Public Sector Context Research Articles

Artists as public sector intrapreneurs: an experiment

As organizations grapple with changing environmental conditions, they face problems that are novel, ill-defined, and complex. These emerging problems require creative problem-solving and innovative solutions. Intrapreneurs can galvanize creative activity and develop fresh strategies in organizations. One way that organizations have sought to promote intrapreneurship is through artist residencies, which are programs that invite artists to work in unconventional environments, such as public agencies, businesses, and universities. In a controlled experiment, we test whether artists act as intrapreneurs in solving a novel, ill-defined, and complex problem in the public sector context. Our results indicate that artists bring intrapreneurial characteristics, such as openness and divergent thinking abilities, to group problem-solving settings. Moreover, we find that groups of public sector workers who collaborate with artists may develop more creative solutions than groups collaborating without artists. Our results suggest that artists serve as resident intrapreneurs, bringing openness to new insights and creativity to generate new ideas.

Järjestöt kansalaisten edustajina hallinnonuudistuksessa?

In this paper, we study third sector organizations as representatives of citizens in the contextof public sector reform. Our research focuses onthird sector organizations as part of public service systems. Our aim is to examine how theseorganizations are able to filter citizen interestsinto public policy-making processes? The theoretical framework of this research is based onthe concepts of participation, legitimacy and thedevelopments of civil society in the era of participatory governance in Finland. We have interviewed representatives of third sector organizations operating in the field of social and healthservices. This set of interviews also forms the data of our study. Our key findings suggest that thesocial and health focused third sector organizations form a heterogenous group and they differin their resources to represent citizens and theirrespective interest groups. Working together asallied groups in the public policy processes can,however, increase third sector organizations’possibilities to influence public sector reforms.

Regions for health case study: Turning Welsh legislation for sustainable development into everyday practice

Abstract In 1998, Wales became one of the first nations in the world to have a legal requirement in relation to sustainable development. The introduction of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 bolstered previous schemes, by providing an enabling framework for thinking and working differently, and embedding a Health in All Policies approach. With seven well-being goals which aim to make Wales a healthier place, where the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales is improved, the Act impacts on public bodies, including local authorities, to make sure that when making their decisions they take into account the impact they could have on people's well-being, that they involve citizens, and they look to the future as well as focusing on the now. Wales also became one of the first nations in the world to establish a legislative link to the international SDGs. A new report gives practical examples and case studies demonstrating how organizations can respond to the legislation. Informed by a review of the international evidence, the report makes five key recommendations for practical implementation of sustainable development principles. Although the report reflects the Welsh public sector context, the findings can act as a go-to guide for any organization seeking to address global issues such as climate change, biodiversity and de-carbonization, as well as to implement the globally agreed Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The report is positive about the Welsh legislative approach; suggesting it could make a significant and long-lasting difference to the people living in Wales, with the potential to set an example globally. The presentation will provide examples on how this is translating into practical action for the Welsh NHS system change including collective action on a de-carbonization pathway and how staff and the wider public are being motivated and engaged to 'Be The Change'. to create a network of champions will be given.

Linking Ability-Job Fit and Work Engagement in the Public Sector

While work engagement has been extensively investigated in private sector research, culminating in an extensive body of knowledge and a thriving engagement “industry”, much less research has been undertaken in public sector contexts. Yet, a focus on engagement may be particularly important given the extent and nature of public sector reforms internationally. This paper draws on the job demands- resources (JDR) model to provide a more nuanced understanding of the processes underpinning work engagement in the public sector. We test a model which examines whether the fit between perceptions of ability and demands is associated with engagement and whether this relationship is mediated by perceptions of meaningful work. We also consider whether prosocial motivation moderates the relationship between ability-job fit and meaningful work. We test our model by drawing on data from two large-scale employee surveys (study 1: N = 10,401 and study 2: N = 18,926) undertaken within the civil service in Ireland. Our findings support the relationships we hypothesize. Our paper discusses our study’s contribution to knowledge and its implications for practice.

