Public Organizations Research Articles

Middle managers matter! Unpacking the deployment and adaptation of organization-level dynamic capabilities

ABSTRACT How do public sector organizations (PSO) adapt established dynamic capabilities (DC)? Our longitudinal study of two Norwegian municipalities reveals that public middle managers leverage their distinct dynamic managerial capabilities (DMC) to deploy and adapt organization-level DC through specific meso-level mechanisms. Our study makes two significant contributions. First, we introduce a multilevel model for the deployment and adaptation of organization-level DC in PSO. Second, we challenge the prevailing upper-echelons perspective by extending the concept of DMC to include public middle managers. We demonstrate how their DMC differ from those of top public managers and contribute to shaping and operating organization-level DC.

The relationship between work-family enrichment, trust and turnover intentions: the mediating role of work passion in hybrid vs on-site work

PurposeThis study develops and tests an integrative theoretical framework that synchronizes conservation of resources (COR) theory with self-determination theory (SDT), thus permitting a simultaneous estimate of both antecedents and outcomes of work passion. The study utilizes a key assumption: work-family enrichment (WFE) and trust in one’s manager may be perceived as resources supporting greater employee work passion, resulting in decreased turnover intentions.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted online in three waves with 352 respondents from various private and public sector organizations responding.FindingsComplete indirect effects were found in WFE/FWE regarding turnover intentions through work passion as a mediator. Work passion partially mediated the relationship between trust in the manager and turnover intentions. Hybrid employees were found to be more passionate than onsite employees.Practical implicationsHuman resource (HR) departments should implement programs that support both employees and their families to foster WFE and encourage work passion, particularly in the current era of flexible work arrangements. As well, managers should prioritize building trust with their employees through open communication and consistent support, as this trust directly enhances work passion and reduces turnover intentions.Originality/valueBy integrating COR theory and SDT principles, our findings provide valuable empirical insights not only for understanding the context in which work passion develops but also how it is incorporated into a “resource caravan passageway.” This dynamic reflects a “gain spiral” in which contextual resources can promote work passion and ultimately reduce turnover intentions.

Enhancing Supplier Selection in Public Manufacturing: A Hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach

In today's business world, outsourcing is a key strategy for organizations aiming to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase transparency. By using external experts, companies can quickly gain necessary resources and knowledge to better handle operational challenges. Therefore, choosing the right suppliers and contractors for manufacturing is essential. This study examines how public manufacturing organizations select suppliers and contractors, highlighting the importance of setting clear evaluation criteria before making selections. Following the Iranian Public Procurement Regulations, a strong set of criteria was created for effective supplier assessment. A combined Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) approach was employed, integrating the Fuzzy DEMATEL method to analyze relationships among selection criteria, and the Best-Worst Method (BWM) to assign weights, with the best and worst criteria derived from the results of the Fuzzy DEMATEL analysis. The weighted criteria were then applied using three different MCDM techniques—COCOSO, MOORA, and TOPSIS—in a case study to rank potential suppliers. The results showed strong agreement among the methods, confirming the reliability of the evaluation framework and boosting stakeholder confidence in decision-making. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of MCDM strategies in promoting informed and strategic procurement decisions, ultimately leading to better operational efficiency and alignment with organizational goals in the public sector.

Not All Workers Experience Equal Sleep Changes: Insights from the “WorkInCovid” Project

The COVID-19 outbreak has changed work organization in favor of a working from home (WH) modality. We examined the association of WH during the pandemic with sleep health in workers of a public research organization. An online cross-sectional survey in 2022 at the National Research Council of Italy collected information on sociodemographics, work characteristics, and sleep pattern during WH compared with before WH. In the whole sample (n = 748), total sleep quality did not significantly change. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) decreased during WH. Total sleep quality increased during WH in poor sleepers, while it decreased in good sleepers. The morning chronotype was protective against sleep worsening in poor sleepers. Risk factors were depression in poor and good sleepers, and increased daytime sleepiness and body weight gain in good sleepers. These findings emphasize the importance of baseline sleep pattern in shaping the impact of WH on sleep.

