State Public Agencies Research Articles

The impact of recreational use and access on biotic and abiotic disturbances on areas protected by local communities and a state conservation agency

Local communities often conserve nearby natural areas to support recreational activities and other benefits these areas provide. Areas protected by local communities could contribute to wider efforts to achieve large-scale conservation goals, such as biodiversity protection, provided the ecological conditions on-site are compatible with achieving these goals. To explore the potential contribution of locally established protected areas, we focus on areas protected by local communities in California, USA, using ballot initiatives, a form of direct democracy. We compare the ecological condition of wooded habitat on protected areas funded by local communities through the ballot box to that of similar habitats on protected areas funded by a state conservation agency. As an indicator of ecological condition, we focus on coverage by exotic plant species. We examine whether protected area characteristics or aspects of human-mediated onsite disturbance related to recreational use explain exotic plant cover found on each type of protected area. Exotic plant cover did not differ between areas protected by local communities and those protected by our larger scale conservation actor. Instead, elevation was the best predictor of exotic plant cover. Our results suggest protected areas established by local communities may be in no worse a condition than those established by a state public agency and warrant inclusion when tracking progress towards large-scale conservation goals for protected areas.

PERAN HUBUNGAN MASYARAKAT PEMERINTAH KOTA SALATIGA DALAM MEMFASILITASI TERLAKSANANYA UU NO.14 TAHUN 2008 TENTANG KETERBUKAAN INFORMASI PUBLIK

Communication is a process of transmitting messages from sources to recipients through various channels. While the purpose of human communication is to share experience and knowledge, delivered in the language of signals, words, writing, movement, and broadcasting. The results of the process are created a theory named diffusion of information, also stands for innovation diffusion theory. for some institution, the task is the duty of a Public Relations. In performing its job, as of 2010 the Public Relations motion was increasingly 'supervised' by the constitutional Law No.14 of 2008, as well as Public Relations of Salatiga Local Government. This research was conducted in Public Relations of Salatiga Local Government for two months of observation and interviewing using a qualitative approach especially grounded theory research. Data triangulation was conducted at the Department of Transportation, Communication, Culture, and Tourism (Dishubkombudpar) in Salatiga and interviews with two of the four Chairmen of the Forum of Public Communication Institutions (FLKM) in Salatiga. In addition, the implementation of Law on the Openness of Public Information in Salatiga is not reserve in accordance with the Mayor's Decree No. 950/434/2012 and information management guidelines and documentation for officials at the State Public Agency Central and Regional Level (Issued by the Ministry of Communication and Information Indonesia).

Modeling frequency of rural demand response transit trips

Captive riders do not have many travel choices to meet the travel needs as fixed route transit services are not generally provided in rural areas. In many states, demand response transit (DRT) services are provided to meet such needs. However, state public agencies face the dilemma of whether to increase or decrease the service availability for on-call services. To enhance decision making of identifying what the causal factors related to DRT trips, the authors present a set of econometric models by integrating a sample DRT data with other explanatory variables such as land use, socio-economic, and demographic characteristics. Seven count data models including Poisson, Negative Binomial, Zero-inflated Poisson, Zero-inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB), Hurdle Poisson, Hurdle Negative Binomial, and ZINB Mixed Effect were developed to understand the factors that affect DRT trips. The ZINB Mixed Effect model that combines a zero-inflated negative binomial model with random effect was found to provide the best fit. A number of factors showed significant relationship with DRT trip frequency including distance, population density, elderly population, average income, and others. Further, the elasticity effects of these different factors were computed to quantify the magnitude of their impact on DRT. The proposed model can be helpful for transit agencies to predict the frequency of DRT trips and to provide adequate services in rural areas.

Educação permanente dos serviços públicos de saúde de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina

