![]() |
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
|
Your cart is empty |
||
|
Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Public administration
There are several competing theoretical approaches to studying governance networks. However, methodological questions about how to study democratic network governance have so far received little research attention. "Methods in Democratic Network Governance" aims to remedy this problem by addressing some important methodological questions in relation to a comparative case study of the multilevel network governance of employment policy in Britain, France and Denmark.
This widely praised work provides a framework for the many voices calling for the reaffirmation of democratic values, citizenship, and service in the public interest. The expanded edition includes an all-new chapter that addresses the practical issues of applying these ideals in actual, real-life situations. "The New Public Service, Expanded Edition" is organized around a set of seven core principles: serve citizens, not customers; seek the public interest; value citizenship and public service above entrepreneurship; think strategically, act democratically; recognize that accountability isn't simple; serve, rather than steer; and value people, not just productivity. The book asks us to think carefully and critically about what public service is, why it is important, and what values ought to guide what we do and how we do it. It celebrates what is distinctive, important and meaningful about public service and considers how we might better live up to those ideals and values. All students and serious practitioners in public administration and public policy should read this book. While debates about public policy issues will surely continue, this compact, clearly written volume provides an important framework for public service based on and fully integrated with citizen discourse and the public interest.
Credit rating agencies play a powerful and contentious role in the
governance of global financial markets. Introducing an original
framework for delegating political authority to private actors,
this book explains common trends in the regulatory use of private
ratings for public purposes and analyzes regulatory changes after
the Financial Crisis.
When one thinks about how collective decisions are made, voting is the method that comes naturally to mind. But other methods such as random process and consensus are also used. This book explores just what a collective decision is, classifies the methods of making collective decisions, and identifies the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Classification is the prelude to evaluation. What are the characteristics of a method of making collective decisions, the book asks, that permit us to describe a collective decision as good? The second part of the book is detailed exploration of voting: the dimensions in which voting situations differ, the origins and logic of majority rule, the frequency of cycles in voting, the Arrow and Gibbard-Satterthwaite theorems, criteria for ways of cutting through cycles and the application of these criteria to a variety of rules, voting over continuums, proportional representation, and voting rules that take account of intensities of preferences. Relatively unknown methods of voting give voting a much greater potential than is generally recognized. Collective Decisions and Voting is essential reading for everyone with an interest in voting theory and in how public choices might be made.
This book is unique in that it explores public sector reform from a strategic management perspective. The authors whose work is represented in the book examine seven strategies for public management reform: (1) increases in accountability, (2) decentralization and delegation of authority and responsibility for decision making and management, (3) application of information technology to improve management and responsiveness of governments to citizens, (4) developing and improving management control systems in the public sector, (5) measures to reduce corruption in government, business and society, (6) development and use of performance indicators, and (7) integration of performance measurement and management in public organizations. Authors address the need for and application of various strategies, and impediments to implementation of each strategy. Case analysis is used to derive findings and conclusions.
This textbook reviews and systematically presents the use of the Internet in public administration and politics. Further, it employs a process-oriented layer model to define the opportunities for exchange and participation for all stakeholder groups, covering the following topics: eAssistance, eProcurement, eService, eContracting, eSettlement, eCollaboration, eDemocracy, and eCommunity. In turn, real-world case studies demonstrate the practical applications in industry, administration and research. The second edition of this book has been completely revised and extended, and includes several new case studies. It offers a valuable asset for students in Business, Economics and Political Sciences courses, as well as practitioners interested in emerging opportunities for digital exchange and participation in the knowledge society.
Globalization transcends borders and cultures as it develops both from the natural flow of information and communication technologies and as a directed and driven quest for global hegemony by self-serving corporations and world political heavyweights. It bears a multifaceted web of influence that manifests in inequalities in growth, prosperity, and accountability in varying social, cultural, and economic contexts. The Handbook of Globalization, Governance, and Public Administration is the first comprehensive resource that untangles this complex knot of issues. Mapping the multi-layered relationships among the individuals, local and national governments, international organizations, global corporations, natural resources and the world market, this encyclopedic volume is both a primer and a guide for researchers, academics, and policymakers both public and private. The book demonstrates in broad terms how globalization presents new threats to national sovereignty, the environment and public health, tends to increase worldwide inequality, and produces global insecurity. Using country-specific cases, the essays examine the role of bureaucracy and market orientation in Hong Kong and China, the new position of public-private partnerships in Africa as protectors instead of exploiters of the people, a Russian implementation of incentive systems to maintain local growth, and the fruitless corruption of a land development scheme in India. Ethics and the need for future global consciousness is illustrated by energy policy, which pits consumers and business interests against local communities and is moderated only by supranational organizations. The solution calls for sustainable development to be grounded in community-based institutions while governments seek growth through market expansion worldwide. Concerns for public health, climate change, and sustainable energy are growing in the global village and understanding the multi-dimensional chess game is key to survival.
