Practice In Public Institutions Research Articles

Effect of Pre-Contracting Procurement Practices on Supply Chain Performance of Road Authorities in Kakamega County, Kenya

The study focused on the effect of pre-contracting procurement practices on the supply chain performance of road authorities in Kakamega County, Kenya. Implementing and adopting the procurement Contracting practices in public institutions have continuously faced challenges due to their complexity and lack of resources, which directly impact supply chain performance. Institutions are operating in a competitive business environment with many players, and massive changes are taking place daily to improve their performance. The key to optimal performance is understanding the contributions of pre-contracting procurement practices. The study covered three road authorities with regional offices in Kakamega County: Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Urban Road Authority (KURA), and Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA). The study adopted system theory. The study employed the causal research method to explain the causes and effects of the variables. The target population was 48 respondents, comprised of supply chain officers, road officers, and account officers on the road authorities. A census method was employed in the study. Structured questionnaires were used as data collection instruments. Pilot testing was conducted in Vihiga County. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The data was presented using tables and figures. A Likert scale was used to determine how strongly variables agreed or disagreed with statements on a five-point scale. Regression analysis shows that pre-contracting procurement practice had no significant effect on supply chain performance in the road authorities of Kakamega County, Kenya (t = 0.605, P > 0.05). This means that road authorities in Kakamega County that effectively implement pre-contracting procurement practices are more likely to have high-performance supply chains. The findings of this objective indicated that pre-contracting had P 0.05 and contributed to 0.8% of the changes in supply chain performance. Therefore, according to the study, the institutions need to re-examine their procurement practices so as to capitalize on areas that improve supply chain performance.

An Analysis of the Strategic Planning Practices of Public Institutions in Tanzania

This study aimed to analyze the implementation of strategic planning practices in public institutions in Tanzania. The finding of the study is expected to improve the development and implementation of strategic planning in public institutions in Tanzania. The analysis of strategic planning is crucial for public institutions as it will enable them to prioritize resources and align their activities with their goals. The study used a qualitative approach and conducted interviews with 14 senior officials from various public institutions in Tanzania sampled purposively.
 The study findings inform that despite the recognition of the significance of strategic planning in public institutions, there are several challenges that hinder its successful implementation. The challenges include fragmented planning systems, inadequate coordination and strategic thinking, and insufficient environmental scanning techniques. To address the challenges, the study suggests measures to improve the situation, such as establishing a unique planning system, enhancing understanding of strategic management, promoting strategic thinking, as well as setting measurable and realistic goals.

Effect of information and communications technology on secretarial practice in public institutions

Effect of information and communications technology on secretarial practice in public institutions

Türkiye’de Kamu Kurumlarında Bilgi Yönetimi Unsurları ve Teknoloji İlişkisi Üzerine Nitel Bir Araştırma: Bilgi İşlem Yöneticileri Gözünden

Organizasyonun en önemli kaynağı olması sebebiyle bilginin en iyi şekilde yönetilmesi ve bunun için teknolojik araçlardan yararlanılması günümüzde önemli bir meseledir. Bu çalışma, kamu kurumlarında bilgi yönetiminin mevcut durumunu ve yapılması gerekenleri tespit edebilmek için Türkiye’deki sekiz Bakanlığın Bilgi İşlem Daire Başkanları (BİDB) ile görüşmeler yapılarak hazırlanmıştır. Olgu bilim desenine uygun olarak düzenlenen ve verilerin betimsel içerik analizine tabi tutulduğu çalışma, bakanlıklardaki bilgi yönetimi unsurları ve teknoloji ilişkisi üzerine odaklanmıştır. Bilgi yönetimi unsurları; insan, organizasyon, bilgi varlığı/içerik, süreç ve teknoloji olmak üzere beş ana başlık altında gruplandırılmıştır. Çalışma kapsamındaki nitel araştırma sonuçlarına göre, Türkiye’deki kamu kurumlarında genel olarak; bilgi yönetiminin muğlak bir konu olduğu, bilgi yönetimine ilişkin stratejik plan olmadığı, kurumlarda bir bilgi yönetimi (BY) organizasyonunun bulunmadığı, bilgi yönetimi rehberine ihtiyaç olduğu, üst yönetimin enformasyon teknolojilerine yönelik desteğinin tam olduğu, teknolojik araçların belli oranda mevcut olduğu ancak bilginin yönetilmesi odağında yapılandırılmadığı ve bütünleşik bir sistem yapısında olmadığı ortaya çıkmış, bu bağlamda öneriler sunulmuştur.

