Diverse Policy Research Articles

Ethical Dilemmas in African Human Resource Management: A Literature Review

In the African context, the management of human resources (HR) involves the navigation of intricate ethical issues influenced by a myriad of social, cultural and economic factors. This study, based on systematic literature review, scrutinized ethical dilemmas in Human Resources Management in Africa. Specifically, the study assessed the areas within HR practices that are predisposed to unethical conduct and identified the core ethical issues prevalent in organizations, thereby giving rise to ethical dilemmas. The study utilized a systematic qualitative synthesis, employing the nomothetic-based content analysis, to scrutinize data extracted from 65 journal articles. The findings delineate two primary domains in which HR practices are susceptible to unethical conduct. The first is the management of core HR functions, such as recruitment, performance appraisal and remuneration, which are vulnerable to unethical practices like favoritism and corruption. The second domain involves balancing the often-conflicting interests of employers and employees. Four primary ethical issues emerged as significant sources of dilemmas: bribery and corruption, misconduct (physical, verbal, and sexual), nepotism and discrimination. These challenges suggest a pressing need for transparent, merit-based recruitment processes and regular ethics training HR professionals to navigate the complex landscape of organizational and employee interests. Implementing gender and diversity policies is crucial in addressing discrimination based on gender, ethnicity or disability. Additionally, establishing robust whistle-blowing mechanisms can enable employees to report unethical conduct confidentially, thereby strengthening organizational integrity and fostering a more inclusive professional environment. Comprehensive ethical frameworks will not only mitigate dilemmas but also enhance the overall credibility and effectiveness of HRM practices in the African context.

Economic shocks and employment shifts across industrial sectors in English regions

This paper examines changes in employment and job allocation across various industrial sectors in English regions over the years 2009–2021. The aim is to investigate regional resilience by analysing the impact of economic shocks on the make-up and productivity of English regions via dynamic shift-share analysis. The evidence reveals that employment in key industries across English regions remained largely unaffected by economic shocks, also due to the COVID-19 pandemic which prevented occupational shifts through furloughing and essential worker selection. But we also find that while comparative lack of specialisation insulated many English regions from the more damaging aspects of exogenous shocks, the resulting economic turmoil in these regions impacted key sectors differently. The findings contribute to our understanding of regional economic resilience and how it is influenced by industrial diversity, productivity, and economic policy.

Diversity Audit at Starbucks: Assessment of Workforce Demography, Inclusion Initiatives, and Corporate Culture

The main goal of this diversity audit is to evaluate Starbucks’ present diversity and inclusion programs for efficacy. This audit evaluates organizational policies, worker satisfaction, workforce inclusionary practices, and the results of diversity programs at two Starbucks locations. The audit uses a mixed-methods approach, combining the analysis of publicly available data and direct observational studies, in South Florida locations, to provide a comprehensive knowledge of Starbucks’ diversity policy. The findings demonstrate a noteworthy level of gender diversity and highlight areas in which minority representation in senior management roles needs to be strengthened. Creating employee resource groups, stepping up diversity training, using targeted recruitment techniques, and conducting frequent diversity audits to guarantee ongoing improvement are just a few of the recommendations. The paper provides actionable insights to help firms like Starbucks maintain a competitive edge in a diversified global market and enhance their inclusivity. The advancement of an inclusive culture that recognizes and benefits from diversity at all organizational levels depends on many measures that are tracked and improved consistently. By implementing practical suggestions, modern organizations can ensure that their diversity initiatives stay relevant and successful, upholding their standing as pioneers in corporate diversity programs. In addition to assisting Starbucks in navigating a challenging international market, a proactive commitment to diversity and inclusion will help create a more just society. In a culturally diverse work environment, a diversity audit is a crucial tool for corporations to assess and improve their workforce equity, accessibility to everyone, and inclusivity. By conducting a thorough review of existing policies, practices, and employee experiences, diversity audits help identify biases, barriers, and areas for growth before any costly lawsuits surface. This process enables companies to pinpoint disparities in hiring, promotion, and retention rates, as well as uncover hidden biases in decision-making processes. With audit findings, corporations can develop targeted strategies to foster a more inclusive culture, enhance employee engagement, and boost innovation. Ultimately, a diversity audit helps organizations ensure fairness, equity, and equal opportunities for all prospects and employees, thereby leading to increased productivity, better brand reputation, and a competitive advantage in both attracting and retaining diverse top talent for the firm.

