Public Organizations Research Articles

Sustainable Management Strategies for Enhancing Commercial Growth in the Public Health Sector

This study investigates sustainable management strategies for enhancing commercial growth in the public health sector, focusing on the interrelationship between sustainability practices and organizational performance. With the increasing pressure on healthcare systems to reduce costs while improving service quality, sustainable management has emerged as a critical approach to achieving these objectives. The research employs a mixed-methods design, combining quantitative analyses, including descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and structural equation modeling, to evaluate the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives such as waste reduction, energy efficiency, and community engagement.Findings reveal that organizations that implement comprehensive sustainability practices not only experience enhanced operational efficiency but also achieve significant cost savings and improved financial performance. This study contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the tangible benefits of sustainability in the public health sector, providing a framework for organizations to adopt effective strategies that align with environmental goals while driving commercial growth. The recommendations from this research emphasize the importance of leadership commitment, employee engagement, and ongoing training in sustainability practices. As the global emphasis on sustainability continues to rise, this study positions sustainable management as a vital component for the future success of public health organizations.

Development and validation of a scale for citizen distrust in public organizations

PurposeDistrust has been a neglected concept in public governance research, especially in comparison with the much more developed stream of studies on trust. Recently, however, there has been a growing recognition of the need to better understand distrust and separate it from trust, especially given contemporary social challenges which endanger trust within societies. This study aims to propose a validated and reliable scale to measure citizen distrust in public organizations through assessment of public organizations’ untrustworthiness.Design/methodology/approachA rigorous three-stage scale development procedure was used to identify, operationalize, evaluate and validate the dimensions of distrust. Data obtained from a research sample of 541 Polish citizens was subject to construct validation (exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses) with satisfactory discriminant and convergent validities. A homogeneity reliability analysis (Cronbach’s alpha) provided an evidence of internal consistency reliability.FindingsThe study presents a valid and reliable scale assessing distrust through three dimensions of untrustworthiness in the context of public administration. This scale was developed as a three-factor construct with 11 validated items.Originality/valueThe presented instrument allows researchers to study distrust systematically across sectors and countries. It may be useful in future research and may provide insights to design practical remedies for citizen distrust.

The Role of Recruitment Practises in Enabling Workforce Diversity in County Governments in Kenya

Workforce diversity in public sector organizations in sub-Saharan Africa is supported by legal statutes and mandates as opposed to organizational policy initiatives. HR audits indicate a skewed distribution of specific ethnic groups and an aged workforce with redundant skills due to recruitment practices. Due to the dearth of studies on workforce diversity in sub-national governments in Sub-Saharan Africa, the study examined the role of recruitment practices in enabling workforce diversity in the County Government of Trans- Nzoia. The study was guided by the social identity theory and adopted a descriptive design that was cross-sectional in the time dimension. The study censused senior employees of the County Government and employed a questionnaire as the main research instrument The study carried out data analysis through descriptive analysis and used regression analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20.0 and the output presented in the form of graphs, Charts, and tables. The descriptive statistics indicated the county government values employee qualifications and uses both internal and external job advertisements, with a skewed but consistent selection process. Use of interviews with little application of the psychometric test of candidates as a screening criteria. Workforce diversity significantly correlated with the recruitment practices; with job advertisements (r = 0.781, p< 0.05), and screening process (r = 0.679, p< 0.05), The study concluded that the recruitment practices have a positive effect on workforce diversity. Based on the findings, the study recommends that the county government support competitive recruitment procedures to improve workforce diversity. The study implications are that sector organizations can promote workforce diversity through efficient practices. The study calls for the HR professional to critically examine the different aspects of HRM in public sector organizations. The study findings are beneficial to sub-national governments, policymakers/legislators, and other scholars in Kenya

Business process management and digital transition. The case study of an Italian Public University

