Governance Management Research Articles

Assessing open-pit mining impacts on semi-arid grassland: A framework for boundary and intensity quantification

Coal mining in northern China's grasslands faces significant environmental challenges due to the fragile semi-arid ecosystem and the abundance of mineral resources. However, current research lacks clarity in both theoretical understanding and effective quantification of its impacts. Insufficient distinction between direct and indirect environmental effects, the oversight of interactions from neighboring activities, and inaccurate measurements of impact intensity all hinder a comprehensive understanding. These limitations also prevent the precise delineation of ecological protection compensation areas. In this study, we developed a comprehensive framework utilizing Landsat time-series images (1989–2017) and field sampling data (228 sample locations in 2017) to assess the boundaries and intensities of mining impacts. First, the k-means clustering algorithm was applied to identify the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) time-series trajectories and map the spatial information of direct impacts. Then, a buffer zone was established and an amplitude model was proposed for determined the cross-impacts and their intensities based on the volatility of NDVI trajectories. Accordingly, a Trend-thresholds model was proposed to automatically extract the indirect impacts boundary of mining-dominated on vegetation under varying intensities. The Soil Quality Index (SQI) ∼ distance curves were fitted and a derivative model was employed for determine the boundary of indirect impacted on soil. We applied this assess framework in Baorixile coalfield (i.e., Baorixile coal mine (BM), DongMing coal mine (DM), Shunxing coal mine (SX)) a typical semi-arid grassland mining area, and quantified three types of impacts: direct, indirect, and cross-impacts. Findings reveal negative coal mining impacts primarily confined to permitted mining areas and decreasing over time. Direct impacts boundary limited in the mining sites and its impact intensity shows a dual nature, with a negative weakening and a positive strengthening trend. Widespread negative indirect impacts exist outward the mining area displays spatial heterogeneity, and its intensity attenuation with distances. In there, the very severe effect (D1) is predominantly focusing on the grassland where near by the mining work face (BM maximum range 1.2 km, DM maximum range 0.55 km, SX maximum range 0.4 km). Moreover, our study indicated that vegetation and soil exhibited consistent responses to coal mining impacts within 1 km, demonstrating the feasibility of using remote sensing data to qualify the impact boundary on the grassland environment. Besides, we further identify significant cross-impacts surrounding the mining areas, characterized by strong negative effects, particularly in the southeastern region of BM. This research offers valuable insights for effective ecological compensation governance and scientific environmental management in similar global contexts.

Exploring the institutional barriers to rural water management in Ghana

ABSTRACT Framed within policy support for bottom-up community water management in development practice in the global south, this paper explores the institutional barriers that impede effective community management of water infrastructure in water-stressed rural communities in the Upper Manya District and Yilo Krobo Municipality in the Eastern region of Ghana. The study adopted a qualitative research approach, using data collection methods such as in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with local government and community water management committees and participant observation across four communities. The findings revealed that irregular and inadequate monitoring, poor financial auditing and transparency, inadequate technical support, and limited community engagement were the institutional barriers confronting sustainable rural water management. The study argues that in community water management, hybrid models are more likely to work better than models that focus entirely on either top-down or bottom-up approaches since the former can strengthen technical capacity, financial accountability, and the experimentation of infrastructure co-design initiatives. The paper concludes that by addressing institutional lapses in Africa's infrastructural management regimes, rural populations can become part of, rather than left behind, in the global quest to ensure water availability and sustainable water management for all.

The Sustainability of Local Governments—Evidence from the Online Environment in the Slovak Republic

In recent years, sustainability as a concept has become the subject of several scientific debates. Along with the smart city trend, emphasis is also being placed on the sustainability of cities and towns, yet there is a research gap for smaller municipalities where there is no current scope for increasing the level of digitization or implementing smart city practices. Sustainability here has to be achieved differently, in particular through communication and transparency. This issue is addressed in the present research, which examines 116 Slovak municipalities, as well as their strategic documents and online communication with citizens, using a content analysis method. The study aims to provide knowledge about the functioning of online communication in Slovak local governments by answering seven research questions. These are linked to two research hypotheses, which are also evaluated using a statistical test. One of the main findings is that the overall sustainability work in a local government is dependent on its size. Thus, larger local governments are more likely to implement sustainability. It was also found that larger villages and towns use term sustainability more actively in their strategies than the smaller ones. Additionally, more information channels do not always mean better informing about plans and strategies connected to sustainability in local governments. This paper presents the findings from our research, which can contribute to the field of local government research and management by broadening the view on smaller villages and their functioning in terms of online communication with inhabitants.

