Management Policies Research Articles

Managerialist policies in educational management in the context of an educational quasi-market: manage change or change management?

Resumen El artículo reflexiona sobre las políticas gerencialistas y su rol como eje central en la gestión educativa. La tesis sostiene que dichas políticas han consolidado un sistema capaz de modificar e imponer cambios en el quehacer de las instituciones y los actores educativos. El escrito se enfoca desde dos argumentos: el primero ubica a las políticas gerencialistas como una nueva forma de ejercer control y regulación a través de la validación de mecanismos basados en la descentralización, estandarización, privatización y rendición de cuentas. El segundo argumento sustentado en la distorsión de las prácticas pedagógicas, subordinación y desprofesionalización del trabajo docente, como consecuencia del discurso de la calidad y la efectividad. La reflexión pretende contribuir al debate teórico sobre las políticas gerencialistas y su rol en el fortalecimiento de una visión instrumental de la Educación basada en los resultados académicos como sinónimos de calidad y sus implicancias en el quehacer docente.

Filipino migrant worker organisations, social capital and disaster resilience: An Aotearoa-New Zealand case study

There is increasing evidence that access to social capital, and particularly linking capital can significantly enhance the resilience of minoritized and vulnerable communities impacted by disasters. Understanding levels and types of access to social capital within such communities before disasters occur is an important part of disaster risk management policy and planning. Migrant worker communities, however, remain an understudied group in general, and there are very few published findings concerned with the 3.5 million Filipino migrant workers who primarily live in high-income host countries. This article contributes to addressing this gap with an Aotearoa-New Zealand qualitative case study that aims to increase understanding of the social capital accessed pre-disaster by members of Filipino migrant worker organisations in the Canterbury region. Interview and focus group data indicated that worker organisations facilitated access to local Filipino migrant worker networks, contributing to consistently high reliance on bonding capital, but less access to bridging or linking capital. This trend is linked to the precarious immigration status afforded by temporary work visas, which increased the vulnerability of participants. Only one organisation provided access to the linking capital required to mitigate this vulnerability. Factors influencing the capacity of organisations to develop linking capital appeared to include establishment objectives, length of time since establishment and support from government and industry groups. These findings emphasize the valuable role that migrant worker organisations can play in mitigating disaster risks, through providing connections that facilitate support and resourcing from authorities and industry bodies.

Community-based assessment of the dynamics of urban landscape characteristics and ecosystem services in the rainforest and guinea savanna ecoregions of Nigeria

Understanding the dynamics of urban landscapes and their impacts on ecological well-being is crucial for developing sustainable urban management strategies in times of rapid urbanisation. This study assesses the nature and drivers of the changing urban landscape and ecosystem services in cities located in the rainforest (Akure and Owerri) and guinea savannah (Makurdi and Minna) of Nigeria using a combination of remote sensing and socioeconomic techniques. Landsat 8 datasets provided spatial patterns of the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) and normalised difference built-up index (NDBI). A household survey involving the administration of a semi-structured questionnaire to 1552 participants was conducted. Diminishing NDVI and increasing NDBI were observed due to the rising trend of urban expansion, corroborating the perception of over 54% of the respondents who noted a decline in landscape ecological health. Residential expansion, agricultural practices, transport and infrastructural development, and fuelwood production were recognised as the principal drivers of landscape changes. Climate variability/change reportedly makes a 28.5%–34.4% (Negelkerke R2) contribution to the changing status of natural landscapes in Akure and Makurdi as modelled by multinomial logistic regression, while population growth/in-migration and economic activities reportedly account for 19.9%–36.3% in Owerri and Minna. Consequently, ecosystem services were perceived to have declined in their potential to regulate air and water pollution, reduce soil erosion and flooding, and mitigate urban heat stress, with a corresponding reduction in access to social services. We recommend that urban residents be integrated into management policies geared towards effectively developing and enforcing urban planning regulations, promoting urban afforestation, and establishing sustainable waste management systems.

