Practice Of Public Administration Research Articles

Global Experience in the Use of Unmanned Aviation Technologies in Public Administration: a Review

TUnmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), despite their relative novelty, are already an integral component of the general aviation structure, and, based on a number of complex and sophisticated solutions, including those related to artificial intelligence, are part of the spectrum of high technologies. UAS find application not only in the sphere of commerce, but also in the realisation of specific tasks of public administration, such as territory management, healthcare, emergency prevention and elimination, ensuring environmental safety and law and order, nature management. The purpose of the study, the results of which are presented in this publication, is to assess the current state and potential of the use of UAS in these areas based on a review of literature sources on the practice of their application in order to solve the tasks of public administration in different countries of the world. The main conclusion drawn from the analysis and characterising the general scientific novelty of the study is that, despite a significant number of specific examples, the breadth of UAS use range can be characterised as imaginary. The main and the only really significant application is various types of aerial survey in the interests of state control and supervision bodies. In the course of the work, a number of promising directions for the use of UAS have been identified. It is also noted that their wider implementation in the practice of public administration is hindered by the lack and/or imperfection of the relevant legal framework, typical for most legislative systems of the world, and postulates the need to actively address these issues in relation to the classification and certification of UAS, requirements for their operators and software, the procedure and rules of operation, the integration of unmanned aircraft (UAS) into the existing air traffic management system.

Пороговые значения уровня региональной дифференциации социально-экономического развития как инструмент обеспечения экономической безопасности

The article defines the high level of uneven regional development of the Russian Federation as a significant threat to its territorial integrity and national security. In this regard, an urgent problem in the theory and practice of public administration is the development of methods for assessing the degree of regional differentiation and determining its threshold values. The article reveals the essence of various approaches to determining indicators characterizing the unevenness of territorial development and substantiates the need to develop an indicator of its critical state.

Application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the Practice of Public Administration

Geographic Information System (GIS) applications are tools that allow users to create interactive queries (user-created searches), analyse spatial information, edit data in maps and present the results of all these operations. This paper was particularly focused on the application of GIS in the practice of Public Administration. Public Administration is a branch of management sciences that studies how government organizations operate and how they make decisions. The complexity in achieving equitable distribution of government actions as well as implementation of such actions to the public requires a thorough analysis of costs and benefits. Many GIS tools could be useful to public administrators, such as measurement tools, mapping tools, spatial analysis tools, data capturing and management tools. Data management tools allow administrators to organize and manage large amounts of data. Therefore, GIS technology offers a framework for gathering and managing information and improving planning efforts in the public domain for effective service delivery. They are quite available at the disposal of Public Administration experts if they are to successfully meet the challenges surrounding the procedure of planning development.

Integrating philosophical perspectives into the study of public administration: The contribution of Critical Realism to understanding public value

Philosophical thought may provide an important contribution to the development of the theory and practice of public administration (PA). Notwithstanding such potential, however, philosophical thought has so far been limitedly employed in PA studies. To the extent philosophy has been brought into PA, three philosophies have been mainly used: Pragmatism, strands of Relativism-Constructivism, and Positivism. This paper argues that another philosophical approach can and ought to be considered much more systematically for application to foundational issues in PA studies, namely Critical Realism. The potential of this philosophical perspective is deployed to shed new light on key issues in the theory and practice of public value governance and management, a major area of academic investigation and practical application in the field of public administration and public management.

Performance audit as an advanced form of public administration

Since the introduction of the principles of results-based budgeting into the global practice of public administration at the beginning of the twentieth century, the role of such an indicator as the effectiveness of the functioning of public institutions has increased every year, which led to the emergence and development of such a tool of public audit bodies as a performance audit. Having originated in the middle of the twentieth century in Western countries, performance audit has over time become one of the key tools of independent public audit bodies aimed not at finding violations, but at eliminating both fundamental and less global problems in the activities of executive authorities. At the same time, the principles on which the performance audit is based can be applied in their activities not only by state audit bodies, but also by representatives of the executive authorities of various states, such as financial control bodies, executive authorities and state organizations. The basis for the proper functioning of state institutions in the rapidly changing world of our time are public administration and control systems based on the principles of permanent search for shortcomings and improvement of processes at the state and municipal levels.

Book Review: The scaffolding is on and Public Administration literature will change

With the attempt to put behind the fallacy of considering the doctrine of separation of religion and state as an ideal for Public Administration (PA) globally, Edoardo Ongaro and Michele Tantardini (2023) have brought out an important book that makes an important contribution to the field of PA. The book not only reinforces the recognition of the significant impact that religion has on the studies and practice of PA but, more importantly, helps to establish a framework that could serve as the groundwork for future research in this field.