Governance and Development of Tourism in Rural Areas through the Lens of Media in South Bukovina (Romania)

Agritourism and rural tourism represent an essential growing sector in certain EU regions, particularly in restructured and rebranded Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) like Romania that display important rural areas and face important societal and economic changes. The rapid growth of rural tourism activities in the South Bukovina region (historically overlapping most of Suceava County) led, in the new legislative frame, to the establishment of the first regional Destination Management Organization (DMO) in Romania. By an exploratory qualitative, mixed-method case study approach, this study underscores important factors for tourism development in the region, outlining rural and agritourism variables integrated into the public authorities’ discourse. The paper innovatively focuses on the semantic analysis of online newspaper media texts and videos, complementarily analyzed by appropriate software solutions. The main results emphasize the factors for tourism development in the area through a dual cluster centered around the multilevel governance and tourism management structures represented by public authorities on the one hand and the projects, investments, and EU funding on the other. Key stakeholders’ opinion underscored public–private partnerships, supportive administrative structures, tourism events and various natural and cultural resources as sustainable elements that contribute to the successful development of tourism in the region.

An integrated GRC approach to combating fraud in microloan services

This research aims to reduce fraud risks in Indonesian banks and non-bank financial institutions providing microloan services. The study employs data analytics and machine learning techniques using employee data from Bank X spanning 2017-2019 with samples of 28,004 workers (2017-2018) and 27,274 employees (2019). Confirmatory factor analysis and XGBoost predictive modelling are applied within the fraud triangle framework to identify critical fraud risk indicators related to employee pressure. An algorithmic approach categorizes personnel based on fraud risk ratings enabling the detection of potentially suspicious activities for proactive intervention. The analysis reveals that incorporating data analytics into governance, risk management and compliance (GRC) systems can accurately forecast fraud probability by focusing on factors associated with employee pressure and opportunities. This facilitates targeted fraud prevention solutions by integrating control mechanisms, risk processes and auditing standards. The predictive model provides valuable insights for policymakers to combat fraud by enhancing governance and risk management practices specific to microloans. This research concludes that the predictive model is a pragmatic decision-making tool for banks offering micro-loans. It mitigates dangers by detecting high-risk personnel and transactions. Integrating data analytics with robust GRC frameworks enables financial institutions to uphold integrity through proactive fraud monitoring and targeted preventive interventions tailored to identify risk profiles. The study offers an integrated technological organizational approach to protect microlending activities.

Reconstruction Of Provincial Authority In The Field Of Marine Affairs And Fisheries To Regency/City Governments In Realizing The Welfare Of Small-Scale Fishermen In Indonesia

<em>Horizontal conflicts occurred after the UUPD came into effect because there were regulations regarding changes in marine zoning for small fishing communities. Meanwhile, the authority of the district/city government over coastal areas and small islands has been regulated in the UUPWP3K that the authority of the regional government to manage coastal and small island resources. This study aims to analyze the provisions of laws and regulations on regional government and coastal area management as regulated in the regulations on coastal areas and small islands, and how to reconstruct the authority of the provincial government to the district/city government as before. The research method used is normative legal research. Normative legal research is research that is carried out or directed at legislation, namely the relationship between one regulation and another and its relation to implementation in practice. The results of the study show that since the UUPD came into effect, the authority to manage the marine and fisheries sector as well as coastal areas and small islands by the district/city government has been reduced. The zoning area of 0-4 miles which was originally managed by the district/city government is now managed by the provincial government, thus making the provincial authority zoning 0-12 miles</em>

Sustainability reporting from the preparers’ perspective in locally-owned public enterprises

IMPACT Locally-owned enterprises (LOEs), which are businesses that are wholly owned by a local government, provide services that are required by law on a monopoly basis. Preparers of sustainability reports for LOEs know first hand what information is available, how to calculate the indicators and interpret them. These people can provide a first insight into the challenges, political will and local government management priorities that regulators consider in their sustainability reporting requirements. The views of Spanish LOE preparers, presented in this article, can be used to improve sustainability disclosure practices in other European LOEs. Preparers’ experiences can also be useful for policy-makers in improving legislation in this field.