The impact of organizational culture on public procurement act compliance in Obuasi municipality

Public procurement has become an integral component of Saving Public purse in the whole world wide not exempting Africa and for that matter Ghana. Public procurement compliance is one of the major factors that can lead to major saving in public spending. The major objective of this research work was to appreciate how organizational culture impact on compliance with the Public Procurement Act in the Obuasi Municipality. Largely four objectives were explored to asses and investigate the study in order to draw conclusion. Both Quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to conduct the study. The study made use of 150 participants using a convenient sampling procedure. The study revealed that involvement (β = 0.42, p-value < 0.05) was a significant determinants of public procurement compliance Act whiles controlling for habit, stewardship behaviour and media publicity. Moreover, study found that Adaptability (β = 0.56, p-value < 0.05) was a significant determinants of public procurement compliance Act whiles controlling for habit, stewardship behaviour and media publicity. Again, study revealed that mission (β = -0.53, p-value < 0.05) was a significant determinants of public procurement compliance Act whiles controlling for habit, stewardship behaviour and media publicity. However, the study found that consistency (β = -0.13, p-value > 0.05) was not a significant determinants of public procurement compliance Act whiles controlling for habit, stewardship behaviour and media publicity. The study concludes that organizational is a determinant of procurement Act compliance meanwhile socio-economic variables significantly predicts procurement compliance. The study recommends improvement in cultural practices in public institutions to enhance compliance with the Procurement Act.

Adopting The Planned Behavioural Theory in Predicting Whistleblowing Intentions Among Indonesian Public Official

Whistleblowing has been accepted worldwide as one of effective internal controls to prevent corruption. Nurturing whistleblowing in the workplace is expected to accelerate integrity specifically among public officials. Intrigued by its attributes and emulating Planned Behavioural Theory, the objective of this study was to examine attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control as predictors of whistleblowing intentions. Whistleblowing intentions were assessed in two contexts namely internal and external whistleblowing intentions. A total of 300 questionnaires were randomly e-mailed to public officials of a public institution in the Cirebon province, West Java, Indonesia. From this, 152 officials responded which accounted for a 50.7 percent rate of response. Partial Least Square (PLS) version 3 of Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to analyse the data. Results indicated that attitude and subjective norms were significant predictors of both internal and external whistleblowing intentions. However, none of the whistleblowing intentions were related to perceived behavioural control. The discoveries contribute beneficial insights for policy makers, government, academic fraternities and the like in the area in which positive attitude and support from referent groups will trigger them into openness and transparency; and thus, more likely to influence their whistleblowing intentions. Hence, implementing whistleblowing practices in public institutions will enhance the public’s perceptions on the integrity of the Indonesian public sector and promote the country towards a corrupt free nation. Keywords: attitude, external, intention, internal, perceived behavioural control, subjective norms, whistleblowing

Penerapan Prinsip Akuntabilitas Lembaga Amil Zakat Dompet Amal Insani (Lazdai) Lampung

