Interest Organizations Research Articles

Essential elements in evidence-based interventions to improve employee mindfulness

The use of mindfulness skill promises a bevy of positive outcomes at work, increasing organizational interest in designing interventions for boosting it. To create these interventions, organizations need more information on key elements that support mindfulness and deeper understanding about how each element mechanizes deployment of mindfulness skill. This manuscript addresses these needs. We articulate how the micro mindfulness skills of self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (identified as the “S-ART framework” by neuropsychologists) emerge and combine to create a state of mindfulness. We then provide an example to demonstrate how including each of these elements in a mindfulness intervention provides employees with a stepwise self-management technique for better interacting with distressing or uncomfortable cognition. In all, we demonstrate how mindfulness interventions that incorporate self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence create a more robust state of mindfulness.

РОЛЬ ТУРИСТИЧНИХ ІНФОРМАЦІЙНИХ ЦЕНТРІВ В ФОРМУВАННІ ПОЗИТИВНОГО ІМІДЖУ ТА ПОПУЛЯРИЗАЦІЇ ТУРИСТИЧНИХ ДЕСТИНАЦІЙ

The article examines and substantiates the role of tourist information centers in the formation of a positive image and popularization of tourist destinations in Ukraine. Today, the formation of a network of urban tourist information centers has become an effective tool for managing the sphere of tourism and resorts in the regions, which really contributes to increasing the tourist attractiveness of the city, the activation of tourist and excursion activities on its territory and the implementation of regional policy in the field of tourism. It is noted that tourism information centers are created precisely for the provision of information and communication services in the tourism industry. At the request of interested organizations, the tourist information center can conduct marketing and sociological surveys; carry out work on the collection and systematization of statistical and other information on the results of tourist and excursion activities on the territory of the city; analysis of service sales markets for future investment projects; quality control of tourist services provided in the city. The main purpose and main functions of tourist information centers are clarified. Which consists in advising residents and guests of the city on up-to-date tourist information for easy, safe and interesting trips both in individual cities or regions, and throughout Ukraine. The experience of the Tourist Information Center of the city of Zaporizhzhia before and during the full-scale invasion of the territory of Ukraine was considered. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Tourist Information Centers of the city of Zaporizhzhia have been reformatted from tourism to helping people from the temporarily occupied territories. From April 13, 2023, the Tourist Information Centers of the city of Zaporizhzhia returned to the cultural life of the city in the following format: holding exhibitions and events inside the premises; sale of souvenir products with Zaporizhzhia identity; organization of excursions with the participation of local guides. The main tourist products provided in the Tourist Information Center of the city of Zaporizhzhia are specified. Among the main tourist products of the Zaporizhzhia Tourist Information Center: excursion "Getting to know Ukrainian culture"; "Coffee traditions from ISLA" gastronomic excursion; "Coffee traditions from ISLA and Urozhai bakery" gastronomic excursion; "Excursion to the Private Cheese Factory"; "French Weekend" and others. It was determined that the activity of the Tourist Information Center of the city of Zaporizhzhia has a positive effect on the development of regional tourism, popularization of the tourist brand of the city in general and the event direction, respectively. It was found that there are currently not enough tourist information centers in the most developed tourist areas in Ukraine. In Ukraine, tourist information centers function only in 13 cities, as they lack proper support from the State. The number of tourist information centers in Ukraine was analyzed in 2023 compared to 2022 and 2021. The analysis showed that the largest number of tourist information centers is in Zakarpattia Oblast. The largest number of TICs operate in the western regions of the country – 47. In particular, 17 TICs operate in Zakarpattia Oblast, nine in Lviv Region, of which four are located in Lviv, seven in Ivano-Frankivsk Region, and four TICs each in Ternopil and Khmelnytskyi Oblasts. in Volynska – three, in Rivne – two, in Bukovyna – one. It is noted that, according to the State Tourism Development Agency of Ukraine, the Lviv Region has been the leader in tax revenues from the tourism industry for the second year in a row. It was determined which aspects include the activities and services of the tourist information center, namely: provision of information; route planning; booking and support; promotion: information centers can act as promoters of the region's tourism potential. They can organize events, exhibitions, presentations, festivals aimed at attracting tourists and popularizing the region; assistance and consultations; selling souvenirs.