Integration of Acoustic Metamaterials Made of Plastic to Improve Building Acoustics

According to the Waste Management Policy of the European Union, the recycling and reuse of various wastes is considered the most environmentally friendly and advanced waste disposal technology that has the least impact on the environment. By applying the principles of the Circular Economy, plastic waste will extend its life cycle and will be used as secondary materials to create metamaterial structures with improved sound absorption and insulation properties. Acoustic metamaterial resonators, created from plastic, were measured in an impedance tube according to standards ISO 10534-2 for their sound absorbing and ASTM E2611 for their insulating properties. Two types of plastic, PLA and recycled PET-G, were used in acoustic metamaterial 3D printing process. Sound absorption of both PLA and PET-G metamaterials were peaking at 1600 Hz with 0,93 and 0,89 sound absorption coefficient, respectfully. For sound insulation, combined resonator systems were used to control symmetrical wall sound resonance. The aim of this study was to determine plastic potential for use in acoustic structures. The results showed that combined constructions with plastic metamaterials can be integrated into building structures and used as an alternative for improving building acoustics, reducing indoor noise and reverberation time.

Another market segment: sport event tourism by disabled athletes

Sports and tourism are connected in various parts of economies, cultures, and nations. However, there has been a limited understanding of sports event tourism involving disabled athletes. This study explored the behavioral and socio-demographic implications of the disabled sports event tourism and investigated the motivational factors involved. An in-person survey was administered to 108 disabled athletes who attended the summer and winter Paralympics. A Structural Equation Model was used to determine the association between the factors of life satisfaction, emotional happiness, escapism, perceived value, and future intention, using the Monte Carlo parametric bootstrapping method to test significance of direct and indirect effects. Cronbach was acceptable because it exceeds 0.70 which satisfies the cut-off of confirmatory factor analysis. In addition, the individual values of average variance extracted (AVE), were greater than 0.50 (0.72) which meets the requirement and the convergent validity of all the constructs. The results showed that life satisfaction had a significant direct effect on future intentions. Emotional happiness had a significant direct effect on the perceived value of an event. Escapism had significant direct effects on perceived value and future intentions. Perceived value significantly influenced future intentions. The relationship between emotional happiness and future intention was fully mediated by perceived value. However, the relationship between escapism and future intention was only partially mediated by perceived value. The results of this study are valuable for developing future management and marketing policies for disabled athletes and tourists to advance the existing sports event tourism and disabled athlete’s behavior studies.

Public preferences for coastal adaptation: Economic evidence from a discrete choice experiment for hard structures and nature-based solutions in Miami, Florida

Coastal communities are under pressure to adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change and environmental degradation. One strategy to achieve adaptation goals is to deploy hard structures and nature-based solutions that can help reduce damages from flooding, storm surge, and sea level rise in coastal areas. Understanding how local communities perceive and value these measures helps local authorities follow strategies that not only increase efficiency, but also garner public support. In this paper, we used Miami-Dade County as a case study to establish public preferences and trade-offs across hard structures and nature-based solutions and their physical characteristics to address coastal risk reduction: specifically, seawalls and mangroves. By applying a discrete choice experiment, we showed that respondents are generally in favor of deploying any coastal measures, with a higher willingness-to-pay for nature-based solutions over hard structures. We also found that the same respondents identify the length of protected coastline as a valuable feature of these coastal measures. Our findings inform ongoing plans and policies for coastal adaptation, particularly the deployment of nature-based solutions, and also illustrate the importance of including public input in the decision-making process of coastal management policy.