Momentum for Change and Stakeholder Dynamics in the Public Sector

This paper examines how stakeholder dynamics influence the momentum for change in a public sector context. Creating and maintaining energy is essential for reaching planned change goals. Existing research suggests that social interactions among stakeholders influence the momentum for change. While the role of internal stakeholders has been documented, we know less about how external stakeholders can influence planned change processes, yet particularly in the public sector, externals often play an important role. This inductive study draws on the experiences of a top manager and adopts a collaborative research approach to show how external stakeholders can influence change processes. We compare and contrast two change processes within the same public sector organization, where one change process resulted in goal attainment while the other came to naught. Our analysis shows how stakeholder interaction can either amplify or kill the momentum for change. Four dynamic patterns influence momentum for change: external stakeholders influence the process, internal stakeholders mobilize external stakeholders and vice versa, external stakeholders trigger multiple stakeholders and external stakeholders legitimize shifting positions.

Public procurement performance and the challenge of service complexity – the case of pre-hospital healthcare

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the links between contextual changes, contract arrangements and resultant problems when changes in outsourcing regulatory requirements are applied to complex pre-hospital services previously characterized by relational contracting. Design/methodology/approach The study deployed a qualitative design based on interviews with key informants and extensive studies of documents. It is a longitudinal study of a procurement process taking place in a regional health authority covering the period 2006 to 2017. Findings A complex and longitudinal public procurement process where pre-hospital (ambulance) services are transformed from relational and outsourced governance to more formal arrangements based on legal and transactional controls, is described in detail. After several years, the process collapsed due to challenges following public scrutiny, legal actions and administrative staff resignations. The public body lacked procurement competencies and the learning process following the regulations was lengthy. In the end, the services were in-sourced. Research limitations/implications This study is based on one case and it should, therefore, not be generalized without limitations. Practical implications One practical implication of this study is that transactional contracts are not optimal when core and complex services are produced in inter-organizational settings. In public sector health-care contexts, the role of informal and social controls based on relational exchanges are particularly applicable. Social implications Acute health-care services essential to citizens’ security and health imply high asset specificity, frequency and uncertainty. Such transactions should according to theory be produced in-house because of high agency costs in the procurement process. Originality/value The paper contributes to the understanding of how the public procurement process can itself be complex, as managerial challenges and solutions vary along several dimensions and are contingent upon external factors. In particular, the study increases knowledge of why the design and implementation of outsourcing models may create problems that impede and obstruct control in a particular public sector context.

Antecedents and Outcome of Electronic Government Implementation in a Service Sector Context

This research assesses the implementation of e-government in the police department in Sudan. The objectives of the study are to: a) investigate the effect of antecedents (government support, IT infrastructure, training, trust, ease of use and performance expectancy) on e-government implementation; b) examine the effect of e-government implementation on service quality in the police department. A quantitative method is deployed using a questionnaire to collect the study data, in which out of 547 questionnaires, 300 were retrieved (54.9%). Structural equation modelling (SEM) using AMOS 24 is used to test the research model. The results revealed that the data supported four out of the seven hypotheses. The current study attempts to fill a gap in the literature by examining not only the antecedents of e-government implementation, but also identifying the relationship between the subsequent implementation and service quality in a public sector context.

What is so special with outsourcing in the public sector?

Purpose This paper centers round outsourcing. The purpose of this paper is to direct attention to outsourcing in the public sector and focus on what could be special when considering outsourcing in such contexts. The authors try to portray the business activities in private and in public sector settings and identify some similarities and – more importantly – some significant differences. Design/methodology/approach The authors use two analytical tools, a classification system of various interfaces between a selling and buying firm and a two-fold scheme for strategic analyses of outsourcing or not as well as in what ways to outsource. These tools have been developed in studies of private sector outsourcing but are applicable, as tools, also in public sector contexts. Two empirical cases from public sector outsourcing are used to illustrate options and obstacles for outsourcing ventures in the public sector. Findings The analytical discussion aims at pointing out when and how outsourcing should be a straightforward choice in the public sector. The authors also point at situations when it is a much more complicated process and thus restricted. Originality/value This study gives strong support for the need to identify which theoretical model has been used by the involved organizations in their evaluation of the situation.