Diverse Controllable Diffusion Policy With Signal Temporal Logic

Diverse Controllable Diffusion Policy With Signal Temporal Logic

Choice of financial audit firm and ESG assurance firm: The role of board of director characteristics

Corporations increasingly seek assurance on their published environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reports. Some companies use their audit firm to assure ESG reports, while others seek assurance services from a different firm. This paper investigates the influence of boardroom-based factors – female directors and multiple directorships – on companies' choice of ESG assurance provider. Using a sample of 438 Australian company-year observations from 2010 to 2020 we find that companies with more female directors and busy boards (i.e., boards with directors having at least three concurrent directorships) are more likely to choose a Big-4 audit firm different from their incumbent financial auditor to assure their ESG reports. Based on agency, social capital and resource dependence theories, we explain this ESG assurance procurement strategy as deliberate to address the potential ethical dilemma of engaging the same audit firm for assurance of financial and non-financial information. Our findings suggest that companies with more female directors and busy boards are likelier than their counterparts to apply this ethical stance in choosing their financial auditors and ESG assurers. Implications for policymakers and regulators in designing board diversity guidelines or rules and companies in setting board diversity criteria and policies are discussed.

The Promise and Perils of Diversity Action Plans for Clinical Trials

This Viewpoint discusses the US Food and Drug Administration’s authority to require drug and device sponsors to submit diversity action plans and policy gaps that limit the organization’s ability to achieve demographic representation in clinical trials.

Implementing B-BBEE: Leader Experiences in the South African Banking Industry

Orientation: Large banking institutions in South Africa remain complex organisations facing a myriad of challenges as they navigate the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR) and strive to remain relevant. A significant challenge relates to how these organisations can utilise Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) to create diverse and inclusive teams for organisational success and sustainability.Research purpose: To explore the experiences and sense-making processes of senior leaders tasked with the implementation of affirmative action as part of a B-BBEE strategy as they navigate this responsibility within a South African bank.Motivation for the study: To shine on the complex experiences of senior leaders tasked with implementing affirmative action within a B-BBEE strategy in a large financial institution.Research approach/design and method: A qualitative interpretivist case study was applied to explore senior leaders’ negotiation of their perceptions and experiences of leading the implementation of B-BBEE in a large bank. Ten semi-structured interviews were utilised as the main data generation tool.Main findings: Study reveals how senior leaders hold strong convictions about the value of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This included the continued necessity for legislation such as B-BBEE given South Africa’s racial history and existing personal biases that impact workplace diversity and inclusion. The study further reveals that senior leaders believe that B-BBEE is poorly implemented and attribute this to the tension leaders experience between diversity and performance, a lack of organisational policies and practices required to hold leaders accountable for B-BBEE implementation and leaders who lack the skills and expertise required to successfully create diverse and inclusive work environments.Practical/managerial implications: Positive contributions to diversity and inclusion policies and practices, leadership development and transformation of the banking organisations in South Africa and the industry at large.Contribution/value-add: Banking institutions as large market players can play a significant role in leading workplace transformation through improved implementation of diversity and inclusion legislation and principles within B-BBEE.

Glancing back and looking forward: The role of education policy in creating pathways to the workforce for Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers

The Handbook of Research on Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers charts the landscape of the educator diversity research base by focusing on 11 domains of inquiry. Policy, one of the domains of inquiry in the Handbook, is instrumental for advancing educator diversity. This paper is anchored in the lessons from the policy domain, and extends this scholarship by briefly synthesizing the historical origins of educator diversity policies, and examining present-day manifestations of these efforts in the sociopolitical context of state and federal level policy trends. The manuscript concludes with a set of policy recommendations.

The impact of long-term care insurance on the utilization of inpatient service: Evidence and mechanisms in China.

This paper empirically investigates the impact of public long-term care insurance (LTCI) on the utilization of inpatient services and associated expenditures among disabled Chinese individuals, using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study from 2011 to 2018. Employing a staggered difference-in-difference approach within a propensity score matching framework (PSM-DID), the study finds that the introduction of LTCI significantly reduces the likelihood of inpatient service usage by 4.2%, the annual number of inpatient admissions by 10.2%, the annual inpatient cost by 16.2%, the out-of-pocket expenses by 20.7%, and the reimbursement expenditure by the public medical insurer by 9.9%. The study further explores the mechanisms underlying these effects and identifies that the Substitution Effect, where care services in community healthcare centers and nursing homes replace hospitalizations, outweighs the Income Effect generated by LTCI benefits. By leveraging the quasi-natural experimental setting of diverse LTCI policies across cities, the study also examines the heterogeneous impacts of LTCI based on household income, eligibility criteria, and reimbursement methods. The findings underscore the positive role of LTCI in controlling medical expenses and alleviating congestion in urban hospitals, offering valuable insights for promoting "Healthy Aging".