Leveraging Azure And AWS Advisor Scores for Improved Cloud Governance and Cost Management

Cloud governance and cost management become major concerns when shifting to cloud environments [Figure 1] Because cloud resources are dynamic, frameworks for evaluation and optimization that need the least amount of financial outlay are required. In this sense, cloud resource management has been made easier by built-in tools like Advisor scores, which present a list of recommendations for improved usage, on platforms like AWS and Azure. The finest practices in the areas of security, performance, dependability, and cost efficiency are highlighted by these scores. Furthermore, if a company utilizes these ratings consistently, it can discover opportunities for significant cost savings in addition to improving governance, policy, and regulatory compliance. This paper explores how Azure and AWS Advisor ratings may be used as useful tools to improve cloud governance and simplify cost management. By doing this, it aims to offer a critical perspective on how these technologies could change how organizations optimize their use of cloud resources. These ratings, when combined with governance frameworks, will encourage enterprises to manage cloud resources more proactively and methodically [12]. The organization will maintain compliance with industry standards thanks to this systematic examination, which will lead to unmatched security and dependability as well as cost control. Eventually, the company will be able to safely use AWS and Azure advisor scores to optimize cloud operations, maintaining the cloud's reliability, security, and efficiency while keeping it in line with strategic goals

Conflict and coexistence: analysing the dynamics between traditional leadership and democratic governance in Dukuduku, KwaZulu-Natal

This paper examines the conflicts arising from the coexistence of traditional leadership and democratic local governance in Dukuduku, KwaZulu-Natal, a region marked by overlapping authority and contested land claims. Despite constitutional recognition, traditional leadership in post-apartheid South Africa remains ambiguously defined, leading to clashes with democratically elected structures over roles, responsibilities, and territory. This study uses a qualitative methodology to analyse archival materials, media sources, and meeting records and conducts semi-structured interviews with 25 stakeholders, including traditional leaders, senior citizens, and subsistence farmers. The findings reveal that introducing a local government system under the Amakhosi jurisdiction precipitates confrontations, particularly where duties intersect. In Dukuduku—proclaimed a state forest—the recognition of traditional authority creates disputes over land ownership and governance, complicating the administration of land and impacting service delivery. The analysis suggests that the institutional "invention" and subsequent "recognition" of traditional leadership in areas like Dukuduku not only challenge the perceptions of state land but also exacerbate power struggles, thereby affecting local development and governance. The study contributes to understanding the dynamic interplay between traditional and democratic governance systems in rural South Africa. It highlights the implications for policy and local administration in managing such dual governance structures effectively. This study explains how hard it is to combine traditional structures with a modern democratic framework. It also gives us a better understanding of what this means for rural governance and land management in changing societies.

Corporate strategic aggression and environmental investment decisions: Evidence from A-share listed firms

Corporate strategy greatly influences corporate investment activities. This study seeks to better understand the relationship between the level of corporate strategic aggression and environmental investment decisions based on 2011–2020 data. We find that increasing the intensity of strategic aggression effectively increases environmental investment. Moreover, this effect is incentivized by good corporate environmental, social, and governance performance, innovation ability, and management tone manipulation. Although financing constraints may hinder the positive effects of corporate aggression on environmental investment, independent directors and corporate risk promote maximum positive effects. These findings enable companies to identify strategically motivating factors for improving environmental protection.

The Influence of the Tanah Lot Art and Food Festival on Tourist’ Visiting Interest

Purpose: This research aims to determine the influence of the Tanah Lot Art and Food Festival on tourists' interest in visiting Tanah Lot. Method: This research employs a quantitative approach at the Tanah Lot Tourist Attraction (DTW) in Beraban, Tabanan, over a five-month period (January - May 2024). Data was collected through questionnaires to examine the influence of the Tanah Lot Art and Food Festival on tourists' interest in visiting. Data analysis was conducted using simple linear regression with SPSS. Result: The results indicate that the Tanah Lot Art and Food Festival has a positive and significant impact on tourists' interest in visiting, both partially and simultaneously. Partially, the t-value (5.398) exceeds the t-table value (1.660), and the significance value (0.000) is less than 0.05. Simultaneously, the F-value (12.875) exceeds the F-table value (2.70), and the significance value (0.000) is less than 0.05. The festival contributes 35.2% to the tourists' interest in visiting, while 64.8% is influenced by other variables not examined in the study. Contribution: This research makes significant contributions in several areas. Theoretically, it enhances the literature on the impact of art and food festivals on tourist interest. Practically, the findings offer valuable insights to the management of Tanah Lot Tourist Attraction (DTW) and local government on strategies to boost tourist visits through event organization. Additionally, from a policy perspective, the empirical evidence provided can support the formulation of policies for the development and promotion of event-based tourism

