Showing papers by "Michal Plaček published in 2021"

Do performance management schemes deliver results in the public sector? Observations from the Czech Republic

Abstract: Our paper presents an analysis of the impact of performance management tools on the performance of public sector institutions in the Czech Republic. We were unable to document their impacts on organisational performance using standard quantitative analysis. Expert opinions indicate that such a situation is at least partly a real one, not caused by methodology biases, but by the very specific behaviour of public organisations in the public-sector system, where accountability and responsibility are limited.

The evolutionary trajectory of social enterprises in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Abstract: The paper contributes to the research on social enterprises. Based on historical institutionalism, we map the evolution of social enterprises in the Czech Republic and Slovakia after the collapse of communist rule. The findings indicate that the historical-evolutionary trajectories differ, despite their common path during the totalitarian regime. There is some convergence based on significant political changes that resulted mostly in the need to create integrated legislation and to reflect the common European policy; the divergent trends occur after exogenous economic shocks, the effects of which might result from the differing initial macroeconomic situations in both countries.

Stewardship and administrative capacity in green public procurement in the Czech Republic: evidence from a large-N survey

Abstract: The uptake of green public procurement in the Czech Republic is known to lag behind the European standards. We trace this condition back to the adverse effects of a specific type of decision-making trade-off faced by the Czech public procurement officials, namely the trade-off between stewardship and administrative compliance. The trade-off means that public procurers are aware of administrative risks and complications attendant on the conscientious non-perfunctory implementation of green public procurement. The overall result is that public procurers ultimately come to prioritize the contract criterion of the lowest price over ecological criteria. The existence of this trade-off has been generally confirmed by the results of a unique large-N survey of more than 1100 respondents from a group of local public officials and mayors in the Czech Republic. We have found that the decision-making of Czech public procurers is affected by the trade-off between stewardship and administrative compliance, which turn out to be mutually conflicting goals. On the one hand, many public procurers do possess a stewardship motivation that shapes their positive attitude to GPP. On the other hand, they are painfully aware of, and seek to forestall, administrative risks and complications attendant on the conscientious, i.e., non-perfunctory, implementation of GPP.

The evolving perceptions of corruption in Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic

Abstract: Along with other postcommunist Central and East European countries, the Czech Republic continues to exhibit alarming levels of corruption. The present article draws on unique stakeholder interviews and document analysis to explore the evolving perceptions of corruption by Czech actors who had intimate knowledge of how this practice was occurring in the period between the last years of the communist regime until today. The key finding is that corruption in the Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic evolved from an individual coping strategy at the time of communism to a systemic phenomenon, which is widely institutionalized today, especially in the public procurement procedures.

The Impact of Fiscal Rules on the Financial Management of Municipalities: A Comparative Analysis of the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Abstract: This chapter explores the impact of fiscal rules on the indebtedness of municipalities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia from a comparative perspective. Our analysis focuses on the content of municipal fiscal rules, their impact on aggregate levels of local government debt in both countries and the financial situations of individual local governments with excessive debt. The findings indicate that municipal fiscal rules in Slovakia are slightly more comprehensive than those in the Czech Republic; however, the way they regulate aggregate level of municipal debt is very similar. Despite very similar starting points, the number of municipalities with excessive debt levels is significantly higher in the Czech Republic than in Slovakia. Though both countries face the problem that excessive borrowing is legally prohibited, the practice does still take place in a number of local governments. Excessive borrowing is exclusively found in small municipalities with a very limited chance to escape from the debt trap, as the regulatory regime of both countries does not lend itself to bailout or bankruptcy.

Alternative non-profit funding methods: crowdfunding in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Abstract: The paper presents a view of the crowdfunding phenomenon in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, identifying factors that determine the success of non-profits on crowdfunding platforms operating in two (post-) Communist CEE countries in terms of the two-sided market theory. The main finding is that the status of a project creator does not significantly affect the probability of project overfunding, which implies that the projects created by non-profits do not have a higher likelihood of being overfunded, though this may differ between the studied countries.

Management in Practice: Planning, Organizing, Leading, and Controlling Museum Activities

Abstract: Effective management is necessary to meet the goals of a museum. Features that characterize effective management are discussed. A key prerequisite for successful management is planning and setting goals. The result of the planning process is the establishment of a strategic plan; a method for effective strategic planning is presented. The establishment of a plan must be followed by the organization of activities so that the plan is feasible and achievable. Models and tools of effective management are introduced, including process management, project management, performance measurement, optimization of activities, optimization of the number of museum employees, personnel audits, quality models, and benchmarking. To achieve success, it is necessary not only to apply management models and methods, leadership and motivation are also important. The ever-evolving world full of uncertainty, new demands, and the onset of the so-called digital era is affecting the activities of managers and staff, who face new challenges. An integral part of management is control.

Shedding Light on Three “Moral Cancer” Cases From the Czech Republic: Corruption in Communist and Post-Communist Regimes

Abstract: Using a new and innovative approach to investigating corruption, the present article discusses whether changes have been recorded in corruption in the Czech Republic over the last hundred years. Dr...

Devolution and the efficiency of cultural heritage preservation: the case of regional museums in the Czech Republic

Abstract: This article analyzes the impact of devolution on the efficiency of regional museums in the Czech Republic, a country with a more than 40-year communist history. According to our results, devolutio...

The Modern Museum: Its Role, Function, and Social Mission

Abstract: The museum plays an important social role. It collects and cares for museum collections and performs important functions and tasks. The perspectives that can be used to look at collections are mainly financial – value for the visitor and researcher. The differences between museum and private collections are discussed. The chapter identifies three approaches to understanding the functions of the museum.