Purpose The purpose of this study is to highlight how the digitalization of a public university through a structured Business Process Management (BPM) approach allows for a significant performance improvement, even in a bureaucratized context not inclined to process thinking. Design/methodology/approach The used research methodology centers on a single case study conducted at an Italian public university. The selected process has been examined and redesigned within the BPM lifecycle framework. The AS-IS and TO-BE state, i.e. before and after the organizational change, have been modeled according to BPMN2.0 notation and evaluated through quantitative and qualitative techniques. Findings The authors first carried out a literature review to identify pertinent performance indicators suitable for assessing a BPM project within a public organization. Secondarily, applying the BPM framework to the case study enabled significant improvements in the quality of the process. Third, the authors analyzed the impact on people and the organization and how to soothe the transition to a digitalized process. Originality/value The study’s findings can contribute to the existing body of knowledge on BPM as a digitalization approach in the public sector. The case study is the first of its kind in the higher education context. Its value also resides in highlighting the efficacy of using BPM as a guiding tool for making organizational and technical decisions during the implementation phase within the specific context of this paper.

Intonation cues to English public discourse perception

The study considers the discourse functions of intonation and identifies a few problems and contradictions in the current theories of intonation functioning. Particular attention is paid to such issues as the multiple functions of nuclear tones, pitch declination in utterances and perceptual identification of spoken paragraphs. An attempt has been made to handle these problems in the context of English public speeches delivered in the format of TED talks. The purpose of the auditory analysis of discourse intonation in these talks is to check the perceptual reliability of intonation cues in processing spoken discourse and the possibility of using intonation as an on-line perception strategy. The methods applied in the research are descriptive, auditory and comparative, supported by a certain amount of quantitative data. The results obtained in the auditory analysis show that intonation cues work most effectively at the level of intonation groups and utterances but are not self-sufficient in paragraph identification. The leading function of nuclear tones in public discourse organization turns out to be the information structuring of utterances, which is occasionally interrupted by the attitudinal function. Pitch declination has been found to be one of the most important cues to the integrity and cohesion of utterances, with an average length of three-four intonation groups. Multiple declinations in spoken utterances are infrequent and are triggered by particular types of syntactic relations in elongated sentences. The study contributes to the linguistic description of discourse intonation, and its results can be beneficial for language teaching practice and automated speech synthesis.

Reshaping disaster management: An integrated community‐led approach

AbstractThe management of disasters has traditionally involved public, private, and nongovernmental organisations working together. While scholars have examined the value of collaborations among these entities, less is known about how to successfully engage and empower communities in disaster management. Based on network governance theory, this article contributes to the growing body of public management literature on community engagement by presenting findings from an Australian research initiative conducted after the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires in New South Wales. Through workshops and semi‐structured interviews with a total of 58 members from local communities and emergency agencies, this paper identifies differing perspectives on power distribution among stakeholders, indicating complexities in achieving an integrated and community‐led disaster management approach. The findings underscore the need to shift from exclusively centralised to more inclusive systems, recognising the unique contributions of nonofficial community‐based groups. To address this, the study suggests: a funded community consultation committee, ensuring government and local community representation; collaborative debriefing sessions, leveraging technology for knowledge capture; and the adoption of different leadership styles able to identify, include, and integrate communities as both steerers and rowers within established hierarchical arrangements.Points for practitioners The current centralised emergency management system, which relies on recognised experts and state‐controlled facilities, limits the integration of nonofficial resources and community‐based knowledge. A shift towards a more community‐centric and integrated approach (collaborative polycentric governance) is needed to enhance disaster resilience and response in Australia. Different stages of disaster reduction could and should have different leadership styles: a transformational, collaborative community‐based style should be implemented before and after the disaster, while a transactional leadership style, more focused on restructuring the system or how it is applied, should be adopted during the disaster.