Economic inclusion and ethnonational exclusion of Arabs in Israeli higher education: two tales of one policy

ABSTRACT Higher education systems worldwide strive for diversity, equity, and inclusion. However, policies meant to support these values often – intentionally or not – construct new forms of labeling, discrimination, and exclusion. This study examines this dynamic through the case of access and participation plans for Arabs in Israeli higher education. An analysis of citizenship discourses used throughout the policy narrative is applied to state policy documents and interviews with policymakers and implementors. The analysis reveals two narratives describing a single policy: a ‘shared interests’ narrative focused on economic development and growth, and a ‘balancing tradeoffs’ narrative balancing economy and security. These narratives help identify the policy as a ‘multiple diversity regime’ with social, economic, civic, and ethnonational dimensions. Diversity, equity, and inclusion values are promoted through social, economic, and civic convergence, while labeling, discrimination, and exclusion arise through economic and ethnonational convergence. This study contributes to higher education research by accounting for the complex and multi-dimensional dynamic of diversity policies, especially in deeply divided societies. It calls for higher education systems and institutions to take on a more comprehensive approach, going beyond the social and economic dimensions of diversity, to pursue substantial ethnic and national equity and inclusion.

Towards Activating the Policy of Economic Diversification in Algeria

Towards Activating the Policy of Economic Diversification in Algeria

Discovering and Exploiting Sparse Rewards in a Learned Behavior Space.

Learning optimal policies in sparse rewards settings is difficult as the learning agent has little to no feedback on the quality of its actions. In these situations, a good strategy is to focus on exploration, hopefully leading to the discovery of a reward signal to improve on. A learning algorithm capable of dealing with this kind of setting has to be able to (1) explore possible agent behaviors and (2) exploit any possible discovered reward. Exploration algorithms have been proposed that require the definition of a low-dimension behavior space, in which the behavior generated by the agent's policy can be represented. The need to design a priori this space such that it is worth exploring is a major limitation of these algorithms. In this work, we introduce STAX, an algorithm designed to learn a behavior space on-the-fly and to explore it while optimizing any reward discovered (see Figure 1). It does so by separating the exploration and learning of the behavior space from the exploitation of the reward through an alternating two-step process. In the first step, STAX builds a repertoire of diverse policies while learning a low-dimensional representation of the high-dimensional observations generated during the policies evaluation. In the exploitation step, emitters optimize the performance of the discovered rewarding solutions. Experiments conducted on three different sparse reward environments show that STAX performs comparably to existing baselines while requiring much less prior information about the task as it autonomously builds the behavior space it explores.

The spatiotemporal analysis of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in China since the termination of the dynamic zero-COVID policy

China's dynamic zero-COVID policy has effectively curbed the spread of SARS-CoV-2, while inadvertently creating immunity gaps within its population. Subsequent surges in COVID-19 cases linked to various SARS-CoV-2 lineages post-policy termination necessitate a thorough investigation into the epidemiological landscape. This study addresses this issue by analyzing a comprehensive dataset of 39,456 high-quality genomes collected nationwide over an 11-month period since policy termination. Through lineage assignment, phylogenetic analysis, pandemic pattern comparison, phylodynamic reconstruction, and recombination detection, we found that China's post-epidemic period could be divided into three stages, along with dynamic changes in dominant lineages. Geographical clustering of similar lineages implies the importance of cross-border cooperation among neighboring regions. Compared to the USA, UK, and Japan, China exhibits unique trajectories of lineage epidemics, characterized by initial lagging followed by subsequent advancement, indicating the potential influence of diverse prevention and control policies on lineage epidemic patterns. Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Hubei emerge as pivotal nodes in the nationwide spread, marking a shift in the transmission center from east to central regions of China. Although China hasn't experienced significant variant emergence, the detection and validation of the novel recombination event, XCN lineage, underscore the ongoing virus evolution. Overall, this study systematically analyzes the spatiotemporal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus in China since the termination of the dynamic zero-COVID policy, offering valuable insights for regional surveillance and evidence-based public health policymaking.

Women who money: the impact of female board members and institutional ownership on firms’ financial performance

Purpose This study aims to explore the relationship between board diversity and financial performance, examining how the presence of women on corporate boards affects metrics such as profitability. In addition, this study investigates how corporate governance and ownership structure influence gender diversity policies and the appointment of women to boards. Design/methodology/approach Two hypotheses were proposed and following regression models were developed for data analysis. The sample for this study consists of companies listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange in five years (2015–2019). The data was extracted from the Taiwan Economic Journal Taiwan database with the final data set comprised 9,379 firm-year observations. Findings This study indicates a positive association between board diversity and financial performance. Moreover, the relationship between female directors on the board and financial performance is stronger for firms with a higher percentage of institutional investors. Originality/value By highlighting how gender-balanced boards and engaged institutional shareholders improve profitability, this study suggests that actively recruiting women directors and pursuing governance reforms that empower shareholders can pay dividends for Taiwanese companies. The results make an important contribution to the limited research on diversity's impact within Asian corporate settings.