Enhancing Language Corner Management with Henry Fayol’s Principles at Darussalam Gontor University

The purpose of this study to describe the program of management Languge Corner based on fourteen managements principles of Henry Fayol in the form (Division of Work, Authority and Responsibility, Discipline, Unity of Command, Unity of Direction, Subordination of Individual Interests, Payroll, Centralization, Scalar Chains, Order, Justice, Stability, Initiative, Spirit of Unity). The research approach used in this study is a qualitative descriptive approach with a case study type. The research subjects were at the Educational Institute of Darussalam Gontor University, Ponorogo. Techniques of data collection were collected through observation of Langugage Corner program management and interviews with heads of Arabic language teaching programs and students as well and administrative documentation. Data analysis included data display, data reduction and drawing conclusions. The results showed that the management of the Language corner program at Darussalam Gontor University had used fourteen management principles from Henry Fayol. Each indicator of management principle was included of category highly implemented which means that these fourteen management principles had been implemented in the language corner program. at Darussalam Gontor University. The four of these principles are: prioritizing organizational interests over individual interests, fair compensation, centralization and scalar chain are included in applied criteria.

An In-Depth Analysis of Canadian Medical Students and Physicians Concussion Knowledge: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Research has shown that concussion education in a proportion of Canadian medical school curriculums is lacking. The objective of this study was to measure concussion knowledge among medical trainees, while comparing the impact of lecture-based and clinical learning on their concussion knowledge scores. Methods: A validated concussion knowledge survey was distributed to MS1, MS2, MS3, and MS4 students, as well as post-graduate learners in family medicine, pediatrics, and emergency medicine. Results: Participants with clinical learning experience (MS3 + MS4 + Residents) scored significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the concussion knowledge test when compared to pre-clinical (MS1 + MS2) participants. 42.2% of participants learned about concussions from a lecture and 28.1% learned from a student organized interest group. Only 25% of participants correctly identified the red flags associated with a concussion. Conclusion: More emphasis should be placed on teaching concussion diagnosis and management in medical education.

An evaluation of a transitional care programme for older adults in a general hospital in the Netherlands: Needs, preferences, and perspectives of the average old and the oldest old

Aim: This research aimed to evaluate a transitional care programme for older adults who were acutely admitted to a general hospital, with a special focus on health outcomes and healthcare utilisation for the oldest patients and to clarify patients’ and health care providers’ perspectives on the care provided.
 Background: Populations around the world are ageing, and many older adults have complex health problems owing to multimorbidity. Consequently, they experience many transitions in care. During the past decade, transitional care for older adults has become increasingly important in terms of safe transitions and prevention of adverse events during transitions.Research however, often leaves the oldest old and the most vulnerable out of scope.
 Methodology and methods: A mixed methods research design, based upon pragmatism and critical realism, was used in a parallel convergent design study. Measurements in the quantitative phase of the study were based on the The Older Persons and Informal Caregivers Survey Minimal Dataset (TOPICS-MDS). Data from the hospital registry and questionnaires were used. In the qualitative phase of the study reflexive thematic analysis was used on data gathered in interviews with patients, hospital nurses and community nurses and two focus group meetings with the geriatric team, and staff and managers from the home care organisations.
 Findings: The quantitative part of the study did not show any significant results of the effect of the Transitional Care Bridge (TCB) programme on the prevention of functional decline, health care utilisation and other health outcomes. However, the study revealed an increase in preventive care in the more frail TCB group. The qualitative part of the study reveals the programme was valued by patients, family members and professionals. The familiarity with the programme and personal attitudes of professionals may have influenced expectations and outcomes. Many patients enrolled in the programme were very frail and often unaware of the programme. As they often already received some kind of home care, patients were initially referred to the usual carers. The assessment of the care needs of the oldest patients to some extent fail to recognise what would contribute most to ageing well at home. Professionals in hospital as well as home care organisations struggled with motivation towards the programme and felt they still remained working within their silos. Professional roles were not always clearly defined, valued and reflected upon, and outcomes relating to collaboration reveal a gap between the different worlds of hospital and home.
 