Take (part) or Toss? Applying a Job Demands-Resources Lens to Public Leaders’ Motivation to Engage in Leader Training

Although mechanisms taking place prior to a leader training (LT) itself seem crucial for its effectiveness, public leadership scholars have so far rarely studied this pre-training stage. Drawing on Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory, this study aims to initiate this endeavor by identifying personal and job-related factors (i.e., resources and demands) that are linked to public leaders’ motivation to develop as a leader. Structural equation modeling reveals that predominantly public leaders’ self-efficacy, development needs perception and organizational support are crucial for their motivation to develop, which in turn is decisive for explaining public leaders’ willingness to participate in LT. This study theoretically contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of mechanisms underlying public LT and informs HR managers of potential levers to adequately support self-directed LT in public organizations.

Effects of strategic leadership on change management: examining the mediating roles of accountability, knowledge management, and organizational culture in public organizations: a study in Central Gondar, Ethiopia

Effects of strategic leadership on change management: examining the mediating roles of accountability, knowledge management, and organizational culture in public organizations: a study in Central Gondar, Ethiopia

«Автобиография профессора Николая Иосифовича Воробьева»

The publication is a commentary and the text of the handwritten autobiography of N.I. Vorobyev. The document is introduced into scholarly discourse for the first time. The undertaken analysis of the text allowed us to identify new facts from the life and work of the researcher and to grasp their context. The document is dated March 2, 1947 and was written by the scholar during his work at Kazan State University. N.I. Vorobyev lists in detail the facts about his parents, the process of receiving an education, the beginning of his teaching and research work. He reveals the evolution of his own academic interests, from geography to ethnography, and highlights the author’s scholarly papers that are of significance from his point of view. The document mentions N.I. Vorobyev’s research work in the Far East dedicated to the study of the life of the Nanai (the Golds) and in the Mari ASSR – limnological studies of lakes. The researcher emphasises his work on methodological support of teachers. A separate chapter of the autobiography contains a description of the academic’s participation in the work of various public scholarly organisations. N.I. Vorobyev focuses on the important aspects of his life that correspond to the spirit of those times. This is the recognition of his political unconsciousness in the first years of the Soviet power, service in the Red Army as a private soldier. The autobiography of N.I. Vorobyev is a valuable, informative source. It shows not only the significance of individual milestones in his life and work for the scholar himself, but also reveals the distinctive features of the Soviet era, which formed the conditions for work for the entire academic community.

Characteristics of the legal status of an individual entrepreneur

The article examines the peculiarities of the legal status of an individual entrepreneur in the course of entrepreneurial activity. The relevance of the study lies in the fact that an individual entrepreneur is the most popular form of doing business in Ukraine due to a fairly simple registration procedure, low administration costs, and the possibility to use the simplified taxation system The purpose of the article is to determine the main characteristics of the legal status of an individual entrepreneur. The author examines the interpretation of the concept of an individual entrepreneur in the legal literature. The author establishes that the legal status of an individual entrepreneur is the legal status which certifies the right of a citizen to engage in entrepreneurial activity, in particular, independent, systematic, initiative, at his/her own risk economic activity carried out by an entrepreneur with a view to achieving certain economic and social results and making a profit. The author considers the main legal acts regulating the activities of individual entrepreneurs in Ukraine, in particular, the Constitution of Ukraine, the Civil Code of Ukraine, the Commercial Code of Ukraine, the Tax Code of Ukraine, the Law of Ukraine «On State Registration of Legal Entities, Individual Entrepreneurs and Public Organisations», decrees of the President of Ukraine, resolutions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The author analyses the peculiarities of registration of individual entrepreneurs, their basic rights and obligations. The author identifies the peculiarities of taxation of activities of an individual entrepreneur, in particular, the peculiarities of the general and simplified taxation systems. The general taxation system provides for the payment of personal income tax on a progressive scale, as well as military duty and a single social contribution. The simplified taxation system is divided into several groups, each of which has its own restrictions on the amount of income and the number of employees. The most popular is the second group, which allows you to run a business without employees and with a limit on income up to a certain amount. The article briefly describes how the beginning of the full-scale invasion and martial law affected the activities of individual entrepreneurs.