A Review of Leaf-Level Flammability Traits in Eucalypt Trees

With more frequent and intense fires expected under future climate conditions, it is important to understand the mechanisms that control flammability in Australian forests. We followed a systematic review approach to determine which physical traits make eucalypts leaves more or less flammable. Specifically, we reviewed 20 studies that covered 35 eucalypt species across five countries and found that leaf water content, leaf area (LA), and specific leaf area (SLA) are the main drivers of leaf flammability. These traits are easy and straightforward to measure, while more laborious traits (e.g., volatile organic compounds and structural carbohydrates) are seldom measured and reported. Leaf flammability also varies with species, and, while the biochemistry plays a role in how leaves burn, it plays a minor role in fire behaviour at landscape scales. This review highlights the range of different protocols used to measure flammability and leaf water content, warranting caution when comparing traits and results between studies. As a result, we propose a standardised protocol to measure leaf water content and advocate for long-term measurements of leaf traits and flammability. This study not only contributes to the understanding of how and why eucalypt leaves burn but also encourages research into the relative importance of traits in influencing flammability and provides a guide for selecting traits that can be monitored using satellite images to inform fire management policies and strategies.

Couples traveling together and long-haul truckers’ transport performance: A theory-based empirical test

As the core force in logistics transportation, long-haul truck drivers profoundly impact the global economy. However, the monotonous and demanding nature of the transport task often results in truck drivers neglecting their health and well-being, and the resulting issues of psychological safety and fatigue pose a significant challenge to truck drivers’ transport performance. Couples traveling together as a strategy can increase driver-family interactions and significantly improve driver transport performance. However, there is a gap in research on the specific pathways of the effects of traveling together as a couple on truck drivers’ transport performance. This study combined perceived risk theory, conservation of resources theory, and job demand-resource theory with structural equation modeling to investigate 167 long-haul truck drivers from China. The comprehensive evaluation found that, under the mediating role of psychological capital and job burnout, couples traveling together can reduce the perceived health, financial, social, and performance risks of long-haul truck drivers, thereby increasing the psychological capital of long-haul truck drivers, reducing job burnout, and ultimately improving transportation performance. This study reveals the jurisprudential relationship between truck driver couples traveling together and transport performance. This study also provides useful insights for transportation companies and government departments to formulate business strategies and management policies for truck driver couples traveling together.

Study on the Impact of Information Technology on Chinese Language Teaching

With the rapid development of information technology, its application in the field of education is becoming more and more widespread, especially in Chinese language teaching. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of information technology on Chinese language teaching and learning, and to analyse the current status of its application in terms of teaching mode, teaching resources, and teachers' roles, as well as the impact of these applications on teaching effectiveness and learners' development. The paper finds that the application of information technology can enhance teaching effectiveness, meet learners' individual needs, and promote educational equity and universality. However, it also faces challenges such as uneven development of technology, cyber security, and allocation of educational resources. Therefore, this paper proposes corresponding coping strategies, including strengthening teachers' IT training, optimising education management policies, and reforming the education evaluation system. The concluding section summarises the positive changes brought by information technology to Chinese language teaching and points out the important directions for future research and development.

Exploration of the Challenges of COVID-19 from the Perspective of Emergency Medicine Specialists

Background. Emergency physicians are at the forefront of the medical system in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. Identifying the challenges, along with the strategies and effective measures implemented by them in the face of the COVID-19 crisis, can be a roadmap for future crisis management planning. This study aims to explain the challenges faced by emergency physicians regarding COVID-19. Methods. This study is a qualitative content analysis. Data were collected using individual and semistructured interviews. Twenty-seven emergency medical specialists in Fars University of Medical Sciences, Iran, participated in the study by purposive sampling method and were interviewed using semistructured interviews. Results. Participants’ experience of COVID-19 led to the extraction of four main themes, including structural factors, threats to the health of the medical team, fluctuations of extremism and wastage in the face of COVID-19, and the country’s policymaking hierarchy. Conclusions. Emergency physicians face challenges such as structural factors, health threats, extreme fluctuations, and national policymaking. To avoid surprises and threats, they must predict acute scenarios, provide necessary equipment, address skilled manpower shortages, and adopt appropriate management policies. This includes culture-building, cross-sector coordination, planning, and efficient management to prevent virus spread.

