Showing papers in "Administration & Society in 2015"
TL;DR: The concept of "wicked problems" has attracted increasing focus in policy research, but the implications for public organizations have received less attention as mentioned in this paper. But the main organizational and cognitive dimensions emerging from the research literature on wicked problems.
Abstract: The concept of “wicked problems” has attracted increasing focus in policy research, but the implications for public organizations have received less attention. This article examines the main organizational and cognitive dimensions emerging from the research literature on wicked problems. We identify several recent approaches to addressing problem complexity and stakeholder divergence based on the literatures on systems thinking, collaboration and coordination, and the adaptive leadership roles of public leaders and managers. We raise some challenges for public management in some key functional areas of government—strategy making, organizational design, people management, and performance measurement. We argue that provisional solutions can be developed, despite the difficulties of reforming governance processes to address wicked problems more effectively.
1,204 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore an integrative approach for dealing with wicked problems and argue that governance capabilities are essential: reflexivity, resilience, responsiveness, responsiveness and revitalization.
Abstract: This article explores an integrative approach for dealing with wicked problems. Wicked problems not only require alternative action strategies but also alternative ways of observing and enabling. Four governance capabilities are essential: (a) reflexivity, or the capability to deal with multiple frames; (b) resilience, or the capability to adjust actions to uncertain changes; (c) responsiveness, or the capability to respond to changing agendas and expectations; (d) revitalization, or the capability to unblock stagnations. These capabilities form the basis for achieving small wins in wicked problems. We illustrate our argument with examples from sustainable food production of the Common Agricultural Policy.
206 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the research question: are women improving federal government agency performance? Preliminary results indicate that they do, and the broader goal of social justice frames the discussion of findings.
Abstract: Empirical research on the difference that gender makes is sparse. This study is the first step toward providing evidence that agencies led by women perform better than those led by men. Using the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) data, this study examines the research question: Are women improving federal government agency performance? Preliminary results indicate that they do. The broader goal of social justice frames the discussion of findings.
113 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that NPM reforms have failed to deliver on their own goals and have contributed to changing the Anglo-Saxon model of capitalism.
Abstract: This article analyzes health care reforms in the United Kingdom following the introduction of New Public Management (NPM) theory–inspired reforms. NPM has taken root deeply in the United Kingdom. This article looks at its impact on health care markets on the performance of health care organizations and on patients. It further seeks to address whether NPM prevents wastage and opportunism in health care. And finally, this article seeks to confirm whether rationality and accountability are greater under NPM or not. This article concludes that NPM reforms have failed to deliver on their own goals. There have been significant undesirable side effects and misfits between policy announcements and NPM implementation. Still, NPM adoption in health care has contributed to changing the Anglo-Saxon model of capitalism.
67 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that a social enterprise is a mechanism for value creation that forgoes value capture and engages in value devolution to serve a wider vulnerable clientele.
Abstract: Scientific literature on social enterprise is at an impasse. Either social enterprises maximize profits to have a chance of impact investment or they prevent mission drift by avoiding profit maximization along the lines of traditional philanthropy. This article breaks this stalemate by building on the facts that constrain the daily operation of a social enterprise. It is submitted that a social enterprise is a mechanism for value creation that forgoes value capture and engages in value devolution to serve a wider vulnerable clientele. The term value devolution implies giving away market power for consumers’ sake.
58 citations
TL;DR: Patrick Overeem and Jelle Verhoef pose a serious challenge to Hendrik Wagenaar and Michael Spicer, both of whom attempt to derive prescriptive conclusions for public administration from value pluralism (VP) as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Patrick Overeem and Jelle Verhoef pose a serious challenge to Hendrik Wagenaar and Michael Spicer, both of whom attempt to derive prescriptive conclusions for public administration from value pluralism (VP). Wagenaar and Spicer have responded with puzzlement, adding the counter-charge that Overeem and Verhoef have misinterpreted their views. Indeed, there is misinterpretation afoot, but the culprits are Wagenaar and Spicer. Although they both claim to have adopted VP, neither demonstrates an adequate grasp of that position. Consequently, they miss the force of Overeem and Verhoef’s arguments, and their responses introduce new confusions.