Slow and steady? Capacity building for participatory governance in local arts development through practitioner-researcher collaboration

With a focus on local government's role in participatory cultural governance, this paper argues two points. First, self- and critical reflexivity of institutional brokers is important to community-wide capacity building for participatory cultural governance. Second, this reflexivity can be enabled through slow, inquiry-based collaboration between practitioners and researchers. The paper presents the experiences of a practitioner-researcher collaboration between a local authority arts officer and a cultural policy scholar in the development of a place-based local arts development programme taking place from 2017 to 2019 in Dublin, Ireland. The paper surfaces how efforts to promote greater participation in local decision-making require acts of reflexivity as core to the repertoire of capacity building for enabling participatory cultural governance practice in local public arts administration. Three interrelated factors are determined to have helped enable this reflexivity: (1) the arts officer's openness to engage in collaborative processes that (2) emphasised reflection and learning and were supported by (3) the presence of an embedded researcher with mutual interest, beliefs and experience or knowledge of the institutional context. Limitations in the study highlight areas for further research regarding the affective nature of practitioner-researcher collaborations and the potential of promoting reflexive practice in processes aimed at promoting participatory governance.

ADAPTATION OF M. MOORE’S STRATEGIC TRIANGLE CONCEPT TO THE PRACTICE OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

The article is devoted to the study of the possibility of adapting the concept of strategic triangle of M. Moore in the practice of public administration. The authors analyse Moore’s basic principles and ideas regarding strategic management and consider the possibility of their application in the context of public administration. The article proves that the use of Moore’s concept allows to create an effective system of political decision-making capable of solving complex social problems taking into account a wide range of factors and involving a large number of stakeholders. The main advantages of this approach are its comprehensiveness, flexibility and focus on innovations that promote efficiency in the long term. The concept of M. Moore’s strategic triangle, which includes the elements of public good value, legitimacy and support, and operational capability, has been shown to be key to effective public administration and social change management. These three components are interrelated and together determine the government’s ability to achieve public goals. The partnership with the private sector in the concept under study emphasises the importance of involving the public in decision-making processes in public administration. Taking into account the opinions and needs of citizens can contribute to greater legitimacy of the decisions made and improve the quality of public service delivery, efficiency of public administration mechanisms and public policy in certain sectors. It is proved that the adaptation of M. Moore’s concept of strategic triangle in the practice of public administration will contribute to the construction of a democratic and open decision-making procedure, where any actor can participate in making important decisions and influence the development of their country. The use of the studied concept allows to provide the voice of civil society in the process of public administration, increasing the responsibility of the state to society and increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of public institutions.

ЄВРОПЕЇЗАЦІЯ ПУБЛІЧНОГО УПРАВЛІННЯ ТА АДМІНІСТРУВАННЯ ЯК ПРОЦЕС ФОРМУВАННЯ ЄВРОПЕЙСЬКОЇ ІНСТИТУЦІОНАЛЬНОЇ ІДЕНТИЧНОСТІ В УКРАЇНІ

The article substantiates the fundamentally important importance of a methodologically correct understanding of Europeanization as a cultural and ideological phenomenon. It is claimed that the content of Europeanization is socio-cultural, socio-psychological processes and mental attitudes that support the cultural-ideological process of perception of European values in Ukraine. The result of these processes should be the institutional European identity of Ukraine, the completion of which should be based on the establishment of a logical connection along the lines: «society – culture – social institutions – institutional practices of public management and administration – social strata – organizations – small groups – the individual». The logic of actions should be aimed at instilling stable habits and traditions of people-centered public management and administration, public management behavior and a way of thinking, adequate to the norms and principles of European governance. In turn, the results of the implementation of governance in Ukraine should be a new institutional order based on trust between the state and regions, the state and business, the state and civil society.
 The authors claim that today in Ukraine to solve the theoretical and practical problems of Europeanization, it is necessary to comprehensively develop the theory of Europeanization, define the strategic goal and expected results of Europeanization in the concept or program of institutional development of Ukraine.