Nocturnal policing: a study of public, private and voluntary policing in the night-time economy

ABSTRACT This article draws attention to the nightlife environment as a peculiar temporal and spatial context through an exploration of public, private and voluntary policing actors’ roles in order maintenance at nighttime. Urban cities with a well-established night-time economy commonly experience intoxication or alcohol-fuelled disorder, anti-social behaviour and perceived unsafety, as well as the involvement of policing agencies striving to manage nightlife areas and nightlife attendees. The present study is situated within the context of urban Oslo, Norway and draws on fieldwork with public, private and voluntary organisations involved in the control of nightlife areas and attendees. Their work is characterised by managing dualities between facilitating for nightlife attendees, navigating intoxication and alcohol-fuelled disorder, identifying vulnerable individuals and situations filled with uncertainty. As such situations receive a particular focus by policing organisations at nighttime, the findings suggest that order maintenance and division of labour between public, private and voluntary agencies are filled with ambiguities specific to the temporal and spatial context of nightlife environments. I find that the policing actors’ management of nightlife attendees’ nuisance receives acceptance to a certain extent, and further argue that disorderly conduct changes during the circadian cycle. Drawing on these insights, I develop the term ‘nocturnal policing’ aiming to capture a temporally conditioned form of order maintenance work in nightlife environments.

MEDIA ANALYSIS OF RIGHTS VIOLATIONS RUSSIAN COMPATRIOTS IN THE CIS COUNTRIES

This article is devoted to the analysis of the media space of the CIS countries in order to identify the facts of violations of the rights of Russian compatriots. The paper examines the representation of diaspora issues in regional and federal media, as well as specific examples of infringement of the rights of compatriots. Russian Russian language teaching in schools, the dismantling of monuments dedicated to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War, and the falsification of historical memory in school textbooks have been identified as trends related to the restriction of the use of the Russian language in public life and education. Special attention is paid to the analysis of cases of Russophobia and discrimination based on nationality that have received media coverage. The results of the study allow us to conclude that there are systemic problems related to the observance of the rights of Russian compatriots in the post-Soviet space, and emphasize the need for active monitoring and response to such violations by both government and public organizations. The article is intended for the scientific community, experts in the field of international relations, protection of human rights and cultural heritage.

Work-to-Life Spillover and Organizational Commitment: The Moderating Role of Flextime and Sectoral Differences Between Public and Non-Public Organizations

Work-to-Life Spillover and Organizational Commitment: The Moderating Role of Flextime and Sectoral Differences Between Public and Non-Public Organizations

Transformational Leadership, Digital Competence, and Employee Performance: Examining the Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy and the Moderating Influence of Perceived Organizational Support in Riau Islands Province

Research aims: To examine the influence of transformational leadership and digital competence on employee performance in Regional Apparatus Organizations (OPDs) in the Riau Islands Province, with self-efficacy as a mediating factor and organizational support as a moderating factor.Design/Methodology/Approach: A quantitative approach using a survey method was employed. Data were collected from 185 employees in OPD using a structured questionnaire. The analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with Smart PLS software, allowing for both direct and indirect effect evaluations.Research findings: Transformational leadership and digital competence were found to significantly enhance employee performance, both directly and indirectly, with self-efficacy mediating their positive effects. Organizational support further strengthened these relationships as a moderating factor. Together, these variables accounted for 90.3% of the variance in performance, emphasizing the need for leadership that inspires and equips employees with digital skills to thrive in a technology-driven workplace.Theoretical Contribution/Originality: The study integrates leadership, digital competence, and psychological constructs (self-efficacy and organizational support) in the context of public sector organizations. It highlights the interplay between these variables, offering a comprehensive framework for improving employee performance in a digital era.Practitioners/Policy Implications: The study emphasizes the importance of developing transformational leadership through targeted training and prioritizing digital competence to address digital-era challenges. Organizations should strengthen support systems, such as continuous training and recognition programs, to boost employee confidence and engagement, fostering sustained performance, innovation, and resilience.Research Limitations/Implications: This study focuses on Regional Apparatus Organizations in Riau Islands Province, limiting generalizability. Its cross-sectional design restricts causal inference. As such, future research should consider longitudinal and qualitative approaches for deeper insights into these relationships.