 Discussion: Different contexts, organisational interests, personal attitudes and lack of reflection have influenced collaboration and the delivery of the programme. Transitional care interventions should be redeveloped for and with the oldest adults and their informal caregivers and address their needs during the period shortly after discharge, and help them build structure into their daily routines, and resume activities and exercise. Reflective practices on shared values, implications and outcomes should be developed as a competence within and between all involved organisations of transitional care. More reflective and emergent research approaches are needed to inform policies on ageing well in place and prevention.

A critical friend or the sword of Damocles: Headteachers’ use of micropolitical strategies in inspection

In England, a new Education Inspection Framework (EIF) was launched in 2019. The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (OfSTED) describes it as evolutionary in bringing out education improvement. Others criticise its methodology and detrimental impact on schools. This study compares the foci, evidence-collecting methods and inspection decision-making processes between the 2015 Common Inspection Framework and the 2019 EIF. Eight headteachers were interviewed about their inspection experiences. Findings show that the headteachers purposefully employed micropolitical strategies such as acquiring the support of others, creating a favourable impression, shaping discussion and decisions, weakening opposition, and hyper-enacting policy to advance organisational interests. Six out of the eight schools in this study were rated ‘Good’ under EIF. However, the EIF left the power imbalance between OfSTED and schools and fear-induced performativity unchallenged. Headteachers and teachers were forced to engage in a new game at the cost of their physical and emotional well-being. This study aims to advance knowledge of the ongoing inspection reform in England. When other countries use OfSTED frameworks as a benchmark for designing their own inspection systems, it is crucial to carefully examine the potential detrimental impact associated with the inspector-school power imbalance and fear-induced performativity.

The Impact of Technological Transformation on the Realm of Modern Business Management

This research study aimed to explore the ever-changing world of management, documenting the significant influence of the ‘Technological Transformation’ (Also referred to as ‘Digital Transformation’) witnessed by the present era. The study carried out a thorough review of the advantages and difficulties that accompanied this unprecedented transformation. Moreover, this study highlighted the practical influence of technology across a vast spectrum of enterprises and sectors using a wide range of studies from the relevant literature. Over and above, this qualitative study implemented the ‘Integrative Research Approach’ (IRA) for the sake of obtaining data from the targeted population, analyzing the collected data, and extracting the findings concerned. Supplementarily, the study found that the process of technological transformation involves not just automating operations but also changing businesses’ models, customer expectations, and the processes themselves. Likewise, it was found that digital businesses produce value and create an accelerating revenue by means of extensive digital linkages between people, locations, systems, and objects. Conjointly, the study revealed that the majority of contemporary organization, Organizations, regardless of their areas of competence and work, may leverage digital technologies and strategy to establish a successful position for both themselves and their industrial sector/s. as a matter of fact, the current study emphasized that the next phase in the growth of the national and international economies is the potential that digital/technological transformation unlocks. Finally, the study’s findings asserted that the society that will live in a completely altered environment is transformed by the integration of all developing technologies. Production of goods, corporate operations, and organizational leadership are shifting toward a heavy reliance on new technologies, supporting applied Information Technology (IT) techniques (software, hardware, and procedures), and expanding digital communication channels. On the same line, the study concluded that in order to maintain the stability and strength of our societies, we must continuously examine, evaluate, and develop this new, highly complex reality that the digital transformation has formed. Finally, it is hoped that the previously mentioned findings would assist organizations of different fields of work in making successful, reliable, and accurate decisions. Similarly, it is also hoped that the revealed findings would pave the way for the organizations of interest to create and further implement innovative, actionable, purpose-filled, Long-term and forward-focused, consistent, concrete, inclusive, and well-informed strategies which would eventually enable them to act as a compass in the nowadays’ complex landscape of technological revolutions.