Singapore was ranked first for the competence of its public officials from 1999 to 2002 by "The Global Competitiveness Report". While research has been done on various aspects of public administration in Singapore, there is to date no comprehensive study of the Singapore Civil Service and the statutory boards and their contribution to the attainment of national development goals. The aim of this book is to rectify this gap in the literature by providing a detailed study of public administration Singapore-style. Public administration Singapore-style is characterized by these features: macho-meritocracy; competing with the private sector for talent; low level of corruption; reliance on institutional and attitudinal administrative reforms; reliance on statutory boards to implement socio-economic development programs; effective policy implementation, improving service to the public; and using policy diffusion to solve problems. The book's main thesis is that the nature of public administration in Singapore results from the combined influence of Singapore's policy context and the various policies introduced by the People's Action Party government since it assumed office in June 1959, 50 years ago.
This practically-focused text presents a hands-on guide to making biometric technology work in real-life scenarios. Extensively revised and updated, this new edition takes a fresh look at what it takes to integrate biometrics into wider applications. An emphasis is placed on the importance of a complete understanding of the broader scenario, covering technical, human and implementation factors. This understanding may then be exercised through interactive chapters dealing with educational software utilities and the BANTAM Program Manager. Features: provides a concise introduction to biometrics; examines both technical issues and human factors; highlights the importance of a broad understanding of biometric technology implementation from both a technical and operational perspective; reviews a selection of freely available utilities including the BANTAM Program Manager; considers the logical next steps on the path from aspiration to implementation, and looks towards the future use of biometrics in context.
Niall Sinclair, a well-known official in the Canadian Government and in Knowledge Management, presents an innovative way to circumvent the inflexibility of government bureaucracy to drive successful knowledge management initiatives in the public sector. Sinclair proposes a technique that has been proven to work in his own governmental area of 20,000 employees that enables executives and professionals, especially those in government and public institutions, to implement KM programs successfully and circumvent KM critics.
"Theories of Democratic Network Governance" aims to renew and refocus the political and scholarly debate on the use of governance networks in public policy making by raising and answering a series of questions about the dynamics of governance networks, the conditions for governance network success and failure, the forms and functions of metagovernance (defined as the regulation of self-regulating networks) and the democratic implications of network governance. In an attempt to answer these pressing questions, the contributors draw on a wide range of theoretical approaches within governance network theory, institutional theory and democratic theory.
Every developed country has a public employment service that connects job seekers with employers through information, placement, and training support services. In Federalism in Action, Donna E. Wood assesses how Canada's public employment service is performing after responsibility was transferred from the federal government to provinces, territories, and Aboriginal organizations between 1995 and 2015. Drawing upon over twenty years of data, Wood reveals the governance choices provinces made, the reasons behind these choices, and the outcomes they achieved. Provincial decisions regarding employment programming is an important public policy issue about which little is known, and even less understood within the context of Aboriginal communities. Federalism in Action includes analytical comparisons of Canada's employment programming with the United States, Australia, and the European Union, as well as information from insightful interviews with key informants from every province. In firmly placing Canada within the extensive international literature on the governance of welfare-to-work policies, this book makes an important new contribution to research.
In the knowledge economy, the value of corporations is directly related to their knowledge and intellectual capital. But broaden the perspective a little wider and you begin to see the possibilities: Think of cities, regions, even entire nations, in addition to the public sector. If intangibles and intellectual capital are important to the private sector, they are also important to the productivity and competitiveness of the public sector, and so to communities and nations as a whole. In this book, Editors Ahmed Bounfour and Leif Edivinsson have brought together the best minds in intellectual capital throughout the world to focus on a new and fertile area of research: measuring and managing the intellectual capital of communities. This is a creative and cutting-edge area of research that has the potential to change how public sector planning and development is done. Once there is a clear way to identify where wealth is created in a given region/nation, this process has the potential to reveal a huge knowledge repository in the public sector with a significant but idle potential for collective wealth creation the wealth of nations in waiting.
This book explores the extent to which a transformation of public employment regimes has taken place in four Western countries, and the factors influencing the pathways of reform. It demonstrates how public employment regimes have unravelled in different domains of public service, contesting the idea that the state remains a 'model' employer.
This book analyzes behavioral distortions in public schools and delineates outcome-based performance measurement systems that can prevent and mitigate them. An instrumental view of dynamic performance management (DPM) is used to support the endeavor by identifying how performance drivers affect end results of outcome and output, how end results affect strategic resources, and how strategic resources and benchmarks define the dynamics of performance drivers. This approach is also used to promote a shift from an output-oriented to an outcome-oriented view in performance management, with the aim of achieving sustainable results in the long term. The book also includes a comprehensive literature review at the end of each chapter, intended to strengthen readers’ knowledge and encourage further research. Given its scope, the book will appeal to graduate students in public management, researchers in performance management, system dynamics, and education, and decision-makers in public schools.