Regulatory and legal component of administrative regulation of probation

The article examines the normative-legal component of the administrative regulation of probation.Itwasdeterminedthattheadministrative and legal regulation of probation is a set of legal norms and mechanisms that determine the order of organization and implementation of probation measures in the state, the competence of state bodies, their duties and rights regarding control over the implementation of probation measures and interaction in this area with the courts , law enforcement agencies and social services. It is noted that probation is a system of supervision, control and social-educational measures applied by court decision to offenders instead of imprisonment or as a substitute for punishment, includes individual supervision, assistance in resocialization and measures aimed at preventing repeated crimes and ensuring safety society, while integrating the offender into social life without isolation. It is emphasized that the NPA system of administrative and legal regulation of probation includes international legal standards, national NPAs, including Acts of central executive bodies, local normative acts, agreements, methodological recommendations, etc., the norms of which are aimed at the development of alternative punishments, provision of rehabilitation and social support of offenders, regulation of the organization and implementation of probation in Ukraine, determine the legal basis for the activity of probation authorities, and also establish the procedure for providing probation services for persons who have committed a criminal offense. It was determined that the shortcomings of the administrative and legal regulation of probation are: the imperfection of the legislative framework, violation of the probation procedure, clear criteria for assessing the convicted person and the system for assessing the risks of recidivism, the mismatch of resources and the burden on the system, the low level of coordination between subjects of probation, the prevalence of ineffective methods of psychological works; society is not aware of the purpose and mechanism of probation, etc. It has been stated that the prospects for improving the normative-legal basis of the administrative-legal regulation of probation in Ukraine are: harmonization of legislation with international standards, institutional strengthening of the probation system, expansion of various approaches to probation, improvement of mechanisms for rehabilitation and support of offenders, involvement of public organizations, development of electronic monitoring systems , expanding educational programs for probation officers, increasing funding, research and analysis of probation effectiveness, etc.

Exploring Public Emotions on Obesity During the COVID-19 Pandemic Using Sentiment Analysis and Topic Modeling: Cross-Sectional Study.

Obesity is a chronic, multifactorial, and relapsing disease, affecting people of all ages worldwide, and is directly related to multiple complications. Understanding public attitudes and perceptions toward obesity is essential for developing effective health policies, prevention strategies, and treatment approaches. This study investigated the sentiments of the general public, celebrities, and important organizations regarding obesity using social media data, specifically from Twitter (subsequently rebranded as X). The study analyzes a dataset of 53,414 tweets related to obesity posted on Twitter during the COVID-19 pandemic, from April 2019 to December 2022. Sentiment analysis was performed using the XLM-RoBERTa-base model, and topic modeling was conducted using the BERTopic library. The analysis revealed that tweets regarding obesity were predominantly negative. Spikes in Twitter activity correlated with significant political events, such as the exchange of obesity-related comments between US politicians and criticism of the United Kingdom's obesity campaign. Topic modeling identified 243 clusters representing various obesity-related topics, such as childhood obesity; the US President's obesity struggle; COVID-19 vaccinations; the UK government's obesity campaign; body shaming; racism and high obesity rates among Black American people; smoking, substance abuse, and alcohol consumption among people with obesity; environmental risk factors; and surgical treatments. Twitter serves as a valuable source for understanding obesity-related sentiments and attitudes among the public, celebrities, and influential organizations. Sentiments regarding obesity were predominantly negative. Negative portrayals of obesity by influential politicians and celebrities were shown to contribute to negative public sentiments, which can have adverse effects on public health. It is essential for public figures to be mindful of their impact on public opinion and the potential consequences of their statements.