Influence of household virtual reality products on emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic: a semantic network analysis

This study aimed to explore the emotional effects of virtual reality (VR) products during the COVID-19 pandemic by analyzing user comments of VR and COVID-19 on Steam platforms and uncovering the association between emotions and themes, and trends in emotional expression. A total of 1249 valid English-language content data were collected from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022 on the Steam platform, by searching for VR- and COVID-19-related keywords. Emotion analysis was used to encode each user comments. Semantic network analysis and a clustering algorithm were used to mine the potential semantic relationship between different topics and sentiments in the content. The changes and trends of topics and sentiments in each time period were analyzed. The findings indicate that during COVID-19, users were more likely to express anticipation and trust in VR products than they were to complain about COVID19. The use of VR devices is one of the sources of positive emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Promoting the use of metaverse social products, such as VR, in major health and pandemic prevention events may be beneficial for fostering positive emotions. The proposed framework of semantic networks and sentiment analysis is also a theoretical contribution. This study reveals the complex relationship between emotional changes and VR usage scenarios, further expanding the theoretical framework of virtual reality in social interaction and emotional regulation. From a policy perspective, governments and public health organizations should recognize the emotional support functions of VR technology during social crises.

Bridging youth ‘media egocentrism’ and journalistic values: strategies for public service media

Public service media (PSM) in Europe continues to grapple with redefining its role in a rapidly evolving media landscape, balancing quality and accessibility while striving to engage diverse audiences—including younger and marginalized groups—in an increasingly market-driven environment. This study examines how the Belgian public service media organization, Radio-Télévision Belge de la Communauté Française (RTBF), confronts the challenge of aligning journalistic values with content tailored for a youth audience marked by pronounced ‘media egocentrism.’ Employing non-participant observation and in-depth interviews with RTBF staff, the research studies the internal processes and professional practices that shape youth-focused programming. Findings reveal that RTBF integrates journalistic principles from the earliest stages of program development, effectively balancing media appeal with news integrity. This approach not only enhances RTBF’s credibility among young audiences but also cultivates critical and informed awareness within this demographic.

Factors influencing artificial intelligence implementation in the accounting industry: a comparative study among private and public sectors

Purpose This study aims to investigate the factors affecting artificial intelligence (AI) implementation in the accounting industry and compares it among the private and public accounting sectors. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a theoretical framework that combines the technology–organization–environment model, the innovation diffusion theory model and the technology acceptance model. A convenience sampling method was used to obtain 561 surveys from accounting, finance management, auditing and bookkeeping professionals in public and private organizations in Kuwait. The data were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling. Findings This study demonstrates that all individual and organizational variables significantly affect AI implementation in the accounting industry, as supported by adequate values of path coefficient and a p-value of <0.05, except competitive pressure, which did not reach statistical significance. Multi-group analysis indicates statistical differences between the private and public sectors regarding organizational culture, regulatory support and perceived ease of use in AI implementation. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to compare AI implementation in the private and public accounting sectors. Its findings could redesign the authors’ understanding of AI implementation in the accounting industry.

Organizational and Individual Factors of Evidence Informed Policy Making in Public Organizations

ABSTRACTUnderstanding the use of evidence by public organizations and public officials is a key issue for public administration scholars and practitioners. In this study, we examine how individual‐ and organizational‐level factors relate to evidence informed policy making. Using the Norm of Evidence and Research in Decision‐making (NERD), we conduct an online survey to analyze evidence informed policy making perceptions of public officials (n = 438) holding policy responsibilities within the Flemish (Belgian) government. The results highlight the importance of a rational, results‐ and production‐oriented organizational culture, adequate access to information, sufficient time, and appropriate personnel. At the individual level, person‐organization fit and public sector experience are associated with evidence use. Enhancing our knowledge of these organizational and individual factors is crucial for advancing the theory and practice of evidence informed policy making in public organizations.