Can Lamb And Lion Tango? Investigating Nigeria’s Practice of Public Administration and Peculiar Challenges from Structural Functional Theory

There is a gap in scholarly literature that has yet to be filled by scholars regarding the practice of public administration, challenges, and viable policy roadmaps for urgent governance situations in Nigeria. Anchored on functionalism, this study specifically examined the historical, phenomenological, and philosophical investigation of Nigeria's practice of public administration, the challenges of Nigeria's public administration, and how the politics-administration dichotomy influences Nigeria's practice of public administration. The type of data sought established the study through the qualitative method. Data were collected through primary and secondary means, and content analysis was performed. Drawing from interviews with professional administrators, this study revealed how corruption, godfatherism, irresponsible and irresponsive leadership, poverty, and procedural violations troubled public administration. Also, Nigeria’s public administration is characterized by a politics-administration dichotomy with its negative inputs and resultant effects. Due to the pervasive effect of these challenges, the country is not a developmental state and lacks appropriate governance structures that can usher in sustainable development (SD). Nigeria should be made a developmental state through robust development policies and effective implementation by responsive political leadership and administrative practices devoid of corruption, godfather politics, and procedural violations.

Answering the call for change: Developing and teaching social equity courses in public administration

ABSTRACT Despite Minnowbrook’s call in 1968, social equity has been slow to be incorporated into public administration scholarship, teaching, and practice. However, recently, more organizations have promoted a social equity lens in their missions, strategic plans, budgets, hiring decisions, programs, and policies. As a pillar of public administration, this is long overdue. With this increased support, we have also seen a resurgence of dangerous policies and decisions that if successful, could undermine the work that has been done in support of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ). In the face of such adversity, institutions of higher education have the obligation to give public servants the context, language, and skills to advocate for DEIJ. Some programs have thus begun to incorporate DEIJ topics and classes into their curriculum. This paper outlines the process by which a social equity in public service class was prepared and taught.

Agile development for urban digitalisation: insights from the creation of Dresden’s smart city strategy

PurposeDigitalising cities requires new urban governance processes that account for rapidly changing environments and technological advances. In this context, agile development methods have become valuable, if not necessary. However, agile development contradicts public administration practices of risk aversion and long-term planning. The purpose of this study is to discuss practical avenues for navigating these two contradictions by adapting agile development to the needs of public sector organisations.Design/methodology/approachThe authors review the collaborative elaboration of Dresden’s smart city strategy as a critical case study. Dresden’s smart city strategy was developed using agile development and quadruple-helix innovation. The year-long co-creation process involved stakeholders from various groups to conceive an integrated and sustainable vision for digitalisation-based urban development.FindingsDespite the apparent contradictions, this study finds that key aspects of agile development are feasible for public sector innovation. Firstly, risks can be strategically managed and distributed among administration and non-administration stakeholders. Secondly, while delivering value through short iterative loops, adherence to formal processes remains possible. Informal feedback cycles can be harmoniously combined with official statements, allowing iterative progress.Research limitations/implicationsThe empirical material is based on a single case study and thus risks overemphasising the general applicability of the proposed methods.Practical implicationsThis paper outlines practical steps to greater agility for public administration engaged in digitalising cities. The paper conceptualises a forward and lateral momentum for the agile development of a smart city strategy that aims to reconcile formal policymaking processes with short-term loops and risk aversion with experimental value creation. This approach balanced risks, created value and enhanced the strategy‘s alignment with strategic frameworks, ultimately promoting innovation in the public sector.Originality/valueThis paper proposes a novel, empirically grounded conceptualisation of implementing agile methods that explicitly recognises the peculiarities of public administrations. It conceptualises the orchestrated and pragmatic use of specific agile development methods to advance the digitalisation of cities.

Инвестиции в человеческий потенциал и капитал как ведущий фактор развития экономики

The relevance of the article is determined by the fact that human potential and human capital are the leading factors of socio-economic development of the state. On the one hand, the level of human capital and potential determine the productive force of the country’s economic growth, on the other hand, the human being is the main consumer of the results of this growth, the highest aim, and the main criterion of the quality of economic growth. The article presents the results of theoretical analysis of the categories of “human capital” and “human potential”. As a result of the analysis, it is determined that to date there is no unified methodology of categorical and conceptual apparatus of “human capital” and “human potential” in the aspect of increasing the efficiency of human resources utilization both for individual economic entities and for the state as a whole. It is established that human capital, based on economic theory, is a phenomenon that is already directly used in the production process, while human potential is a category that involves the potential acquisition of higher professional quali-fications (competencies, knowledge, skills and abilities of labor activity) by an employee. It has been proved that in order to develop the level of human potential and capital, individual business entities and the state as a whole, implement various investment programs that ensure the improvement of professional qualification of the country’s personnel. However, this investment is accompanied by a number of risks, and one of the main risks is the lack of scientifically-based criteria for assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of investment pro-grams. The article presents possible reasons for this problem and formulates proposals for its solution. The practical significance of the article lies in the fact that the obtained results of theoretical analysis and the identi-fied problems of investment can be used in the practice of public management and administration in the im-plementation of measures aimed at the development of human potential and human capital.

ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЕ УПРАВЛЕНИЕ В НОВЫХ ГЕОПОЛИТИЧЕСКИХ И ГЕОЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИХ УСЛОВИЯХ (ИТОГИ РАБОТЫ XX МЕЖДУНАРОДНОЙ КОНФЕРЕНЦИИ)

The publication provides an overview of the 20th International Scientifi c Conference “Public Administration in New Geopolitical and Geo-Economic Conditions”, held annually at the Faculty of Public Administration of M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University. During the conference, new trends in the science and practice of public administration, challenges of the modern world economy, problems and prospects of digital transformation of public administration, problems of regional and municipal management, features of staffing the public administration system, prospects for strategic planning, challenges and prospects of Eurasian integration, the role of BRICS countries on the path to establishing a new world order, issues of anti-crisis management of the public and commercial sectors, modern capabilities for managing social systems and personnel management in the face of the challenges of new times. The economic, political, legal aspects of the functioning of public authority, national issues, historical processes, social transformations, issues of sustainable development of the state, crisis phenomena at the macro-, meso- and micro levels, problems of sustainable business development in the context of modern global processes, new personnel technologies of domestic companies are considered.

How and when servant leadership fosters employee voice behavior: Evidence from Chinese local governments

Servant leaders serve others and the public altruistically. Knowledge of the relationship between servant leadership and followers’ attitudes and behaviors in the public sector remains limited, despite its benefits. Drawing on social learning theory and the theory of leader–member exchange (LMX), this study analyzes the mechanism through which servant leadership influences employee voice behavior in the public sector and explores the moderating effect of LMX. To test our research hypotheses, we employ two-wave data from 134 leader–employee dyads working in the Administrative Approval Service Center in a northeastern Chinese city. The results indicate that servant leadership predicts employee prosocial values motives and further influences voice behavior. Moreover, LMX strengthens the relationship between servant leadership and prosocial values motives, and its indirect effect. Our study sheds light on how and when servant leadership affects employee voice behavior, with implications for public administration practices and promoting civil servants’ voice behavior.

Анализ использования искусственного интеллекта в отраслях экономики и системе региональной исполнительной власти Российской Федерации

Announced as part of the Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly in February 2024, the Data Economy national project defines the demand for artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the system of public administration, economic sectors and business activities. AI technology is increasingly penetrating business activities, production processes, and the system of public administration, creating the need to improve methods for assessing its impact on economic development. The goal of the work is to supplement the methodological tools for assessing the level of use of AI in the economy of the Russian Federation. The object of the study is the use of AI in certain sectors of the economy and regions. The subject of the study is the interrelation between the balanced income of economic sectors, regions of the Russian Federation and indicators of the use of AI in entrepreneurship and public administration practice. The work considers AI not as a separate branch of the economy, but as a technology that, in turn, has an impact on the development of individual industries and regions. The author identified a direct dependence of the positive financial results of the activities of individual sectors of the economy, regions and the use of AI technology in them. The study shows that regions and industries with a relatively more favorable financial position use AI more actively. On the one hand, this creates opportunities for the development of industries and regions; on the other hand, it creates a lag in the application of AI technology. The obtained result is applicable in the system of state planning, determining priorities for economic development of both individual industries and the economy as a whole.