Анализ развития современной двусторонней торговли между РФ и КНР

Analysis of the development of trade and economic relations between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Russian Federation (RF) is an important aspect of research in the field of international economics and the development of economic relations between these two countries. Since 2022, trade turnover between them has been constantly increasing, setting new historical records. For about 14 years, China has been Russia's largest trading partner in many respects. The purpose of this article is to analyze the development of trade and economic relations between China and Russia over the past few years and identify prospects for future mutually beneficial cooperation. To do this, reports from customs departments of the two countries, expert reviews, and reports from public and private organizations have been used as the main sources of information. These sources provide detailed information on the flow of goods, currency transactions, investment projects, and other important aspects of the trade and economic relationship between the PRC (China) and Russia. Analysis of these sources revealed several key trends and factors affecting the development and prospects for mutual relations between the two countries. An increase in trade turnover was observed, as was an increase in China's share in Russian trade. Additionally, there was a diversification of the commodity structure and a deepening of investment cooperation. Problems faced by the two nations in the process of establishing economic ties were identified, along with their possible solutions. Based on this analysis, conclusions were drawn regarding the possible future evolution and prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the Russian Federation over the coming years.

Allied health work readiness capabilities: a qualitative comparison of graduates, supervisors, and managers’ perspectives

ABSTRACT Researchers have highlighted gaps in the work readiness (WR) of allied health (AH) graduates and the capabilities required to successfully work in an interprofessional collaborative practice healthcare environment. In the studies conducted, the focus has generally been on one AH discipline or on one participant group across disciplines, such as new graduates. We explored WR capability of new AH graduates across three participant groups (managers, supervisors, and graduates) and across several AH disciplines in the health sector. Focus groups using Critical Incident Technique (CIT) were conducted with 47 participants (14 new graduates, 13 supervisors, and 20 managers) from four public health organisations across Eastern Australia. CIT identified examples where new AH graduates had/did not have necessary WR capabilities to manage situations in the collaborative practice environment. Using thematic analysis, we found four main themes related to WR expectations of AH graduates (work skills and knowledge, working with others, personal attributes, and organisational knowledge), with several sub-themes. Some aspects of identified themes/sub-themes were unique to the AH interprofessional work context. Understanding of AH graduates’ WR from multiple perspectives could support development of programs to enable graduate success in interprofessional working environments.

A Moderated Mediation Model on the Relationship Among Public Service Motivation (PSM), Self-Efficacy, Job Satisfaction, and Readiness for Change

Despite the pivotal role of employees in relation to organizational change, few studies have proposed an integrated influence mechanism that accounts for employee change readiness. By combining public service motivation (PSM), person–organization (P–O) fit, and expectancy–disconfirmation theories (EDT), we developed a moderated mediation model to explore individual-level impacts on organizational change. Based on questionnaire data collected from 512 doctors working in public hospitals in China, we found that individual doctors’ PSM positively contributed to their readiness for change but was moderated by self-efficacy and job satisfaction. Specifically, doctors with decreased job satisfaction resulting from realizing their limited capacity to influence policies from higher-ups tend to show a lack of willingness to actively prepare for change. In sum, this study not only contributes to a micro-level understanding of employees’ readiness for change but also proposes feasible suggestions to enable smoother and more successful organizational changes in public sector organizations. The research findings illuminate the crucial role that individual-level dynamics play in organizational change for scholars and practitioners.

Sports Development Management in the Republic of Armenia: The Structure and Statistics

Sports is one of the many branches of the national economic complex and represents a complex and unique socio-economic system, the activity of which is characterized by multifaceted social and state relations. It should be considered that the management structure of any socio-economic sector of the state is largely determined first by the state policy, the very structure of the state. It should be organically integrated into the sports movement management system. The state body responsible for the development of sports in Republic of Armenia (RA) is the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports (MESCS), which is entrusted with the functions of implementing state policy and legal regulation, as well as providing support to sports organizations and sports federations. The main goal of its activity is the formation of a positive attitude of society, the state and the entire nation towards sports as an effective means of maintaining and strengthening human health, an integral part of universal culture, and as a factor, especially in the physical and moral education of children and young people. The Ministry carries out the functions of state policy and legal regulation in physical culture, sports and youth issues and the processes of developing and implementing them. Along with that, public sports organizations in the form of NAOC of Armenia and national sports federations and units play an important role in the development of sports in the republic. Funding for mass sports and high-performance sports is increasing year by year in Armenia, which is aimed at increasing the number of events, as well as increasing the number of incentives for the achievements of people who do sports and high-level athletes.