Bridging AI Literacy Skill Sets Gap: A Critical Priority Now and the Future in Developing Countries

The leveraging of AI literacy in our world today has become expedient due to the growing demand AI plays in our daily lives. AI literacy is a set of competencies that enables individuals to critically evaluate AI technologies, communicate and collaborate effectively with AI; and use AI as a tool online, at home, and in the workplace. The impact of AI technologies in critical infrastructures such as energy, education, technology, agriculture and healthcare has become crucial particularly in developing countries and as such demands public knowledge to hone their skills for greater efficiency and opportunities. The need to bridge the gap between AI literacy skills set has become imperative due to the rising demand for know-how and shortage of personnel in acquiring hard skills; technically, industry-specific skills, programming skills, IT systems knowledge and soft skills like problem-solving and effective communication skills, lifelong learning (willing to learn, unlearn and relearn), and so on. Finding a blend of these skills in individuals is grossly inadequate and difficult to come by. This study is aimed at an AI literacy paradigm shift to bridge skills with emphasis’ on AI education, innovation with the help of case studies approach to showcase real-world applications as a corner-stone to close in this shortage in developing countries. It emphasizes the need for psychological readiness necessary to up-skill and re-skill, encouragement of diverse talent pipelines and collaboration with the government, public and private organizations and the academia to help address these skill gaps. This will inculcate confidence and know-how in developing countries necessary to build their AI capabilities to foster innovation, and create an enabling environment for a home-made AI adoption. This will make developing countries keep pace with technological advancement and a player in the global market. Keywords: AI Literacy, Bridging, Skill set, Developing Countries, Hard skill, soft skill

The Impact of Risk Management Efficiency on Organizational Performance in State-Owned Enterprises and the Mediating Ef-fect of Supply Chain Maturity: Evidence from Morocco

While numerous studies have explored the influence of effective risk management on performance, the specific dynamics within state-owned enterprises (SOEs), particularly in developing nations like Morocco, remain less understood. This study investigates the interactions between risk management effectives, supply chain maturity and both the financial and social dimensions of performance within Moroccan public commercial offices (OMPAM). The main objective of this article is to study the impact of formalized risk management practices on the organizational performance of Moroccan public offices with commercial activities. As well as the impact of integrated risk management on the organizational performance of public offices and subsequently show the role of the mediating variable which is the maturity of the supply chain on the relationship between the effectiveness of risk management and the organizational performance of public offices. Data were collected from 140 managerial employees across five Moroccan public commercial offices. Data was analyzed using Partial Least square Method on SPSS and Bootstrapping on SmartPLS, because these two tools are effective and provide reliable results in management science research. We mobilized also the non-probability "snowball" sampling technique to generate much more response due to the difficulties of accessing respondents in this sector. The results reveal that risk management positively influences organizational performance, which is partially confirmed. Concretely, the formalization of risk management practices is supported, while integrated risk management shows a negative effect on the organizational performance of public offices, contradicting our expectations, which reflects on the one hand the weak relationship between the two variables with a negative student T of -6.040. Moreover, we conclude also that the maturity of the supply chain exerts a mediating effect between the efficiency of risk management and the level of performance in Moroccan public offices with commercial activities. These interactions seem to diverge from the initial model when studying each of the financial and the social dimensions each on its own. The study's limitations include potential biases in self-reported data, a limited number of factors considered in the model, and the specific context of Moroccan public sector organizations, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. The study underscores the importance of formalizing risk management practices and developing mature supply chains to improve organizational performance in public sector enterprises. Policymakers and managers should focus on these areas to enhance the resilience and efficiency of SOEs in Morocco. Further research should explore the contextual factors affecting these relationships and develop tailored strategies for different organizational environments.

