intensive traditional manufacturing industry, the ESG practices within the textile and apparel sector require further exploration to understand their influence on corporate value. This research study utilizes data from publicly traded firms in the textile and apparel sector spanning 2013 to 2023. Using a two-way fixed effects approach, accounting for both temporal and individual heterogeneity, we analyze how ESG metrics influence firm value and the underlying mechanisms. The findings indicate that ESG performance in textile and apparel companies contributes to enhancing corporate value; the ability of a company to innovate partially mediates the effect of ESG performance on corporate value; a company’s level of digitalization positively moderates the connection between ESG performance and firm value. This research highlights the unique characteristics of ESG practices in the textile and apparel industry, enriches the theoretical framework of corporate sustainability, and provides practical insights for government and corporate decision-makers.

Konflik Agraria Akibat Keputusan Pemerintah yang Melanggar Kesejahteraan Masyarakat

Land disputes often occur in Indonesia, these conflicts can occur between people or between people and the government. There are also several land conflicts that occur due to government decisions that violates people rights, causing harm to the community. Land, which is a gift from God Almighty, should be used as well as possible for the welfare of society, but sometimes the government, which is given the authority to cultivate it, does not use the authority that has been given properly. This research aims to find out the background of the conflict that occurred and how the conflict can be resolved. This article was written with descriptive analytical methods which were researched through collecting data sourced from books, journals and articles as well as news. The results of the research are that the government is more careful in exercising its authority, paying attention to the interests of the community, and improving laws and regulations that are no longer relevant to the current agrarian situation in Indonesia.

Just smart? The comparative analysis of smart initiatives in North America and Nordic countries

ABSTRACT There is a strong belief in the policy and academic worlds that the smart city concept can pave the way for inclusive urban governance by promoting citizen engagement. However, smart initiatives may strengthen the existing or create new inequalities, undermining the ability of underrepresented groups to influence urban governance decisions. This study critically examines this dilemma by analyzing eight smart initiatives across four Arctic cities: Bodø (Norway), Oulu (Finland), Fairbanks (USA), and Yellowknife (Canada). Through a comparative framework that accounts for the unique justice issues in the Arctic, such as severe climate challenges and the legacy of Indigenous suppression, we analyze qualitative open data available in the local media and on official web resources and assess whether and how these initiatives foster a just society. Our findings indicate the existing high potential of human-centric smart initiatives to enable public engagement. However, the study concludes that smart city projects often fail to adequately prioritize underrepresented groups’ interests, like those of Arctic Indigenous communities. This underscores the urgent need for further research into the intersections between smart city development and the principles of a just city.

Research on Key Technologies, System Construction and Application Outlook of Big Data Governance

In the era of digital transformation, big data has emerged as a pivotal resource driving innovation across various sectors. The effective utilization of big data, however,is fundamentally contingent upon robust governance frameworks. This paper conducts a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted domain of big data governance, with a focus on three critical dimensions: key technological implementations, policy-system architecture, and application prospects. By employing a combination of literature review, case analysis, and comparative research methods, it addresses several key research questions, such as how to improve the efficiency and quality of data management in big data governance, how to construct a scientific and reasonable policy system, and how to better apply big data governance in different scenarios. The research findings demonstrate that advanced techniques, particularly data wrangling, play an indispensable role in data preprocessing and quality enhancement. Furthermore, the study reveals that a sophisticated, multi-tiered policy system involving multiple stakeholders is progressively evolving in the realm of policy-system construction. In terms of application, big data governance has achieved remarkable results in areas such as government decision-making and business operations, but challenges remain. Overall, this research provides valuable insights for promoting the development and application of big data governance.

Balancing environmental and financial performance in hard-to-abate industries: Pathways for low-carbon hydrogen adoption

Purpose The purpose of this study is to show how the adoption of emission-reducing but cost-inferior technologies/fuels, e.g. hydrogen, may be justified. Contributing to the debates about financial viability and acceptability of low-carbon solutions, the authors suggest an opportunity cost-based framework for corporate governance in energy-intensive industries. Design/methodology/approach The study analyses production processes heavily dependent on fossil fuels and the trade-off between environmental and financial performance. Considering emission constraints, the authors derive the relationship between output price, emission parameters and input fuel prices suggesting the acceptable conditions to deploy low-emission technologies, which are used to define hydrogen demand and sustainable corporate strategies. Findings The demand for hydrogen or other low-emission solutions emerges as a function of a variety of exogenous parameters and firm’s choices. It implies that decisions on emission targets or environmental stewardship are intertwined with procurement choices, shareholder/customer preferences and other corporate governance decisions defining the pace of net-zero transition. Practical implications The willingness to invest in clean technologies is interpreted within development strategies, highlighting conditions and sectors where hard-to-abate industries are likely to adopt net-zero solutions. Numerical simulations provide insights into how companies can optimize the balance between financial and environmental performance and identify suitable market environments that facilitate this transition. Originality/value This paper presents an innovative perspective on the factors underpinning adoption of low-emission technologies. Using insights from numerical simulations, the study elucidates the corporate strategy implications, providing market-driven analysis of the pathways for industrial decarbonization.

IOT-Enabled Multi-Sensor System for Smart Environmental Monitoring and Alerting

Increased industrialization and urbanization have resulted in tremendous environmental issues such as pollution, climate change, and natural resource degradation. To manage these problems, Internet of Things (IoT) technology presents an intelligent, real-time, and automated means of environmental monitoring. This article discusses the application of IoT-based environmental monitoring systems, incorporating integrated sensors, cloud computing, and data analytics to monitor air quality, water pollution, soil condition, and climate. IoT sensors gather real-time environmental information, which are forwarded to cloud platforms for analysis and visualization. These systems facilitate early pollution detection, effective resource utilization, and enhanced decision-making for governments, industries, and environmental agencies.This article talks about the structure, elements, and uses of environmental monitoring systems based on IoT, along with challenges like data security, power, and scalability. By adopting IoT technology, we can build an eco-friendly and smart framework of environmental monitoring that facilitates ecological balance and human welfare. Keywords—IoT, Environmental Monitoring, Smart Sensors, Air Quality, Water Pollution, Cloud Computing, Sustainability.

The Importance of Community Participation in Government Decisions

The Importance of Community Participation in Government Decisions