A Qualitative Exploration of Effective Leadership Development Programs and Leadership Process on Succession Planning and Organizational Performance

Leadership is a valuable resource of an organization, and its effectiveness potentially impacts organizational efficacy and productivity. This qualitative single case study includes the possible impact of ineffective leadership development programs for succession planning on organizational performance. Leadership effectiveness comes from the perspective of 17 participants from across the organization of interest. A total of 11 themes and 71 sub-themes that underscore leadership development as iterative emerged from the study. The themes highlight the prominence of informal leadership development efforts, the effectiveness of alignment with exemplary leaders, and leadership practices. Consequently, the effectiveness of leadership development programs is assessed through a leader’s behavioral indicators and traits, exposure to exemplary formal and informal leadership practices, and an organizational culture that enables personal growth. Analysis of the information retrieved from the study confirmed that aspects of the problem statement of this study exist in the organization MNUS. The study included identifying the need for a direct measure of the impact of leadership development programs on the performance of an organization. Leadership development programs are an area of further study.

Generative AI and composing: an intergenerational conversation among literacy scholars

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a transcript of a dialogue among literacy educators and researchers on the impact of generative aritficial intelligence (AI) in the field. In the spring of 2023, a lively conversation emerged on the National Council of Research on Language and Literacy (NCRLL)’s listserv. Stephanie initiated the conversation by sharing an op-ed she wrote for Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the rise of ChatGPT and similar generative AI platforms, moving beyond the general public’s concerns about student cheating and robot takeovers. NCRLL then convened a webinar of eight leading scholars in writing and literacies development, inspired by that listerv conversation and an organizational interest in promoting intergenerational collaboration among literacy scholars.Design/methodology/approachAs former doctoral students of two of the panel participants, webinar facilitators Grace and Victoria positioned themselves primarily as learners about this topic and gathered questions from colleagues, P-16 practitioners and those outside the field of education to assess the concerns and wonderings that ChatGPT and generative AI have raised. The following webinar conversation was recorded on two different days due to scheduling conflicts. It has been merged and edited into one dialogue for coherence and convergence.FindingsPanel participants raise a host of questions and issues that go beyond topics of ethics, morality and basic writing instruction. Furthermore, in dialogue with one another, they describe possibilities for meaningful pedagogy and critical literacy to ensure that generative AI is used for a socially just future for students. While the discussion addressed matters of pedagogy, definitions of literacy and the purpose of (literacy) education, other themes included a critique of capitalism; an interrogation of the systems of power and oppression involved in using generative AI; and the philosophical, ontological, ethical and practical life questions about being human.Originality/valueThis paper provides a glimpse into one of the first panel conversations about ChatGPT and generative AI in the field of literacy. Not only are the panel members respected scholars in the field, they are also former doctoral students and advisors of one another, thus positioning all involved as both learners and teachers of this new technology.

Organizational dominance and the rise of corporate professionalism: The case of management consultancy in the UK

Abstract While recent debates about the professions have noted the pervasive influence of organizations, less is known about how this plays out at the macro or occupational level. In this paper, we address this concern, focusing on corporate professionalism (CP) as an emergent form which appears to be shaped by organizational interests. Drawing on relational perspectives of professions, we focus on the strategies of two associations in the UK management consultancy field over a 50-year period. Our analysis of archival and interview data reveals how, over time, both associations substantially modified their strategies in response to shifting priorities of firms employing large numbers of consultants—abandoning early commitments to occupational professionalism in favor of a corporate form. A key contribution of the paper is to develop a process model for understanding how and why CP emerges. We also highlight the need to pay more attention to the often neglected role of employing organizations in accounts of professional formation in contemporary society.

The Investor Behaviour, Risk Perception and Expectations on Cryptocurrency Markets

The financial sector, which has sparked increasing organizational and scientific interest in recent years, plays a vital role in the Turkish economy. After enduring multiple economic downturns, consumers have become more cautious when considering financial investments, making it challenging for financial institutions to formulate effective marketing strategies. This study aims to shed light on investor behavior in Tukish markets. The results of two surveys are examined: the first conducted in the final quarter of 2022, and the second in the first quarter of 2023. This article delves into various variables, including stress levels, portfolio holding times, investment choices, and attention to cryptocurrency markets. The methodology employs the Mann-Whitney U test, Cronbach's Alpha, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, and Shapiro-Wilk normality tests. The findings from the two surveys are compared. Based on the analysis results, it can be inferred that respondents' investment preferences and risk tolerance have evolved over time. The results demonstrate a spectrum of portfolio diversification tendencies.