An accountability is one of the important topics in scientific studies and public administration practice. This is because the public pays great attention to the implementation of policies, programs, projects and routine activities carried out by public sector institutions. However, in practice, we often find practices in public institutions that do not reflect accountability, especially in the zakat sector. This research uses descriptive research with a qualitative approach. Data collection techniques are observation, interviews and document review studies. The results of this study include the legal accountability of the application of rules or laws related to the collection of zakat that has not been applied, namely the preparation of the zakat collection report required by BAZNAS Bandar Lampung City twice a year and only once a year, the target of collecting zakat which refers to the Decree of the Minister of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia number 333 of 2015 that LAZ at the district / city level was able to collect as much as Rp. 3,000,000,000 (three billion rupiah) has not been successful, process accountability, program accountability, policy accountability. The accountability of the process of implementing the existing zakat collection procedure flow has been running effectively and efficiently. The process of internal obstacles consists of the lack of qualified human resources in terms of law and technology. The accountability of the zakat collection program is divided into two, counters and electronic. The policy accountability in the policy-making stages originates from the division meeting material which is then brought to the working meeting of the board of directors and executives for discussion

Szkolenie biblioteczne w Bibliotece Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego oczami studentów: omówienie wyników ankiety ewaluacyjnej

W artykule opisano metodykę badania ewaluacyjnego usług instytucji pożytku publicznego. Na podstawie wyników ankiety ewaluacyjnej e-szkolenia bibliotecznego Biblioteki Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego scharakteryzowano podejście studentów do kursu oraz ich ocenę umiejętności własnych w zakresie korzystania z usług bibliotecznych. We wnioskach zawarto postulaty dotyczące dalszych badań i ustawicznego przystosowywania szkolenia do potrzeb młodzieży akademickiej.

A proposal of project management practices in public institutions through a comparative analyses of critical path method and critical chain

The term “Project Management Practice” is construed in several ways. For this research, we comply with the project management use of tools and techniques on project’s time and cost (Crawford 2005; Olateju et al. 2011; Abassi and Al-Mharmah 2000). Project scheduling still is based on the traditional methods of critical path method (CPM) and Program Evaluation and Review Technique for the majority of contractors and public institutions. The aim of this work is to critically highlight the reasons under which the use of the Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) is indispensable for scheduling and monitoring public works by public institutions in Greece. In particular, the conclusions of this study are very important for public institutions that don’t implement modern project management practices, tools and techniques. The methodology is exemplified by the analysis of 27 infrastructure projects. The contracts include 300 km of motorway, 46 km of road tunnels and 20 km of bridges constructed for the Egnatia Motorway in Northern Greece from 2002 to 2012. The results confirms that CCPM can perform better than the traditional method of CPM by achieving less construction time combined with accurate resource levelling in the early stages. The aforementioned procedure results in reduced indirect costs due to project's time reduction and reduced direct costs due to better resource allocation (ensuring “on time” availability of resources). As a conclusion, better financial planning is ensured for both the contracting parties i.e. the contractors and the public institutions. It should be noted that in literature the case studies are rare with very small sample size.

Governance in Public Sector: Implications on Private Sector Development in Ethiopia

There is almost a universal agreement on the significance of ensuring good governance for private sector development and the overall economic development of states. The lack of good governance affects the performance of a state in executing its core functions and its ability in meeting its major economic and social goals. Corrupt practices in public institutions, lack of transparency, accountability and responsiveness of public institutions to the demands of the private sector continue to have a significant impact on the operation and development of the private sector in Ethiopia. The National Business Agenda (NBA) report 2017of Ethiopia clearly indicates that lack of good governance, among other issues, is one of the most outstanding challenges which continues to significantly constrain the growth potential and the contribution of the private sector to the national economy of Ethiopia. While it is true that good governance includes broader issues related with the operations of government and the private sector, the research identifies crucial aspects of good governance in public sector that should form the focus of the study. Accordingly, the study on governance in public sector and its implications on private sector development in Ethiopia will focus on specific thematic issues and indicators of good governance that have particular relevance to private sector development in Ethiopia.

Challenges to healthcare reform in China: profit-oriented medical practices, patients' choice of care and guanxi culture in Zhejiang province.