Natural resources, trade and fintech in the era of digitalization: A study of economies involved in Belt and Road Initiative

The present study aims to elucidate the impact of digitalization, fintech, trade, and industrial growth on natural resource consumption in emerging economies within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries. Employing the Cross-sectional Augmented Autoregressive Distributed Lag (CS-ARDL) method to mitigate Cross-sectional Dependence (CD) and heterogeneity in slope parameters across panels, this study investigates the previously mentioned relationship. Meticulously selecting panel data from twenty-four emerging countries spanning from 1995 to 2021 in the BRI region, the study offers a robust analysis. The findings of this study reveal the positive impact of digitalization on natural resources, as the proliferation of digital devices, data centers, and internet connectivity contributes to higher energy demands, surging the use of natural resources like fossil fuels and electricity. However, the negative impact of fintech on natural resource consumption shows the adoption of energy-efficient technologies, implementation of e-waste management policies, and advocacy for renewable energy addition in energy system. The result shows trade can reduce pressure on natural resources and endorses that BRI can improve trade activities in the member countries, however, actions such as emphasizing green technology adoption, allocating funds for conservation, promoting sustainable resource management, and investing in resource-efficient production, may contribute positively to preserving natural resources in the member nations. Thus comprehensive approach encompassing trade, industrial growth, and the promotion of financial technologies, collectively could strengthen sustainable resource management efforts in the BRI economies.

Evaluation, mechanism and policy implications of the symbiotic relationship among rural digitization, agricultural development and farmer enrichment: evidence from digital village pilots in China

Digitization is becoming the key to achieving rural revitalization, and there is a complex inter-active relationship with farmer enrichment, and agriculture development, making it highly valued by governments around the world. Quantitatively evaluating the symbiotic relationship between rural digitization, farmer enrichment, and agricultural development, and reveal the driving mechanism behind them, which can provide evidence for the rural government, agricultural enterprises, and relevant stakeholders. This paper conducts an empirical study of 84 digital village national pilots in China based on coupling coordination model and geographically weighted regression, with focus on the spatial characteristics, symbiotic relationship and driving mechanisms of the pilots. The symbiotic relationship between rural digitization, farmer enrichment, and agriculture development has significant heterogeneity, with most of the pilots in coordination state. The driving mechanism of rural digitization, farmer enrichment, agriculture development, and symbiotic relationship were complicated, with significant heterogeneity and synergy in the driving forces of different factors, and special attention should be paid to spatial effects (the nature and intensity of regression coefficients in local regions) in the policy design and implementation. It is worth noting that population aging mainly plays a negative role, while industrialization, government support, resident capacity plays a positive role. The other factors play both positive and negative roles. Income gap between urban and rural residents, population aged 65 and above, financial self-sufficiency are the most critical factors. We suggest developing differentiated management policy, accurate management policy, and integrated management policy, which can provide a basis for digital village and smart village planning, construction and management in China. In view of the significant differences in rural digitalization and its driving mechanisms in different pilots as shown in the study, it is necessary to design differentiated spatial policies according to local conditions, to design accurate management policies based on the driving effects of key single factors, and to design integrated development policies by taking into account the interactive effects of multiple factors.

The Impact of Monetary Policies on the U.S. Financial Crisis

This paper examines the role of monetary policy in addressing economic crises by analyzing four significant events in U.S. history: Great depression, stagflation in 1970-198, the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19. The monetary policy in the country's economic management has been highlighted in order to resist the decline in financial activity, inflation, large-scale unemployment, and economic recession. History evaluation of policy responses and the results can be employed to assess the efficacy of monetary measures, such as quantitative easing and interest rate adjustments, in achieving financial stability and economic recovery. Nevertheless, this paper points out that it is paramount for the monetary policy adjustment to different economic conditions, and stresses that financial supervision should have the power to avoid speculative activities and guarantee the stability of financial system. The outcomes contribute to deeper knowledge of monetary policy as a tool in managing the crises and provide valuable insights for the policymakers for strategy formulation in future challenges.