Drivers and differentiators: a grounded theory study of procurement in public and private organizations

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine procurement professionals’ perceptions of public-private partnerships in contract arrangements and to explore decision-making that takes place in the contracting process.Design/methodology/approachA grounded theory approach is applied to Simon’s (1947) model of decision-making to better understand the perceptions of procurement professionals, especially because it pertains to public vs private sector contexts. The researchers collected data by conducting interviews and observing a compliance webinar of federal contracting employees.FindingsThe results show that in the decision-making process, Simon’s illustration of a means-end hierarchy is applicable for procurement decision-making because it is driven by activities that are evaluated using aims established by the organization.Practical implicationsThe implications are that, in the procurement decision-making process, a means-end hierarchy is driven by the activities that are evaluated using aims established by the organization. Essentially, the activities are associated to a mean, a mean is associated to a sub-goal and the sub-goal supports the main aim of the organization.Social implicationsThis study supports the notion that training, information and procedures are a way for organizations to control behaviors and promote consistent results from their subordinates.Originality/valueThis study contributes by examining the drivers of procurement decision-making. Despite previous literature that focuses on practitioner discretion or emphasizes on socio-economic factors, this study highlights the linkages between practitioner decision-making and organizational aims and objectives. As such, the paper serves to illustrate the vital connection between procurement activities and outputs.

Factors Influencing the Adoption of Open Government Data in The Public Sector: A Systematic Literature Review

Open Government Data (OGD) adoption has been extensively studied; however, few have examined the success factors of OGD adoption in the public sector context. The benefits of leveraging data in enhancing public service delivery have been a significant concern to the top management of the public sector in providing them insight for strategic planning together with timely decision making. The aim of this paper is to review recent literature from the year 2010 to 2018 on OGD adoption at the organizational level in the public sector context. We systematically searched all English papers that were indexed in seven electronic journal databases (Scopus, Emerald, Web of Science, Science Direct, ACM, Springer and IEEE) which include journals, proceedings, books and book chapters. Few papers were acquired from snowballing techniques and ResearchGate webpage. A total of 886 publications were identified in this process and 25 papers have finally been selected which are deemed as relevant papers for the analysis stage. As derived from 25 selected papers, this study has identified 16 factors that influence the OGD adoption which has been categorized into three main dimensions: Technological, Organizational and Environmental (T-O-E). Policy, technological competence, top management support and organization culture are among the most influential factors of OGD adoption. Therefore, this study is expected to assist other researchers to understand the current stage of OGD adoption in terms of influential factors, research domains and research methodology.

Why Health Care Information Systems Succeed or Fail

Some health care information systems (HCIS) do succeed, but the majority are likely to fail in some way. To explain why this happens, and how failure rates may be reduced, this paper describes the ‘ITPOSMO’ model of conception — reality gaps. This argues that the greater the change gap between current realities and the design conceptions (i.e. requirements and assumptions) of a new health care information system, the greater the risk of failure. Three archetypal large design — reality gaps affect the HCIS domain and are associated with an increased risk of failure: • Rationality — reality gaps: that arise from the formal, rational way in which many HCIS are conceived, which mismatches the behavioural realities of some health care organisations. • Private — public sector gaps: that arise from application in public sector contexts of HCIS developed for the private sector. • Country gaps: that arise from application in one country of HCIS developed in a different country. Some generic conclusions can be drawn about successful approaches to HCIS development. Examples include the need for more reality-oriented techniques and applications, and greater use of participative approaches to HCIS. More specifically, techniques can be identified for each of the seven ITPOSMO dimensions that will help close the gap between conception and reality. This can include the freezing of one or more dimensions of change. Such techniques will help improve the contribution that information systems can make in health care organisations. Overall, then, this paper will provide readers with an understanding and model of why health care information systems succeed or fail, and with general guidance on how to avoid HCIS failure.

Decide Madrid: A Critical Analysis of an Award-Winning e-Participation Initiative

This paper analyzes the award-winning e-participation initiative of the city council of Madrid, Decide Madrid, to identify the critical success factors and the main barriers that are conditioning its performance. An exploratory case study is used as a research technique, including desk research and semi-structured interviews. The analysis distinguishes contextual, organizational and individual level factors; it considers whether the factors or barriers are more related to the information and communication technology (ICT) component, public sector context or democratic participation; it also differentiates among the different stages of the development of the initiative. Results show that individual and organizational factors related to the public sector context and democratic participation are the most relevant success factors. The high expectations of citizens explain the high levels of participation in the initial stages of Decide Madrid. However, the lack of transparency and poor functioning of some of its participatory activities (organizational factors related to the ICT and democratic dimensions) are negatively affecting its performance. The software created for this platform, Consul, has been adopted or it is in the process of being implemented in more than 100 institutions in 33 countries. Therefore, the findings of this research can potentially be useful to improve the performance and sustainability of e-participation platforms worldwide.