Factors associated with the non-retention of health sector employees recruited in Iran: a survival analysis

BackgroundHealth staff are an essential component of the health system and a significant factor in improving health outcomes. As a result, without a suitable number of trained and supported workforces, health-related goals will not be achieved. As a result, one of the most significant tasks of the government and healthcare human resource management in healthcare organizations is focusing on development and maintenance of personnel.MethodThis study was a longitudinal and historical cohort study. Data was collected on the 40 medical universities and healthcare organizations under the jurisdiction of Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education from 2008 to 2018 from the human resources database. In this study the COX regression and survival analysis was used to assess the factors of staff maintenance, retention rate, and the risk of turnover.Result46,939 health workforces were included in the study, of which 13,328 (28.4%) were men and 33,611 (71.6%) were women. Based on the finding of cox regression model, the retention of staff were statistically different between male and female. Employees whose current work place and birthplace were similar had a significantly higher probability of retention. Accordingly, the cox regression result showed, the risk of employee turnover for single personnel was higher than the married ones.Conclusionan applicable policy for increasing maintenance among workforce recruitment, could be considering the native born professionals instead of non-natives born which reduce the costs of employee turnover, including re-hiring, initial and on-the-job training, housing, and other extra living expenses away from home and family.

Can bike sharing achieve self-balancing distribution? Evidence from dockless and station-based cases

In many cities, bike sharing systems, including station-based bike sharing (SBBS) and dockless bike sharing (DBS), are gaining popularity rapidly. Bike rebalancing is one of the most expensive aspects of bike sharing operations, and it takes several hours. In terms of reducing the inefficiencies of frequent short-term bike rebalancing, whether bike distribution achieves long-term self-balance for one day or even longer periods is a critical issue that has received insufficient attention. This paper aims to provide insights into long-term facility planning by investigating the self-balancing phenomenon of shared bikes. It is evaluated using daily stability analyses from the DBS case in Nanjing, China, and the SBBS case in New York, USA. DBS virtual stations were identified throughout the city, and (virtual) stations can be classified into four categories using various clustering methods. The findings demonstrate that 72% of DBS virtual stations and 81% of SBBS stations can achieve bike self-balancing, with only a few (virtual) stations failing to do so. In terms of non-self-balancing stations, bike-increasing stations are primarily located in the city center, whereas bike-fluctuating stations are primarily found near metro lines. This research can assist bike sharing companies with their daily operations and contribute to government management.

Government Management for Sustainable Economic Development and Innovation

Objective: The objective of this study is to analyze whether efficient and effective government management promotes sustainable economic growth and innovation. It seeks to understand how the income generated through GDP per capita is related to the effectiveness and efficiency with which the government of the State of Nayarit performs. Theoretical Framework: Effective and efficient government management, which uses innovative technologies to improve public administration, is the basis of the research. The relevance of economic diversification for resilience to external events is highlighted, based on the endogenous growth theory, which emphasizes the role of innovation and human capital in economic development. Transparency and citizen participation, which are fundamental for a modern and effective government, are promoted by open government innovation. Method: A non-experimental research of quantitative type was established, in which information was collected on the study variables (Hernández et al., 2014). Subsequently, a correlational type of research was conducted, considering four socioeconomic development indicators of the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness A.C. The research was conducted in Nayarit, Mexico, considering the periods from 2021 to 2023. Subsequently, Spearman's Rho correlation was performed because the Shapiro-Wilk normality test did not meet the normality assumption. Results and Discussion: The findings reveal important relationships and implications in the theory of efficient and effective government administration; first, it shows that improvements in tax collection efficiency are directly related to economic growth and diversification in Nayarit, Mexico. On the other hand, economic growth is driven by internal factors such as investment in human capital and innovation, further suggesting that greater economic complexity can lead to lower own revenues and ultimately to a lack of technological infrastructure or adequate public policies. Implications of the research: The practical and theoretical implications of this study highlight the importance of efficient and strategic government management, the need for economic diversification policies, and the re-evaluation of economic theory in specific contexts. The differences and limitations observed suggest areas for future research and improvements in data collection. Originality/Value: The present research contributes to the line of public administration and economic development, since the results found motivate the generation of sustainable growth and economic diversification policies. The above, adds to the content on state level income and GDP, in this particular case to the state of Nayarit, Mexico.