Contradictory rationales behind national education export: tracing the policy formation processes of EDU-Port Japan

ABSTRACT National education export strategies are on the rise. Many countries of the Global North brand and export their educational models, with Finland and Singapore doing so on the back of their success in international large-scale education assessments. This article investigates the policy formation processes of EDU-Port Japan, a nationally coordinated education export strategy launched in 2016. Touted as multi-ministerial and public–private partnerships, EDU-Port aims to globally promote and export ‘Japanese-style education’. The article elucidates how EDU-port emerged as a tentative assemblage of contingent political, economic and geopolitical conditions faced by the Japanese state at a specific historical juncture. By illuminating tensions and contradictions within EDU-Port, reflective of the conflicting interests among the diverse policy actors, the article challenges the assumed linearity and coherence of national education export strategies, uncovering complexities often overlooked in current scholarship on national education export.

The Effect of Public Safety Policies on Crime Reduction in France

Purpose: To aim of the study was to analyze the effect of public safety policies on crime reduction in France. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: Leadership in Indian organizations plays a pivotal role in enhancing organizational learning and knowledge management by promoting knowledge sharing, continuous learning, and innovation. Effective leaders facilitate the retention of critical knowledge and improve decision-making processes, thereby driving competitive advantage and organizational success. This leadership approach fosters a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability, essential for thriving in dynamic business environments. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Routine activity theory, social disorganization theory & broken windows theory may be used to anchor future studies on the effect of public safety policies on crime reduction in France. Enhance training programs for police officers to include comprehensive modules on community engagement, cultural competency, and communication skills. Encourage the adoption of diverse public safety policies tailored to the unique needs of different communities. Policymakers should prioritize flexibility and adaptability in policy design, allowing for the integration of multiple strategies based on local crime dynamics and community feedback.

How do donors integrate climate policy and development cooperation? An analysis of the development aid policies of 42 donor countries

ABSTRACT This article assesses how donor countries integrate climate action into their development aid policies. An analytical framework is developed for the systematic comparison of development aid policies along three dimensions: hierarchy of policy objectives, types of measures the donors implement, and linkages to international climate negotiations. Analyzing the development aid policies of 42 donors, we find that only three have redesigned their development aid policies to fully integrate climate policy concerns. Instead, donors treat climate change as a thematic priority area. This includes several donors that are currently not obliged to provide climate finance under the UNFCCC. Furthermore, five major donor countries emphasize the use of diverse foreign policy tools to support climate action in developing countries. Importantly, we identify how other development goals (poverty, gender) are integrated with climate policy goals. Only two donor countries clearly separate development aid and climate finance. Luxembourg states that its climate finance pledge is additional to development, while New Zealand has a separate climate finance strategy where the allocation of funds is based on climate mitigation effectiveness concerns.

Analysis of Ecuador's Higher Education processes

The Higher Education system in Ecuador has undergone significant transformations in recent years, driven by certain political reforms, the factors that have affected it are the use of advanced technologies and a focus on inclusion and diversity. This article analyzes these changes and their impact on the country's educational institutions. It is based on the Organic Law of Higher Education (LOES) of 2010 which has been crucial to improve the quality and accessibility of education, resulting in a 20% increase in university enrollment. In addition, universities are adapting their academic programs and curriculum designs to align with the needs of the labor market, collaborating closely with industry to develop relevant skills. The incorporation of online learning platforms, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has allowed for greater flexibility and accessibility, adopting hybrid models that combine face-to-face and online learning. Inclusion and diversity policies have been effective in increasing the representation of underrepresented groups, although challenges related to inequality and funding persist. Emphasis on research and collaboration with international institutions is positioning Ecuadorian universities in the global academic arena, fostering scientific and technological development. These efforts, together with the adoption of educational technologies and inclusive policies, indicate that the higher education system in Ecuador is undergoing a significant transformation process, preparing to face future challenges with a solid foundation in reform, inclusion, and technology.

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.

Drivers of Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction in Kathmandu Valley

Customer satisfaction is essential for businesses to encourage them to share positive responses in buying products. It stands as a crucial factor in determining long-term success of any organization reflecting the extent to which their offerings satisfy customer expectations. The economic progress and business success rely on customer satisfaction affected by the empathy, assurance, responsiveness, tangibility, reliability etc. especially in banking sector. Therefore, this study examines how bank customers perceive service quality and impact on their satisfaction. It utilizes a descriptive and causality research design to explore the relationship between drivers of service quality and customer satisfaction based on primary survey data from Kathmandu valley. This paper concludes reliability, assurance, tangibility, empathy, and responsiveness as service quality drivers play a significant role in shaping customer satisfaction within the banking sector. Notably, tangibility, assurance, and empathy stand out as key influential drivers in determining customer satisfaction level in commercial banks within Kathmandu valley. The significance of this research lies in its relevance to policymakers in the banking sector, urging them to develop and execute diverse bank policies aiming to enhance customer satisfaction, thereby fostering the business and economic success of commercial banks in Nepal.