This comprehensive introductory text starts by charting the origins and evolution of the shift from public administration to public management and moves on to assess the main theories and debates about its character, benefits and problems. After consideration of the party political issues and debates and continuities and discontinuities between the approaches of Thatcher, Major and Blair, the core of the book assesses the main dimensions of change in the organization and content of public sector organization and activity.
This book discusses how the methods and mindsets of design thinking empower large organizations to create groundbreaking innovations. Arguing that innovations must effectively tackle so-called "wicked problems," it shows how design thinking enables managers and innovators to create the organizational spaces and practices needed for breakthrough innovations. Design thinking equips actors with the tools and methods for harnessing the creative tensions inherent in pluralist, often conflicting disciplinary approaches. This, however, requires the transformation of contemporary organizational cultures away from monolithic, integrated models (or identities) toward more pluralist, dynamic and flexible institutional identities. Based on real-world cases from a wide range of organizations around the globe, the book offers managers and innovators practical guidance on initiating and managing the cultural transformations required for effective innovation.
Many higher education academics and administrators have only vague notions about how the federal government makes regulations governing colleges and universities in the United States, and yet these regulations control many important aspects of the operation of these institutions. What happens after legislation affecting higher education is signed into law? How are specific provisions implemented-especially when the statute's details are unclear? And who determines the details of the programs that a particular law has authorized? In this concise and informative book, higher education policy expert Rebecca S. Natow explores the how and why of the federal regulatory policymaking process as it pertains to higher education, financial aid, and student loan debt. Drawing on in-depth interviews with policy and higher education actors, as well as an extensive review of specific regulations and documents, Natow explains who influences higher education rulemaking and how their beliefs and surrounding contexts guide the policies they enact. She also examines the strategies and powers employed during the process, reveals how technology affects the creation of higher education rules, delves into the multifaceted implications of regulation for students and institutions, and discusses future prospects for higher education rulemaking. The first comprehensive, research-based account of this important policymaking process, Higher Education Rulemaking will serve as a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, policymakers, and higher education professionals.
This book provides a comprehensive overview of smart ports and remote technologies in the maritime industry. It demonstrates how modern advances in artificial intelligence and robotics have transformed the shipping industry, and assesses the impact of this technology from a law and governance standpoint. The book covers a range of topics including port autonomous operations systems, cybersecurity, big data analytics, digitalization and blockchain to throw light on the opportunities and benefits of these new technologies in improving security and safety. It also considers the challenges and threats of their application. It concludes by examining the trajectory of national and international regulatory developments. The book will appeal to scholars and students of maritime technology, law and governance, as well as practitioners and policymakers. Chapters 8, 19 and 20 are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.
This book presents the main theoretical foundations behind smart services as well as specific guidelines and practically proven methods on how to design them. Furthermore, it gives an overview of the possible implementation architectures and shows how the designed smart services can be realized with specific technologies. Finally, it provides four specific use cases that show how smart services have been realized in practice and what impact they have within the businesses. The first part of the book defines the basic concepts and aims to establish a shared understanding of terms, such as smart services, service systems, smart service systems or cyber-physical systems. On this basis, it provides an analysis of existing work and includes insights on how an organization incorporating smart services could enhance and adjust their management and business processes. The second part on the design of smart services elaborates on what constitutes a successful smart service and describes experiences in the area of interdisciplinary teams, strategic partnerships, the overall service systems and the common data basis. In the third part, technical reference architectures are presented in detail, encompassing topics on the design of digital twins in cyber physical systems, the communication between entities and sensors in the age of Industry 4.0 as well as data management and integration. The fourth part then highlights a number of analytical possibilities that can be realized and that can constitute or be part of smart services, including machine learning and artificial intelligence methods. Finally, the applicability of the introduced design and development method is demonstrated by considering specific real-world use cases. These include services in the industrial and mobility sector, which were developed in direct cooperation with industry partners. The main target audience of this book is industry-focused readers, especially practitioners from industry, who are involved in supporting and managing digital business. These include professionals working in business development, product management, strategy, and development, ranging from middle management to Chief Digital Officers. It conveys all the basics needed for developing smart services and successfully placing them on the market by explaining technical aspects as well as showcasing practical use cases. |
You may like...
The Life Cycles of the Council on…
James K Conant, Peter J. Balint
Hardcover
R3,741
Discovery Miles 37 410
Managing For Excellence In The Public…
Gerrit van der Waldt
Paperback
Public Administration & Management in…
Christopher Thornhill, Isioma Ile, …
Paperback
(2)R634 Discovery Miles 6 340
Saving South Africa - Lessons From The…
Chris Pappas, Sandile Mnikathi
Paperback
South African municipal government and…
C. Thornhill, J. Cloete
Paperback
R619
Discovery Miles 6 190
|