Effect of Servant Leadership Style on The Perceived Quality of Municipal Service Delivery: A Mediation Role of Affective Commitment: Evidence from Ethiopia, The Case of Bahir Dar City

In these days, public organizations are deeply concerned with providing quality services for their respective customers. The objective of this research study is to assess the relationship between servant leadership and the perceived quality of municipal service delivery within the framework of the mediating role of affective organizational commitment in Bahir Dar City. Survey data were collected from employees, service leaders and customers. This study applied the partial least square-structural equation modeling. The study employed both the probability and the non-probability: random sampling and the purposive sampling techniques respectively. Data were gathered from 400 respondents. The results revealed that servant leadership style and affective commitment were positively and significantly related to the perceived quality of municipal service delivery. Affective commitment was found to partially mediating the relationship between servant leadership style and the perceived quality of municipal service delivery. The research study came up with that servant leadership and affective organizational commitment contributes a lot in bringing quality municipal service delivery in the research area with a propagating power of its spark to similar municipalities in developing countries as well.

General social prevention of bribery in the activities of legal entities under private law

The article examines the main aspects of preventing bribery in the activities of legal entities under private law, which is defined as a set of measures implemented at the general social, special criminological and individual levels. To achieve the goal of the study, the following methods were used: comparative legal, formal legal, logical legal, comparative, structural and functional and hermeneutic. The use of these approaches made it possible to analyze socio-legal phenomena in the field of preventing corruption in the private sector. It was established that general social measures to prevent criminal offenses in the form of bribery in the activities of legal entities under private law cover a wide range of actions carried out by state bodies, public organizations and other entities. Their goal is to stabilize socio-economic, political, moral-psychological and legal relations in society and the state. The article pays special attention to the harmonization of national anti-corruption legislation with international standards, in particular the provisions of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union and the OECD recommendations. It proposes the introduction of effective mechanisms to prevent bribery in the activities of legal entities under private law, such as: the development of integrity policies, the implementation of anti-corruption compliance, internal control systems and compliance with ethical standards. The current anti-corruption legislation of Ukraine is analyzed, its gaps are identified and measures for improvement are proposed, in particular by expanding the list of legal entities obliged to implement anti-corruption programs. The main goal of the study is to create equal conditions under which honest and transparent business conduct becomes economically beneficial for all business entities. The conclusions indicate that general social measures form the basis for the development and implementation of special criminological approaches to preventing bribery in the activities of legal entities under private law, ensuring a systematic approach to reducing the risks of corruption offenses.

Environmental consequences of war: assessment of waste impact on the environment

The article analyzes the environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine, focusing on the impact of waste generation and management on the state of the environment. The study aims to identify environmental threats associated with waste disposal, assess the damage caused, and evaluate its impact on natural resources and ecosystems. The research employed general scientific methods, such as analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, systematization, and monitoring. The findings reveal that the war in Ukraine has caused extensive environmental damage, including soil, water, and air pollution, biodiversity loss, destruction of protected areas, and contamination with toxic substances. As of 2024, the estimated environmental damage amounts to 2.5 trillion hryvnias, with consequences including ecosystem disruption and long-term impacts on the natural environment. It is noted that the war has generated over 15 billion tons of waste, including construction debris, exacerbating the environmental situation due to damaged waste disposal infrastructure. Although measures for waste collection, temporary storage, and processing are being implemented in some regions, there is an urgent need for an effective waste management strategy that includes infrastructure modernization, sorting systems, and recycling incentives. The study also highlights the use of modern technologies, such as aerial photography, drones, and interactive platforms, which facilitate systematic monitoring and documentation of environmental damage. Significant contributions to data collection and analysis are made by state authorities, public organizations, and international initiatives, such as the «Environmental Treaty.» These platforms enable the assessment of waste and warfare impacts on the environment, the development of ecosystem recovery strategies, and the prosecution of those responsible. The practical significance of the research lies in its potential to inform strategies for environmental restoration and efficient waste management in the post-conflict period.