The Implementation Guidelines of Digital Document Management System for Malaysia Public Sector: Expert Review

Digital Document Management System (DDMS) is a system adopted by the Malaysian Public sector for managing documents and records. Despite giving many benefits, the adoption of the system is still below satisfaction. A guideline should be in place to accelerate the adoption rate of such a system. Accordingly, a guideline for DDMS implementation is proposed as was suggested in a previous study involving 439 DDMS users by the same authors. The proposed guidelines consist of 6 main factors which are: system capability; implementation policy; security, training; awareness programs, and top management/team members (colleague) supports. This paper aims to verify the content of the proposed guidelines in order to seek for its suitability in the Malaysian public sector context. Data was collected via a face-to-face interview with four panels of experts (practitioners) who have vast experience in DDMS implementation. The finding thence confirmed and verified the content of the proposed guidelines. The proposed guidelines is expected to assist the DDMS implementation team especially the three leading agencies such as the Malaysian Administrative Modernization and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU), Chief Government Security Office (CGSO) and the National Archives of Malaysia (NAM) in coordinating and planning for the implementation of DDMS initiative at the agencies level vis-a-vis increase the level of user adoption. This guideline also can be used as a reference to develop a detailed DDMS implementation policy by the committee and the project team.

A geographic picture of Lean adoption in the public sector: Cases, approaches, and a refreshed agenda

Public organizations are immersed in challenging contexts, having to meet and balance internal and external demands for transparency, accountability, political goals, and specific regulatory requirements. In this scenario, there is a growing enthusiasm from worldwide governments toward improvements of operations within their public institutions, including the adoption of management practices borrowed from the manufacturing industry, such as Lean Manufacturing. A large body of literature is evolving and addressing the importance of nurturing debates over Lean in the public domain, and so are efforts to integrate and structure such knowledge. We claim that (mainly) considering the public sector context, a geographical analysis is imperative for the research progress to be effective. We, therefore, seek to provide an extended look by conducting a qualitative systematic review, thoroughly scrutinizing extant empirical investigations across the globe, and over the years. We provide a categorization of current literature on the topic, identifying gaps, and providing timely avenues for future research.

Organisational learning and change in a public sector context

It is broadly accepted that learning is important in supporting the delivery of change. Furthermore, during times of public sector budget cuts there is a growing interest in innovation and change. However, it is also generally accepted that austere times typically lead to a reduction in training and development budgets – particularly within the public sector. This paper explores the extent to which the assumed link between learning and change is contested during austerity. Fifty-one public sector managers from Wales and Scotland participated in the study, over a period of 13 months, from a wide range of public sector organisations across two devolved parts of the UK. The research explored issues surrounding motivations for learning, expectations of outcomes and perceptions around the drivers of change. It is found that public sector budget cuts are having a direct impact on learning and development opportunities across the UK public sector. Whilst budget cuts may lead to change, this is likely to be piecemeal rather than strategic. In conclusion, this research supports the view that austerity is a barrier to meaningful change in the public sector and not a driver.

The Effect of Good Governance, Leadership and Organizational Culture on Public Performance Accountability

This study propose and test a theoretical framework concerning the relationship between good governance, leadership style and organizational culture on public performance accountability in a public sector context. This study aims to determine the effect of good governance, leadership style and organizational culture on public performance accountability of government institutions (Case Study in Bandung Highways and Irrigation Office). The study took a positivist approach as the philosophy of the study. Using quantitative methods, a cross-sectional survey was used to collect data from 36 public officers working in Bandung Highways and Irrifation Office, East Java, Indonesia. Multiple regression analysis was applied in this study and found that two of three hypotheses proposed are rejected.The findings imply that it is important that the Bandung Highways and Irrigation Office makes an effort to retain higher public performance accountability are readily showing high levels of Organizational Culture. The study focused on an overlooked area in the study of performance accountability in the public sector. Furthermore, the results show how the specific context (organizational culture) of public organizations determines the public performance accountability.