The Role of Monetary Policy During the Financial Crises

This study delves into the pivotal role of monetary policy in navigating through a spectrum of financial crises, spanning from the tumultuous Great Depression era to the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. By meticulously assessing the efficacy of monetary interventions, this paper endeavors to furnish a thorough historical investigation, elucidating the dynamic evolution of monetary policies as quintessential instruments for crisis mitigation. Employing a comparative approach through case studies, it discerns recurring patterns and discerns nuanced implications crucial for informing future monetary policy frameworks. Emphasis is placed on distilling invaluable lessons from past crises, thereby underlining the imperative for policymakers to glean insights from historical precedent in crafting robust strategies to navigate the complexities of contemporary financial landscapes. Ultimately, this research aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of monetary policy in crisis management and provide guidance for policymakers in effectively deploying monetary tools in response to future economic challenges.

Assessment of plant biodiversity in tropical dry forests of Sialkot, Pakistan; insight into environmental, anthropogenic influence and conservation strategies

The tropical dry forests (TDF) have an enormously rich flora and fauna that offer various ecological services to the surrounding human societies. Biodiversity assessment is mandatory for implementing any sustainable forest management policy, which is why it is one of the important criteria and indicators currently used. Threats to TDF biodiversity are the primary challenges arising from environmental concerns caused by anthropogenic activity leading to global warming issues. The study aimed to investigate the vegetation assessment and several environmental and anthropogenic variables influencing forest biodiversity from 5 threatened forest sites of District Sialkot (Ghalotian, Kishan Garh, Daburgi Chanda Singh, Pir Kot, and Ghulab Garh), Pakistan. We collected 170 distinct plant species, including 135 dicots, 27 monocots, seven pteridophytes, and one bryophyte, categorized into 138 genera and 62 families, divided into 114 herbs, 32 trees, and 24 shrubs. The phytosociological analysis described the quantitative characteristics, including % frequency, % density, % cover, and importance Value Index (IVI) of all forest areas. Gulab Garh forest has the richest biodiversity forest area, and herbs are the dominant species that have been documented. Environmental factors such as temperature, precipitation, organic matter, soil pH, Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+, Cl−, and electric conductivity (EC) strongly affect forest vegetation investigated by principal coordinate analysis. Shannon and Simpson’s diversity indexes reveal that all sites contain loamy and sandy soil and display a significant relationship between alpha diversity and richness. Increasing trends in temperature and decreasing trends in rainfall suggested that climate significantly affects the Sialkot region’s plant biodiversity. SWOT analysis highlighted that population growth leads to increasing anthropogenic activities such as constructing housing societies and roads, inadequate farming, and excessive grazing, impacting the forest vegetation and altering TDF ecosystem properties/services and functioning. Our findings reinforce the vegetational assessment and importance of local forest biodiversity and significant environmental drivers that influence the plant species diversity in TDF areas. Future conservation strategies are suggested to reduce unlawful resource consumption, restore plant biodiversity in designated protected areas, and conserve rare species locally.

Spatiotemporal Expansion of Algal Blooms in Coastal China Seas.

The coastal seas of China are increasingly threatened by algal blooms, yet their comprehensive spatiotemporal mapping and understanding of underlying drivers remain challenging due to high turbidity and heterogeneous water conditions. We developed a singular value decomposition-based algorithm to map these blooms using two decades of MODIS-Aqua satellite data, spanning from 2003 to 2022. Our findings indicate significant algal activity along the Chinese coastline, impacting an average annual area of approximately 1.8 × 105 km2. The blooms exhibit peak intensity in August, while the maximum affected area occurs in September, featuring multifrequency outbreaks in spring, and pronounced large-scale events in summer and autumn. Notably, our analysis demonstrates a robust 67% increase in bloom occurrences over the study period. This expansion is primarily attributed to increased nutrient inflow from terrestrial sources linked to human activity and precipitation, compounded by rising global sea surface temperatures. These spatiotemporal insights are critical for devising effective management strategies and policies to mitigate the impacts of algal blooms.