Doctors' profit-oriented practices in public institutions were widespread in China. Two major targets of the healthcare reform launched in 2009 were to curb the profit-making practices in public institutions and to encourage the citizens to use primary care. After 6 years, the status of profit-orientation of public institutions remains unknown. Compared with hospitals, there is no trend of increasing use of primary care. Our study aimed to explore the status of profit-orientation of public institutions and patients' utilization preference. The impacts of guanxi (personal relationship) on patients' utilization of healthcare and doctors' practices were also explored. From September 2014 to September 2015, we conducted focus group and individual interviews, followed by a survey with doctors (n = 1111) in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. Thematic analysis, independent t-test and Fisher's exact test were conducted to analyse the data. This study found that 36.8% of survey respondents needed to consider making profits for their institutions, especially the hospital specialists. A total of 38.5% and 40.7% thought that their practices led to patients' worries of unnecessary drugs and tests, respectively. Doctors attributed their profit-oriented practices to institutions' agenda setting, poor salary and an organizational bonus system. Their awareness of breaching medical ethics created a guilt feeling and frustration. Nearly 65.0% reported patients' preference for hospital-based care even for minor conditions and 76.2% if the patient was a child. Ineffective gate-keeping mechanism, weak primary care and mistrust in community-based care were major reasons. More specialists than primary care practitioners (41.0 vs 21.5%, P < 0.001) said that patients would use guanxi to gain better services and 64.5% of doctors reported better dedication when patients were somehow connected. In conclusion, profit-orientated practice widely exists in public institutions. Patients generally prefer hospital-based services. Guanxi, which affects both patients' and doctors' practices, is more often used to access hospital-based services.

Spiritual Intelligence on Leadership Effectiveness and Food-hygiene Practices in Public Institutions

Holistic View of food service business performance is a rather new phenomenon. Constraints such as a diverse workforce and the high worker turnover have caused subsequent adverse effects on the foodservice performance. The present study suggests an effort through Holistic View of spiritual intelligence (SQ) to address the problem of quality of food served by the food handlers. A total of 210 food handlers from the public institutions in East Malaysia were surveyed. The study used Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the model and hypotheses. Implications of the findings, guidelines for future research, and the limitations were also discussed.

Dealing with Religious Differences in Italian Prisons: Relationships Between Institutions and Communities from Misrecognition to Mutual Transformation

Against the backdrop of the ‘formatting of religions’ thesis, this paper presents the outcomes of empirical research on religious assistance in ten prisons in the Italian region of Lazio. We construct a typology of the forms of relationships that exist between prisons and religious organisations in an increasingly pluralist context. These relationships can have their bases in (1) misrecognition, which is strictly speaking a form of non-relation; (2) adaptation, with a distinction drawn between instrumental adaptation, on the one hand, and formatting, on the other; (3) conflict; or (4) cooperation and mutual transformation. Each form of relationship is explained and discussed through the experiences of relevant individuals, with stories drawn from interviews conducted during our research. This typology shows that, in the Italian case at least, a context of religious pluralism and the coexistence of religious and secular worldviews and practices in public institutions do not necessarily have a ‘formatting’ effect on religious organisations, nor lead to any form of mutual transformation or ‘complementary learning’ process taking place. This ‘complementary learning’ process has been taken in our research as a working hypothesis. We take the term from the broader theoretical debate about the postsecular, but we want to make the point that the postsecular also has an empirical dimension which can be described and assessed through the kind of sociological research we conduct in this paper. This paper explores why no such complementary learning process has developed between institutions and religious groups in the Italian context, and briefly highlights how, conversely, this kind of postsecular relationship is promoted in the UK. At the same time, it argues that forms of resistance from religious groups to institutional formatting pressures can be observed in both the British context and in the results of our own research.