Effects of consumers’ engagement in pro-environment activities on social media on green consumption behaviour

PurposeBased on the stimuli-organism-response (SOR) theory, the purpose of this study is to demonstrate the impact of consumers’ engagement in pro-environment activities on social media on consumer green consumption behaviour, and explore the explicatory mechanism and boundary conditions for the relationship between them.Design/methodology/approachThis study collected data from 312 Chinese consumers by using the research platform Credamo, a Chinese online survey platform. A structural equation model and hierarchical regression modelling were used to analyse the data.FindingsConsumers’ engagement in pro-environmental activities on social media has a positive influence on environmental awareness that positively affects green consumption behaviour. Environmental awareness plays a mediating role in the relationship between consumers’ engagement in pro-environmental activities on social media and green consumption behaviour. Furthermore, green intrinsic motivation and green extrinsic motivation play positive and negative regulating roles respectively in the relationship between environmental awareness and green consumption behaviour.Originality/valueThis study enriches the research on the antecedent variables of green consumption behaviour. At the same time, it also expands the research on the outcome variables of the impact of engagement in environmental protection activities on people’s subsequent behaviour, deepens and expands the research on green consumption behaviour and its applicable boundaries, offering both theoretical insights and practical implications for enterprise marketing strategies and government management.

E-Government, Proposal of Indicators for Tax Culture with Digital Transformation Support in The Canton of Jipijapa-Ecuador

Technological advancement offers a plethora of benefits, including the potential for novel forms of government management. In recent years, electronic governments have become increasingly relevant due to the numerous advantages they offer, including the convenience of making tax payments and carrying out tax procedures, as well as the opportunities they provide for citizens to actively engage in the decision-making process of a government. Nevertheless, these services are not universally accessible for a number of reasons. The objective of this research is to propose a set of indicators that can contribute to fostering a culture of tax compliance in Canton Jipijapa, Ecuador, through the implementation of an e-government strategy. A procedure that is close to a systemic conception will be applied. To this end, a systemic mapping will be carried out, allowing the proposal of a group of candidate indicators based on the study of the literature. Subsequently, the aforementioned indicators are evaluated by experts within the Ecuadorian context, employing the 2-tuple linguistic model as a methodological approach. The ensuing results facilitate the formulation of actions that foster the tax culture of individuals in Jipijapa Canton, Ecuador, in addition to conducting information surveys that align with the proposed indicators.

Insights from local government managers: Navigating crises through organizational capacities and perceptions

AbstractRecent years have shown that strategic responses to crises by local governments (LGs) depend on the type of crisis, the institutional environment, but also internal capacities and sensemaking processes. However, such relationships have not been tested widely yet. Based on a survey of managers (n = 590) from cities with more than 15,000 inhabitants in France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, this study explores the role played by specific organizational capacities (critical thinking, bricolage, and financial capacities) and crisis perceptions (valence—i.e., threat vs. opportunity; and controllability) in shaping adaptive or regressive response strategies. Results show that these capacities are associated with how LGs' managers perceive crises and the type of responses adopted. Higher financial capacity, bricolage, and critical thinking are associated with stronger sense of organizational controllability, but they have different relationships with threat and opportunity perceptions. The study confirms the importance of distinguishing valence (threat and opportunity) from controllability perceptions.

The Influence of Corruption on Management in Modern Russia

It has been established that the Russian Federation is one of the countries with a high level of corruption. Corruption has affected almost all levels of government. In 2023, its global anti-corruption ranking was very low, ranking 137th between Paraguay and Kyrgyzstan. This fact negatively affected the socio-economic development of modern Russia. The authors sought not only to reveal the reasons for its unprecedented growth over the past two decades, but also to show how corruption slows down the country's economic development, and why Russian anti-corruption policies do not produce real results. Based on factual material, the authors not only show the increase in the scale of corruption, point out significant shortcomings of anti-corruption policies and Russian legislation, but also identify the main ways to improve them for the purpose of further socio-economic development and improvement of public administration. There is a certain connection between the effectiveness of public management and corruption. This study can provide government authorities and management bodies of both Russia and other post-Soviet states, where the level of corruption is also high, with real assistance in improving the forms and methods of anti-corruption policy.