Balanceando el nitrógeno en la portera del predio

Uruguay's dairy can potentially enhance milk productivity competitively, but intensification risks elevating nitrogen (N) surplus, heightening environmental concerns. This study quantified farm-gate N inputs and outputs, calculating N surplus (input-output) and N use efficiency (NUE=output/input) for 17 commercial modal dairy systems identified in the 2014 and 2019 national surveys and 6 prospective intensified systems based on experimental pastoral farmlets achieving near-maximal rainfed productivity. Current dairy systems maintained N surplus at 71 kg N ha-1 between 2014 and 2019 (range: 44-97 kg N ha-1) while improving NUE from 28.3 to 30.5% (range: 20-35%). Intensification increased N surplus without necessarily reducing NUE. Our analyses highlight three aspects: (i) comparatively low N surplus of current Uruguayan dairy, (ii) nonlinear links between N surplus and stocking rate, feed intake, milk productivity and operating profit, and (iii) inequality between dairy systems in their contribution to national dairy N surplus reflects mainly disparity in farm size. These insights underscore the crucial need for understanding the actual fate of N surpluses: nitrate leaching, ammonia volatilisation, N2 denitrification, or N accumulation in soil organic matter. This is an unavoidable requisite for designing management practices and policies able to effectively optimise the economic and environmental sustainability of Uruguayan dairy.

Promoting Community Enterprises in Thailand: Challenges and Opportunities

Objective: The study examines how policy implementation, policy network management, and capacity building can help promote community enterprises in Thailand. Theoretical Framework: A theoretical approach has been used in this study. Concepts such as Small and Micro Community Enterprise Policies, Policy Networks, Policy Implementation, and Community Enterprise Management Potential have been considered. Method: This qualitative study examined how policy implementation, policy network management, and capacity building can help promote community enterprises in Thailand. Several government agencies and community enterprises were interviewed for the research. While community enterprise promotion policies are widely supported, there are challenges in tailoring them to local contexts and ensuring effective collaboration among stakeholders. Bottom-up and context-sensitive policymaking is needed, as well as stronger interorganizational coordination and data sharing mechanisms. Results and Discussion: The research highlights the importance of tailoring policies to local contexts, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and addressing capacity building needs in a comprehensive manner to promote the success of community enterprises in Thailand. The findings offer guidance for policymakers and practitioners while also suggesting areas for further research to deepen understanding and inform future interventions. Research Implications: This study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of what it takes to promote community enterprises in Thailand and offers valuable guidance for policymakers and practitioners working to support community-based entrepreneurship. The findings underscore the importance of context-sensitive policies, strong collaboration among stakeholders, and a holistic approach to capacity building. Originality/Value: The study contributes to a nuanced understanding of what shapes community enterprise success in Thailand. This report offers policymakers and practitioners valuable insights into creating an enabling environment for community-based entrepreneurship.

Generalized overview infographic: a customizable library instructional material on the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy

Generalized overview infographic: a customizable library instructional material on the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy

Does the European Union need a ‘Drought Directive’? A legal perspective

With global warming progressing, droughts are anticipated to increase in frequency in the European Union. However, under the current EU legal framework, they remain on the margin of water management policies. To adapt to changing natural conditions, the Member States should take a more proactive approach to drought mitigation. The policy options on how to accelerate such a transition encompass the continuation of reliance on soft-law guidances, the amendment of the Water Framework Directive or the adoption of a ‘European Drought Directive’ – a new, up-to-date, all-encompassing legal instrument. This paper analyses those policy options from a legal perspective. It also exposes problems and benefits they can bring if and when pursued. As the Water Framework Directive remains ‘fit for purpose’, the priority shall be given to updating existing soft-law guidances and their translation into all official EU languages. However, there are strong arguments in favour of future legislative reform. This paper submits that a more proactive approach would conform more fully to EU primary law. Nevertheless, irrespective of the chosen policy option, coordination of drought mitigation and measures under existing EU water legislation at the river basin district level must be ensured.