The activities of the police and public organizations to prevent the spread of prostitution in the late XIX – early XX centuries in the Kazan province

The activities of the police and public organizations to prevent the spread of prostitution in the late XIX – early XX centuries in the Kazan province

Regulatory impact of a governmental approach for artificial intelligence technology implementation in Vietnam

This study assesses Vietnam’s state-level implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and analyses the government’s efforts to encourage AI implementation by focusing on the National Strategy on AI Development Program. This study emphasizes the possibility of implementing AI at the state level in Vietnam and the importance of conducting continuous reviews and enhancements to achieve sustainable and inclusive AI growth. Impact evaluations were conducted in public organizations alone, and implication evaluations were considered optional. AI impact assessments were constrained by societal norms that necessitated establishing relationships among findings. There is a lack of official information regarding the positive impact of Vietnam’s AI policy on the development of AI infrastructure, research, and talent pools. The study’s findings highlight the necessity of facilitating extensive AI legislation, and strengthening international cooperation. The study concludes with the following recommendations for improving Vietnam’s AI policy: implementing a strong AI governance structure and supporting AI education and awareness.

Exploring workplace well-being strategies in Iranian public organizations: a mixed methods study

PurposeTo ensure effective national governance, it is essential to enhance employees' well-being in the workplace. Employees with good mental and physical health are more likely to demonstrate a high level of commitment and engagement in advancing public policy objectives, which serve as instruments of public will. A comprehensive understanding of the various effective strategies to improve workplace well-being is indispensable to formulating human resource management policies within the public sector. Therefore, this study aims to uncover and prioritize the key strategies, programs and actions that contribute to enhancing the workplace well-being of public employees in Iran, drawing from their perspectives and experiences.Design/methodology/approachWe conducted a mixed-method study incorporating both qualitative and quantitative phases to recognize and measure these strategies. In the first phase, a qualitative content analysis was carried out based on the perspectives of Iranian public sector employees. In the subsequent phase, a questionnaire derived from the qualitative findings was randomly distributed to 374 employees from 14 public organizations. FindingsWorkplace well-being strategies can be summarized according to the level of their importance as follows: employees' well-being through “inter-personal relationship,” “systems,” “technologies,” “structure,” “culture” and “environment” within the organization. These strategies as six themes divided into 13 categories and 60 subcategories of programs and actions to promote employee well-being in the work setting.Originality/valueThe importance of considering employees' perspectives on workplace well-being is highlighted as a crucial aspect, rather than depending exclusively on managerial viewpoints for the implementation of well-being initiatives. Adopting an integrated and holistic approach to workplace well-being through strategies, programs and actions is another significant contribution of this study.

Innovative ways of dealing with unforeseen events

Innovative ways of dealing with unforeseen events Dorothy Sutherland Olsen and Lisa Scordato from the Nordic Institute for Studies of innovation, research and education, explore innovative ways of dealing with unforeseen events. Increasing interest in the challenges experienced by public and private organisations when unforeseen events occur, has prompted a research project looking into potential ways of developing relevant competence to deal with such events. The project has been inspired by earlier studies on innovation where change is seen, not only as a challenge, but also as an opportunity. Unforeseen events have always been around, ready to disrupt everyday routines in organisations. These events are not always completely unforeseen, but the scale is often unknown, and we can rarely predict exactly when these events might occur. These events can be pandemics, terror incidents or natural catastrophes; they can also be new technologies, new green ways of working or perhaps more local events like an employee leaving confidential documents on the bus or a construction team dropping a six-tonne oil installation. All these events require a rapid response; speed is of the essence, and errors and delays must be avoided.