The Significance of Policy and Guidelines on Risk Management Implementation and Development in Malaysian and United Kingdom Public Sector

The purpose of this paper was to identify the significance of the policy and guidelines on risk management implementation and development in the public sector. Specifically, this paper compared the risk management implementation in the Malaysian and United Kingdom public sector by emphasizing the significance of policy and guidelines. Archival documents from government websites and relevant government agencies in Malaysia and United Kingdom were collected and critically analyzed. This study found that policy and guidelines are significant in risk management implementation and development in the public sector context. The central government policy is classified as the most powerful element as compliance with regulation is the dominant factor driving risk control systems in many organizations. In addition, suitable guidelines ensure organizations have good risk management practices and not just a one-off exercise, to facilitate the development of sustainable processes of risk management. The Malaysian government needs to decide to adopt a more formal and structured approach to risk management by incorporating the best practices from the private sector and benchmarks from a variety of public sector organizations around the world, such as the United Kingdom. The relevant guides and reports should be prepared by adopting various methods to contribute toward the development of risk management in Malaysian public sector.

Policy-makers’ Processing of AI Algorithmic Advice: ‘Automation Bias’ versus Selective Adherence

Artificial intelligence algorithms are increasingly adopted as decisional aides by public organisations, with the promise of overcoming biases of human decision-makers. At the same time, the use of algorithms may introduce new biases in the human-algorithm interaction. A key concern emerging from psychology studies regards human overreliance on algorithmic advice even in the face of “warning signals” and contradictory information from other sources (automation bias). A second concern regards decision-makers’ inclination to selectively adopt algorithmic advice when it matches their pre-existing beliefs and stereotypes (selective adherence). To date, we lack rigorous empirical evidence about the prevalence of these biases in a public sector context. We assess these via two pre-registered experimental studies (N=1,509), simulating the use of algorithmic advice in decisions pertaining to the employment of school teachers in the Netherlands. In study 1, we test automation bias by exploring participants’ adherence to a prediction of teachers’ performance, which contradicts additional evidence, while comparing between two types of predictions: algorithmic v. human-expert. We do not find evidence for automation bias. In study 2, we replicate these findings, and we also test selective adherence by manipulating the teachers’ ethnic background. We find a propensity for adherence when the advice predicts low performance for a teacher of a negatively stereotyped ethnic minority, with no significant differences between algorithmic and human advice. Overall, our findings of selective, biased adherence belie the promise of neutrality that has propelled algorithm use in the public sector.

Public sector entrepreneurship in South Africa

PurposeMany unanswered questions remain regarding the authors’ understanding of how entrepreneurship can be fostered in the public sector. To fill this knowledge gap, the purpose of this paper is to conduct an empirical investigation to determine the relationship between different organisational factors and entrepreneurial orientation (EO) in the South African public sector.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data are sourced from middle-level managers at municipalities in the three largest provinces across South Africa. Hypotheses are statistically tested using regression analyses.FindingsResults reveal that the organisational antecedents of structure and culture explain a significant amount of variation in the EO dimensions of innovativeness, risk taking and proactiveness. Additionally, the findings on organisational rewards converge with an emerging stream of research which highlights that while rewards works well to motivate individuals in the private sector, they are negatively correlated with entrepreneurship in the public sector.Research limitations/implicationsThe study implications relate to the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery of municipalities in South Africa. Due to increases in community protest actions, it is necessary not only to maximise efficiency in the provision of services, but also to innovate and be proactive in order to achieve more with less resources.Originality/valueBy investigating previously unrelated factors in the public sector, the authors create closer conceptual and empirical links between the role of organisational factors and each of the EO dimensions. Furthermore, the study takes place in a relatively under-researched entrepreneurship and public sector context.

Beyond Financial Reporting. Integrated Reporting and its determinants: Evidence from the context of European state-owned enterprises

Integrated reporting (IR), which aims to overcome the limitations of both tradi-tional financial and stand-alone non-financial reports, has gained momentum as a single comprehensive tool merging financial and non-financial information. Initially conceived for private sector entities, IR is also establishing itself in the public sector context as a vehicle for transparency and accountability. This research offers an empirical investigation of IR practices in the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) context. More specifically, the paper investigates the levels of disclosure provided through IR by a sample of 34 European SOEs and explores the effects of potential explanatory factors. The results indicate a fair level of IR disclosure and a trend of reporting information already requested under international accounting standards. The findings also highlight that industry (basic materials and financials) and size positively influence the level of IR disclosure in a particularly strong way, while governance features (board size and board gender diversity) and the provision of external assurance do not exert any impact.