Human resource management (HRM) and performance: Balancing between optimization of organizational performance and well-being of (healthcare) employees

The future of Dutch healthcare is a challenge that focuses on four aims: the ‘Quadruple Aim’. These aims concern: improving the quality and accessibility of care, enhancing patient experience, reducing healthcare costs and increasing the job satisfaction of healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals play a major role in the realization of the first three aims. The pressure on healthcare and the scarce capacity forces us to treat this human capital with care. Satisfied employees are partly decisive for the success of an organization. At the same time, an organization expects optimal performance from its employees. This requires an active and involved attitude from the HRM department. The individual employee plays an intermediary role between HRM activities and organizational performance. In order to increase knowledge and understanding about this position, attention to the individual in the context of the organization is essential. In this article, the relationship between HRM, performance and well-being of employees and underlying theoretical explanation models are discussed. Recommendations were made on the contribution that HRM can make to the balance between employee and organizational interests.

Effects of matching personal and organizational mindsets on belonging and organizational interest.

Growth mindsets are beliefs that abilities, like intelligence, are mutable. Although most prior work has focused on people's personal mindset beliefs, a burgeoning literature has identified that organizations also vary in the extent to which they communicate and endorse growth mindsets. Organizational growth mindsets have powerful effects on belonging and interest in joining organizations, suggesting that they may be a productive way to intervene to improve individual and societal outcomes. Yet, little is known about for whom organizational mindset interventions might be more or less effective, a critical question for effective implementation and theory. We examine whether people's personal mindset beliefs might determine the effect of organizational growth mindsets, and if so, whether this moderation reflects a matching or mismatching pattern. Three experiments manipulated the espoused mindset of an organization and found that organizational growth mindsets primarily increased belonging and interest in joining among participants who personally endorsed matching growth mindset beliefs. An additional field study provided ecological validity to these findings, replicating them with students' experiences of belonging in classrooms. This study also revealed a divergent mismatching pattern on grades: rather than bolstering the grades of students with growth mindsets, growth mindset classroom contexts primarily enhanced the grades of students with more fixed mindsets. By clarifying for whom organizational growth mindsets are beneficial and in what manner, the current work provides theoretical and practical insight into the psychological dynamics of organizational growth mindsets. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

P156: The Development of the PET@home Toolkit using the refined Experience-Based Co- Design Method (EBCD+)

Objective:The relevance of pets in long-term home care is increasingly recognized due to their positive effects on health outcomes in clients, and the growing numbers of pet-owning clients receiving long-term care at home (LTCH). In the Netherlands, there is a lack of supportive materials concerning pet-related issues in LTCH. The aim of this project was to develop materials to support care for LTCH-clients with pets. Using a participatory research approach, LTCH-clients with pets, family caregivers, and professional caregivers collaborated using the Experience-Based Co-Design (EBCD) method that we fine-tuned for frail clients (EBCD+) to create the PET@Home Toolkit.Methods:The project started with a literature review on the roles of pets for older adults. To determine if similar roles were also relevant in LTCH, individual interviews were conducted with LTCH-clients, family caregivers, and professional caregivers. Thereafter, the original EBCD-method was used including group interviews with (1) LTCH-clients and family, (2) professional caregivers (3) mixed groups of (1) and (2). Participants could participate in multiple phases. Professional caregivers preferred online and weekday meetings and LTCH-clients and family caregivers preferred in person and weekend meetings. Therefore, we organized additional interviews, and separate online and in-person groups. Hence, the EBCD+ method included a review, complementary interviews, the original EBCD-method and continuous refinement and testing of instruments.Results:The review and complementary interviews revealed similar roles related to pets in LTCH (e.g. Relational Aspects, Physical Health, and Social Aspects) to those as in the review on older adults. Based on the results, preliminary tools were developed, e.g., an information brochure. Furthermore, we conducted 14 semi-structured interviews, 6 focus groups, a psychology students workshop, and 4 online meetings with experts in human-animal interaction, education, and animal interest organizations (e.g., a veterinarian). It resulted in the Toolkit with different instruments, e.g., information brochure, e-learning module, and infographic.Conclusion:We successfully used the EBCD+ method to develop an extensive and practically applicable Toolkit to support caregivers and their pet-owning LTCH-clients. The PET@home Toolkit will be available via the University Knowledge network for Older adult care Nijmegen (www.ukonnetwerk.nl).