O objetivo principal da Política Nacional de Educação Permanente em Saúde (PNEPS) é a formação e o desenvolvimento dos trabalhadores para o setor da saúde. A partir dos pressupostos dessa política, buscou-se analisar a realidade da educação permanente (EP) dos serviços públicos de saúde do município de Florianópolis, no estado de Santa Catarina, por meio de pesquisa descritiva de abordagem qualitativa. Realizou-se entrevista semi-estruturada com 16 sujeitos responsáveis pelas iniciativas de EP da atenção básica, do setor hospitalar e órgão público municipal e estadual. A análise de conteúdo foi adotada como procedimento analítico dos dados, organizados em três categorias: planejamento das propostas de EP em saúde; metodologia e técnicas de ensino-aprendizagem utilizadas nas ações de EP; e avaliação do processo e dos resultados das ações de EP. Os resultados indicam que os serviços de saúde de Florianópolis caminham a passos lentos, mas progressivos, com iniciativas em EP interessantes, porém pontuais. Verificou-se que a EP não é priorizada frente ao 'ciclo vicioso' de dificuldades dos serviços de saúde. Logo, torna-se fundamental uma educação crítica e libertadora, que permita despertar mudanças nos trabalhadores, no ambiente de trabalho e usuários, com reflexos na qualidade dos serviços de saúde.

PEER-REVIEWED PAPER: Conflict Management Diagnosis at Project Management Organizations

The world is full of conflict. Conflict is a matter of life, occurring as frequently as conversation in some cultures. The organization, like any culture, is subject to conflict. The project management organization is even more apt to suffer from conflict, with its constantly changing environment. However, the effects of conflict on the organization are not always negative. How is the individual project manager to know when his or her organization is in a healthy state of conflict? This paper presents one method that engineering managers can use to diagnose conflict in their organizations. The method has been applied to diagnose conflict within the State Public Agency (SPA), engaged in design and construction of civil engineering projects. The results indicate that SPA engineers predominantly use a problem-solving style to find mutual win-win resolutions to conflict, showing that SPA can thrive under conditions of conflict. The results also indicate, however, that SPA may be suffering from a lack of conflict. The average intensity of conflict perceived by all engineers is 1.40 on a scale of 0–4, or only a slight impact. Likewise, the frequency with which conflict occurs is low, at 1.59 on the same scale. Recommendations are provided for SPA.

The Personality of Civil Engineers

The civil engineering umbrella encompasses many different disciplines--from construction management to water resources management, and everything in between. Consequently, in civil engineering organizations nationwide, often there is conflict and infighting among the various disciplines. Perhaps this could be attributable to differences in the ways these disciplines see their world. This paper uses a modified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to determine the personality types of construction engineers and design engineers at a State Public Agency. The results indicate that the construction and design engineers share similar predominant personality traits. They are predominantly introverted, preferring to focus their energy on the internal world of ideas and possibilities. They prefer to gather their facts using their senses and are predisposed to facts and figures. When making decisions, they prefer to forego pure logic, relying instead on personal and organizational values. Finally, they show a slight preference for a structured environment. The greatest differences between the construction and design engineers were found in their preferences for decision making. Although both disciplines preferred using their values in decision making rather than pure logic, the designers chose value-oriented responses more frequently than did the construction engineers. Possible reasons for similarities and differences are discussed.

The MI theory: A reply and further comments

The primary criticism of the meteor impact (MI) theory has been the omission of an acknowledgement and an expression of appreciation of the vast amount of literature that has been generated by the currently accepted plate tectonics theory. The plate tectonics theory rightly or wrongly has stimulated exploration in both the private and the public sectors and has been generously funded by the national, federal, and state public agencies in supporting the educational and research grants, in all geologic disciplines. The results have been impressive.

The Relationship between Organizational and Environmental Factors and the Use of Innovative Human Resource Practices

Few studies have examined the influence of organizational and environmental characteristics on human resource (HR) practices. To identify potential correlates of progressive HR practices, concepts from the innovation literature were applied. In particular, the extent was explored to which size, climate, organizational structure, external conditions, and workforce variables were related to the use of HR innovations in a sample of 40 New York State public agencies. Agency size and the external condition variables of labor availability and public scrutiny exhibited the strongest linear relationships with HR innovation. Formalization, centralization, and HR department climate demonstrated somewhat weaker linear effects. External favorability demonstrated a nonlinear relationship with HR innovation. The results are discussed with consideration given to the differences between idea generation and adoption, formal and informal innovations, organic and mechanistic organizational structures, and the role of the external environment. Diagnostic questions are provided to assist in the application of these findings to other settings.

Proposition 13: Implications for the Bond Market

A year ago this month California's Proposition 13 went into effect, with far‐reaching and not yet fully plumbed financial consequences for the state's public agencies. As other states confront the possibility of similar measures restricting the taxing powers of local entities, the California experience is being closely watched. The impact of Proposition 13 on the bond market, the prime source of capital financing for water utilities, is described here.