Cyber threat intelligence in practice: Implications of the blurred lines between public and private intelligence activity

Intelligence is recognised as crucial for strengthening organisational security, particularly in the cyber domain. Companies have developed their own intelligence capabilities to address this requirement. Cyber threat intelligence (CTI) has historically been understood as a primarily technical, politically neutral practice. In contrast, this paper argues that CTI is socio-technical, collaborative and political. Interviews with industry and government practitioners were undertaken to better understand how CTI practitioners viewed their work. The findings underlined the importance of personal trusted relationships and collaboration. Companies were found to be working closely with government, often in ad hoc and informal ways. Moreover, the public and private sector were viewed as having different, complementary forms of visibility into the cyber domain. Together, this has contributed to a blurring of the lines between public and private organisations. These findings suggest that companies should promote trusted personal relationships through a combination of formal and less formal methods. At the same time, companies should be alive to the risks inherent in conducting intelligence activities in ‘operational intimacy’ with state actors, particularly in a period of increasing geopolitical competition and conflict.

Public communications management of the National Police

The article deals with the legislative acts regulating the activities in law enforcement communication of the National Police of Ukraine. The study’s relevance is determined by the need to attract the attention of the public and scientific organisations to solve the problem of police activities in developing partnership relations with representatives of civil society institutions and the demand for new models of social and communicative technologies. It contributes to police interaction with the population as the practical solution of police tasks to ensure public order and safety. The study used the provisions of the theory of law and state police management. Systemic, structural-functional, institutional, comparative, and formal-legal methods were applied to understand the features, structure, problems and trends in the development of police communication. It is stated that the organisation of communications as a function of police management is the management by the police of that part of social communications in the territory served, on which the effectiveness of work and the state of law and order depend. Public relations establish two-way information and communication between the police and the public, providing detailed and objective information and achieving and maintaining mutual understanding, trust, and cooperation. The distinctive features of public communications as a function of police management are manifested in the fact that it is not a means of information communication but the management of information communication for effective interaction with the public in combating crime and maintaining law and order. It is a directed communication and management influence on the environment in which the police operate and on the social system. The ultimate goal of law enforcement communication is to establish a two-way dialogue with the public using information communication tools to increase mutual understanding and trust, to ensure interaction and cooperation in maintaining public safety and public order, and to create a mechanism for public law enforcement activities.

Development of digital healthcare technologies within the concept of responsible innovation

Aim. The work aimed to determine the way the economic and organizational foundations for managing the digital healthcare circuit contribute to the creation of “responsible” technologies.Objectives. The work analyzes the regulatory and methodological foundations governing the processes of creating digital healthcare technologies; conducts an exploratory analysis of data on public procurement of digital healthcare technologies for the period of implementation of the federal project Creating a Single Digital Circuit in Healthcare Based on the Uniform State Health Information System (USHIS) (2019–2024); and presents the factors influencing the processes of implementing digital healthcare projects, based on the value system of responsible healthcare innovations.Methods. The work identifies factors influencing the implementation of regional digital healthcare projects using the policy frameworks, namely Responsible Innovation in Health (RIH), Health Technology Assessment (HTA), and Minimum Viable Product (MVP). The factors are presented in terms of such values of the responsible approach as public health, healthcare system, economy, organization, and environment. Based on the data of public procurement of digital health technologies for 2019–2024, selected by relevant codes of types of expenses, while the results are supplemented by testing hypotheses about the impact of financing processes on project implementation.Results. The digital health management system is focused on the development of a regional standard scenario, which restricts regional authorities in conducting a full-fledged economic assessment of purchased digital solutions, which involves comparing several promising options. Public procurement serves as a mechanism for delivering funds to the contractor rather than as a tool for facilitating high-quality project implementation, which is expressed in periods of active procurement and disproportionate deadlines and contract prices.Conclusions. The grounds for development in digital health contribute to the expansion of innovation in the regions. However, administrative processes influencing their generation have an impeding effect on activities of responsible innovation development. Concluding contracts with a predominance of the electronic auction (76.6% of cases) becomes unreasonable in relation to digital solutions that are being constantly used. Subsidiary dependence of regions can elucidate the shortest terms of contract execution (during the federal project implementation, the average declared term of execution of a contract concluded on behalf of regional, federal authorities and budgetary institutions is 7.5, 9 and 9.4 months, respectively. The possible consequences of such conditions include a high burden on contract executors and an increased probability of delays in their execution. The process of implementing digital healthcare projects can be complicated by the incomparability of contract prices, indicating their scale, and execution terms.