A forecast of ophthalmology practice trends in Saudi Arabia: A survey of junior residents

Purpose:The aim of this study is to identify the trends in practice pattern among current ophthalmology residents in Saudi Arabia.Materials and Methods:Ophthalmology residents in Saudi Arabia responded anonymously to a written survey between November 2007 and February 2008. The survey contained questions on demographic information, medical education, residency training, career goals and factors influencing their career choice. The data were categorized by gender. The influence of gender on outcome was assessed in a univariate fashion using the Chi-square or Fisher exact test when appropriate. A P-value of 0.05 or less was considered statistically significant for all analyses.Results:A total of 68 out of 85 residents (80%) responded to the survey. Over one-half of the residents preferred to pursue a fellowship within Saudi Arabia (53%), while others (25%) planned to train in North America. The majority of respondents wished to practice in an urban setting (63%). Anterior segment was the most desired subspecialty, while general ophthalmology and glaucoma were not a popular choice. Most residents were interested in refractive surgery (77%) and research (75%). The main factor influencing the decision to pursue ophthalmology was the ability to combine medicine and surgery (97%), while a positive elective experience was also an important factor, particularly for female respondents (91% vs. 57%; P < 0.001).Conclusion:Concerted efforts are required to encourage adoption to ophthalmic practice in public institutions rather than in private practice. In addition training in underrepresented subspecilaties should be encouraged to ensure adequate ophthalmic care for all citizens of Saudi Arabia.

The British Veil Wars

The British Veil Wars maps the space of the British debates on Islamic women's apparel and identifies the political conditions and structures that direct the non regulation of its practice in public institutions, such as schools. The article argues that despite the poignant political dilemmas caused by the 2006 'veil debate' on the niqab (face veil) statutory regulation against its practice was not foreshadowed and the reasons most succinctly identified against its non - regulation is due to not only Britain's citizenship regime but also because of the church and state establishment as well as Article 9 of the European Commission of Human Rights. The article leads to reflections about the process by which the veil became constructed as a response to the political imperatives and failures of British multiculturalism.

Health Care Providers' Assessments of the Quality of Advanced-Cancer Care in Latin American Medical Institutions: A Comparison of Predictors in Five Countries: Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, and Peru

This paper describes an innovative Pan-American survey on advanced-cancer care and examines the quality-of-care provided by Latin American institutions. A convenience sample of 777 physicians and nurses who treat cancer patients in Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, and Peru were surveyed. Providers were identified through mass mailings, distribution at professional meetings and conferences, collaboration with regional institutions, professional organizations, and PAHO and online posting. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of quality-of-care assessments in each country. The five predictive models were subsequently compared descriptively. Higher access to care ratings and greater availability of end-of-life services corresponded with improved institutional quality-of-care ratings for all five countries. Barring respondents from Cuba, providers from the other four nations who practice in public institutions rated the quality of advanced-cancer care in their own institutions lower than those practicing in private hospitals or specialized cancer centers. Other institutional quality-of-care predictors included type of city, affordability-of-care ratings, availability of opioid analgesics, where patients die, barriers to cancer pain management, and the provider's specialty and gender. These findings highlight the need for providing accessible care and services to improve the quality of advanced-cancer care in Latin American institutions. Efforts should be aimed at improving the care offered in public institutions and addressing other types of disparities that may exist within countries by creating supportive and palliative cancer care programs that are accessible and affordable to those most in need.

Preserving the consultation: medical record cards and professional conduct.

Abstract Professional medical practice in public institutions involves the systematic documentation of information concerning the transactions of organizational members and their clientele. In general practice (primary health care) as in other forms of medical work, record cards are maintained in which the details of patients’illness and its management are documented. These medical biographies provide the profession with a significant resource in their day‐to‐day dealings with their clients; the records inform decisions and generally play a crucial role in the organization of the consultations. To enable professional conduct to rely upon the records, a community of practices provides for the systematic documentation and comprehension of information. It is these practices which form the concern of the following brief essay.