Preface

Mai Trong Nhuan, Nguyen Manh Khai, Vo Le Phu, Chau Nguyen Xuan Quang, Pham Trung Hieu, Doan Quang Tri, Nguyen Thi Hoai Nga (Editors) International Conference on Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mining for Digital Transformation, Green Development and Response to Global Change (GREEN EME 2023) Proceedings of International Conference on Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mining for Digital Transformation, Green Development and Response to Global Change (GREEN EME 2023) Global change, rapid development of science and technology, and the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) create many opportunities and challenges for sustainable development. Vietnam, being one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and natural disasters, is devoting great efforts to achieve sustainable development goals and net zero emissions by 2050 as well as to improve productivity and national competitiveness. In this context, innovation, digital transformation in training, basic and applied research on EME become more urgent than ever for green, circular development and response to global change, sustainable development, prosperity, and safety of the country, the region and the world. The fields of Earth, Mines, and Environmental sciences (EME) have emerged and evolved alongside with the evolution of human society, and have created a profound impact on all aspects of life and socio-economic development through utilizing natural resources, impacting the environment, and driving global change. The robust development of these areas serves as the foundation for various other fundamental and applied sciences, and concurrently acts as a catalyst for technological advancements worldwide, contributing to the common prosperity and safety of humankind as well as the conservation of the blue Earth. The EME with the theme of “Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mining for Digital Transformation, Green Development and Response to Global Change” (GREEN EME 2023) was held in Ho Chi Minh City in December 29, 2023. The GREEN EME 2023 was successfully co-organized by Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City, in collaboration with Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration, the Interdisciplinary Council for Professorship of Earth - Mining Sciences, as well as various research institutes and local and international higher education institutions. The GREEN EME 2023 covers six topics: (i) Big Data and Artificial Intelligence in Earth Sciences, Mines, Environment; (ii) Digital Transformation in Earth, Mining, Environmental Sciences; (iii) Sustainable energy transition for green, renewable (wind power, solar power, gas power, geothermal, garbage electricity, hydrogen, etc.) and low carbon emission technologies; (iv) Circular economy in resource-mineral management and sustainable development; (v) Climate change response and disaster risk reduction; (vi) Solutions to promote innovation in the fields of Earth Science, Mining and Environment to meet the goal of sustainable development. Overall, the Conference has attracted more than 100 papers from scientists, researchers, government managers, and graduate students. Among them, 90 high-quality papers were recommended to submit for peer-reviewing. Then, the double-blind review process was carried out for the 85 papers, in which each paper has been reviewed for its merit and novelty by at least two reviewers and one editor by matching the content areas. As a result, a total of 24 papers have been finally selected to be published in IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. It is strongly believed that this proceedings provides a broad overview of recent advanced studies in the fields of Earth, Mines, and Environmental sciences with a profound impact on all aspects of life and socio-economic development through utilizing natural resources, impacting the environment, and driving global change. List of Editors, International Scientific Committee and Conference Organizing Committee are available in this Pdf.

Turning universities into data-driven organisations: seven dimensions of change

AbstractUniversities are striving to become data-driven organisations, benefitting from data collection, analysis, and various data products, such as business intelligence, learning analytics, personalised recommendations, behavioural nudging, and automation. However, datafication of universities is not an easy process. We empirically explore the struggles and challenges of UK universities in making digital and personal data useful and valuable. We structure our analysis along seven dimensions: the aspirational dimension explores university datafication aims and the challenges of achieving them; the technological dimension explores struggles with digital infrastructure supporting datafication and data quality; the legal dimension includes data privacy, security, vendor management, and new legal complexities that datafication brings; the commercial dimension tackles proprietary data products developed using university data and relations between universities and EdTech companies; the organisational dimension discusses data governance and institutional management relevant to datafication; the ideological dimension explores ideas about data value and the paradoxes that emerge between these ideas and university practices; and the existential dimension considers how datafication changes the core functioning of universities as social institutions.