INTERGRATING CORPORATE PRACTICES OF A BANKING SECTOR INTO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

INTERGRATING CORPORATE PRACTICES OF A BANKING SECTOR INTO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

ЦИКЛИЧНОСТЬ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЙ ДИНАМИКИ

Cyclical dynamics is a universal form of movement of nature, society and the economy. The specificity of economic dynamics is that it has a more probabilistic character than, for example, natural cycles. It is important to take this fact into account in the process of forecasting economic development. In the modern economy, forecasting plays an essential role, which is due to the practical significance of forecasts. The cyclical type of oscillation is characterized by repeated periods of decline and rise. The uneven development of the economy, reflected in the distribution of dynamic series of statistical data characterizing the results of economic activity for various types of fluctuations in economic dynamics, is a basic condition for the development of management technologies on a state and economic scale. However, in the practice of public administration of national economic complexes and the national economy as a whole, the economic unevenness of economic development is often ignored. The cyclical nature of economic dynamics and the onset of the crisis are determined by the trends in the development of production and the economy as a whole, the state of socio-economic relations, the content and nature of public life. The imbalance of the economic interests of the state and private capital, economic and political elites and citizens can lead to crises in the economy. The peculiarity of cyclicity in the agricultural sector of the Russian economy, the nature and duration of the crisis determine the need for the use of non-standard methods of crisis management, which is facilitated by a comprehensive study of existing problems, the causes of downward trends in economic dynamics and the effectiveness of priority areas of industry development. The latest financial and economic crisis of the world economy, which affected Russia and the most vulnerable sphere of its economy - the agricultural sector, showed that the process of achieving sustainable agricultural development is long and requires effective use of state support measures and various elements of anti–crisis management, the development of tools for diagnosing and forecasting crisis phenomena, the formation of programs for the soft passage of agriculture downward trajectory of the economic cycle. The article discusses the theoretical foundations of the cyclical nature of economic dynamics.

ІНТЕГРАЦІЙНІ ПРОЦЕСИ В СФЕРІ ДЕРЖАВНОГО УПРАВЛІННЯ В УМОВАХ РОСІЙСЬКО-УКРАЇНСЬКОЇ ВІЙНИ

The goal of the work. The article examines integration processes in the sphere of public administration in the conditions of the Russian-Ukrainian war. On the basis of the analysis, generalization and systematization of scientific sources, the trends of the development of integration processes in the sphere of public administration in modern conditions are highlighted, the need for further efforts in the direction of European integration is proved. Methodology. To achieve the goal, the article used methods of structuring problems, summarizing statistical data and facts, and developing strategic solutions. Scientific novelty. The scientific novelty of the article is that the author justified the steps aimed at reconstruction and effective mobilization of public administration resources to restore the ability of all levels of government, regions and municipalities of Ukraine to solve problems that bring the state closer to EU membership. In the article, the author highlights those problems that were not solved in the pre-war period of the state's development. In particular, we are talking about the need to optimize the system of state regulation, which should be aimed at promoting economic growth and increasing the level of well-being of citizens, as well as at achieving a new quality of state control, creating a "welfare state." The author proposes his own approach to solving the mentioned problems, which is based on the gradual reform of the public administration system, which should lead to a new quality of administration, bringing it closer to the European system of public management. Conclusions. It was concluded that the innovative transformation of the Ukrainian state, its transformation into a European-type state is impossible without changes in the sphere of public administration. The innovations proposed in the article will give a new impetus to the socio-economic development of Ukraine in the post-war period, creating the necessary conditions for the country's full integration into the EU by improving the public administration system. During the war, all authorities gain important experience in development planning and financing, which can be used in the post-war period to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of strategic decisions related to the rapprochement with the European Union. Nowadays, the executive authorities should build their capacity, analyze and implement the best European experience, try to adopt the style of management and communication, which is inherent in the European public administration practice.

Процеси реформування в системі державного управління в умовах російсько-української війни: адаптивний сценарій

The relevance of the chosen problem is due to the consideration that the transition to a modern system of public administration with strong institutions supported by the rule of law will require the Ukrainian government to make steps that should be undertaken during hostilities, to elaborate those strategic priorities that will direct the State towards democratization and the European integration. The article discusses integration processes in the field of public administration in the context of the russian-Ukrainian war. On the basis of the analysis, generalization and systematization of scientific sources, the tendencies of development of integration processes in the sphere of public administration in modern conditions are highlighted, the need for further efforts in the direction of the European integration is proved. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the substantiation by the author of the steps aimed at reconstruction and effective mobilization of public administration resources for restoring the ability of all levels of government, regions and municipalities of Ukraine to solve problems that bring the country closer to membership in the European Union. The article brings forward the argument that today the model of «proper governance» is one of the most attractive alternatives to the model of public administration, the implementation of which is possible in the presence of a number of conditions, the observance of which appears problematic, taking into account the problems resulting from military aggression, but, at the same time, even today the State can take certain steps to implement the model of «proper governance». At this, the basic postulates of the model allow us to say that «proper governance» is not just one of the options for public administration, but rather the philosophy of organizing life in the State, which provides for cooperation as the main form of interaction between various participants in those processes (social, economic, political, informational) that characterize the genuine diversity of the activities of the modern State. The author came to the conclusion that during the wartime, all authorities acquire important experience in development of the planning and financing, which can be used in the post-war period to increase the operativeness and efficiency of strategic decisions related to the approximation to the European Union. Nowadays, the executive authorities should build capacity, analyze and implement the best European experience, try to adopt the style of management and communication that is inherent in the European public administration practice.