Stakeholder participation in the ISSB’s standard-setting process: the consultations on the first exposure drafts on sustainability reporting

PurposeThis paper aims to provide empirical evidence on formal stakeholder participation (or “lobbying”) in the early phase of the International Sustainability Standards Board’s (ISSB’s) standard-setting.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on a rational-choice framework, this paper conducts a content analysis of comment letters (CLs) submitted to the ISSB in response to its first two exposure drafts (published in 2022) to investigate stakeholder participation across different groups and jurisdictional origins. The analyses examine participation in terms of frequency (measured using the number of participating stakeholders) and intensity (measured using the length of CLs).FindingsPreparers and users of sustainability reports emerge as the largest participating stakeholder groups, while the accounting/sustainability profession participates with high average intensity. Surprisingly, preparers do not outweigh users in terms of participation frequency and intensity; and large preparers outweigh smaller ones in terms of participation intensity but not participation frequency. Internationally, stakeholders from countries with a private financial accounting standard-setting system participate more frequently and intensively than others. In addition, country-level economic wealth and sustainability performance are positively associated with more participating stakeholders.Practical implicationsThis study is of interest for organizations and stakeholders involved in or affected by standard-setting in the field of sustainability reporting. The finding of limited participation by investors and from developing countries suggests the ISSB take actions to enhance the voice of those stakeholders.Social implicationsThe imbalances in stakeholder participation that were found pose potential threats to an important aspect of the input legitimacy of the ISSB’s standard-setting process.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to explore stakeholder participation by means of CLs with the ISSB in terms of frequency and intensity.

The relationship between intellectual capital and audit report readability and audit report tone

PurposeFinancial reports are the basis of economic decisions that affect organizational interests and shareholders. However, there is a severe research gap concerning the factors affecting the quality of financial information (such as audit report readability and tone). Therefore, considering the importance of presenting high-quality financial information, this study aims to investigate the impact of intellectual capital (IC) and its components on the audit report's readability and tone.Design/methodology/approachThe multivariate regression model tests research hypotheses. Then, hypotheses are tested via a sample of 824 observations of the listed companies on the Tehran Stock Exchange (103 companies) from 2014 to 2021, using the multivariate regression model based on pooled data and fixed effects.FindingsResults determine that customer capital (CC) and structural capital (SC) are likely to influence the audit report tone positively. In general, the IC and human capital (HC) negatively impact auditors' tone. More analyses also document that IC and its CC, HC and SC components positively and significantly affect audit report readability based on two readability indices, including FOG and text length. Finally, findings pertaining to the third readability index (Flesch index) reveal that only HC and SC are robust based on this measurement, whereas the IC and CC have a negative and significant impact on the readability of auditors’ reports.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to address this issue in emerging markets, and it provides helpful insights for users, analysts and legal institutions regarding IC, which significantly affects audit report readability and tone.

Sharia governance and organizational performance in zakat management organization: evidence from Indonesia

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the impact of sharia governance on organizational performance in zakat management institutions in Indonesia over the period 2017–2021. Design/methodology/approach This study examined 33 zakat management organizations in Indonesia from 2017 through 2021 for 151 observations. Gross allocation ratio and growth of ZIS collection are used as organizational performance measures. The independent variables in this study are board of director size, educational background of the board of directors, sharia supervisory board size, sharia supervisory expertise, supervisory size and management size. Also, the study uses size, age and audit opinion as control variables to help measure the relationship between sharia governance and organizational performance. Findings This study shows that the board of directors and supervisory size positively and significantly affect organizational performance. Then, the educational background of board of directors has a negative and significant effect on organizational performance. In Model 1, sharia supervisory board size has a positive and significant effect on organizational performance, but in Model 2, sharia supervisory board size does not. Meanwhile, sharia supervisory expertise and management board size do not affect organizational performance. Practical implications The findings in this study illustrate the importance of transparency in the zakat management organization. Transparency helps minimize conflicts of interest and information asymmetry in the zakat management organization. In addition, sharia governance mechanism helps regulators and top management to make effective policies to improve and enhance organizational performance. Social implications Sharia governance is essential for zakat management organizations to increase accountability, credibility and public trust and support the practice of zakat management organizations. Originality/value This study discusses sharia governance and organizational performance in socioreligious organizations, especially zakat management organizations, which are still rarely carried out. Thus, this study broadens the insights of sharia governance and highlights the importance of performance appraisal in zakat management organizations.

The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation as Successor to the Supreme Court of the RSFSR: Historical and Legal Aspects

A democratic legal state is featured by a judicial system capable of effectively protecting the interests of citizens and organizations. In historical and legal studies, it is crucial to study how its main institutions were formed and developed. The study seeks to define the peculiarities of the legal and organizational foundations underlying the RSFSR Supreme Court’s creation and its subsequent development in modern Russia. This goal can only be reached by completing the following tasks: – To provide an overview of the historical and legal aspects of the activities of the domestic higher courts; – To describe the legal acts governing the structure of the highest judicial instance, both in the RSFSR and in modern Russia; – To explore how the competencies of the Supreme Court of the RSFSR and the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation have been evolved. This study analyzes the activities of the highest judicial bodies using a structural and functional approach; the historical and legal method and the analysis method are used to determine the scope of the highest courts’ authority and their significance at different stages of development. Through the analysis of the legal framework, a legal assessment is given to the activities of the Supreme Court of the RSFSR, and it is also concluded that the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation is its successor, since both courts in different historical eras were the highest judicial instance, whose function was to supervise lower courts and ensure uniformity of judicial practice.

The Evolution of Privacy Laws in the Digital Age: Challenges and Solutions

The proliferation of digital technology has had a significant impact on individuals' right to privacy; as a result, privacy laws have had to evolve in order to address these new challenges and provide enhanced protection for people's legal rights. the ever-evolving path of privacy legislation in the modern period, which highlights the intricacy at the intersection of data collection, technology, and individual rights. We examine the evolution of privacy regulations via the prism of history, beginning with their beginnings in traditional legal systems and ending with their application in contemporary digital domains. the challenges brought forth by the growing adoption of data-driven technologies such as social media, cutting-edge analytics software, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Data breaches, espionage, the use of automated decision making, and the worldwide nature of data flows are all factors that contribute to these challenges. There is also the conflict that results from the competing interests of individuals and organisations that collect and use their personal information. This conflict can be seen as an additional source of contention.

JUDICIAL ACTIVISM AND METHODS OF INTERPRETATION

A distinct characteristic of the judicial activity of integration courts is that it is aimed not only at resolving legal conflicts, but also at interpreting the law in order to fill the existing gaps. Filling legal gaps may be described as a key function of an integration court. This special characteristic leads to the phenomenon of judicial activism. The study of the case law of integration courts reveals the possibility to formulate activist legal findings using different methods of interpretation. The possibility to use the teleological method of interpretation, which is the most suitable in order to eliminate legal gaps, stems directly from the provisions of the Vienna convention on the law of international treaties. The analysis of the acts of the Court of Justice of the European Union allows to establish a strong correlation between activist approaches and the use of the teleological method of interpretation. However teleological interpretation does not necessarily mean the choice of the most progressive available options. Often the activism manifests itself in the search of a balance between the interests of the integration organization and its Member States. The Court of the Eurasian Economic Union develops activist approaches by using both traditional methods of interpretation and teleological interpretation as well as having recourse to constitutional traditions of the Member States.