56 citations
TL;DR: The Nigeria Police Force is widely perceived by the public as the most corrupt and violent institution in Nigeria in a way that is not evidently insincere as discussed by the authors, in light of the generalization and banali...
Abstract: The Nigeria Police Force is widely perceived by the public as the most corrupt and violent institution in Nigeria in a way that is not evidently insincere. In light of the generalization and banali...
46 citations
TL;DR: This paper conducted a survey study among police officers and private security guards in the Netherlands and found that both groups closely resemble each other in how they prioritize motivations and values, although police officers have a slightly more “missionary” and “crime fighting” work ethic than private security agents.
Abstract: What determines professional motivations and values of security operatives: sector or profession? Our article aims to answer this question through a survey study among police officers (n = 405) and private security guards (n = 329) in the Netherlands. Our results show that both groups closely resemble each other in how they prioritize motivations and values, although police officers have a slightly more “missionary” and “crime fighting” work ethic than private security guards. Mutual perceptions, however, reveal contrasts: Police officers look down on private security guards, while private security guards look up to police officers. We conclude with theoretical and practical implications of our findings.
41 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyze whether the new technologies are being used by central governments for improving their accountability and democracy making their budgetary figures transparent for all stakeholders, and confirm that differences do exist across countries under different administrative cultures.
Abstract: The Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development emphasizes the e-government process as a tool for promoting budget transparency making all fiscal reports publicly available on the Internet. Nonetheless, the particular approach adopted to New Public Management models may influence different policies concerning the concepts of information quality and transparency. Based on an administrative culture approach, the aim of this article is to analyze whether the new technologies are being used by central governments for improving their accountability and democracy making their budgetary figures transparent for all stakeholders. The results of this study confirm that differences do exist across countries under different administrative cultures.
37 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a Governance Typology comprising philosophical and practical theoretical elements which compose four ideal-types found in dominant Western political theory is presented, what we label Instability Typology.
Abstract: This article presents a Governance Typology comprising philosophical and practical theoretical elements which compose four ideal-types found in dominant Western political theory, what we label Inst...
31 citations
TL;DR: In his challenge to equity theory, Leventhal argued that individuals consider other forms of fairness in social interactions, especially procedural justice as mentioned in this paper, and suggested that perception of fairness can be improved.
Abstract: In his challenge to equity theory, Leventhal argued that individuals consider other forms of fairness in social interactions, especially procedural justice. Leventhal then suggested that perception...
TL;DR: This article used work alienation and policy alienation models to analyze work and policy pressures and found that work alienation results in less work effort and more intention to leave, while policy alienation negatively affects behavioral support for a policy and the intention to implement it.
Abstract: Public employees are confronted with various pressures, such as increased work demands and the need to implement controversial policies. This study uses work alienation and policy alienation models to analyze work and policy pressures. Based on a survey of 790 respondents, it was first found that work alienation results in less work effort and more intention to leave. Second, policy alienation negatively affects behavioral support for a policy and the intention to implement it. These results suggest that work alienation and policy alienation have different—but both important—effects on (intended) behavior on the job.
TL;DR: In this paper, four roles for the participation of lay people in health care decision-making and their potential to adapt organizational decision processes to internal requirements and external challenges are elaborated. But there is still a lack of systematic approaches to the roles of significant others, patient groups and the broader community and their implementation within health care organizations.
Abstract: The participation of lay people in health care decision-making lacks an adequate analysis from an organizational perspective. This article aims to develop conceptual devices to analyze policies and practices and to discuss ways in which these policies and practices could be further developed. By recapping established frameworks and drawing on theories of professional organizations, four roles for the participation of lay people and their potential to adapt organizational decision processes to internal requirements and external challenges are elaborated. While individual patient participation is widely acknowledged, there is still a lack of systematic approaches to the roles of significant others, patient groups and the broader community and their implementation within health care organizations.
TL;DR: This paper explored the development of three features of positivism from the 1800s to the present: the unity of science, the verification criterion of meaning, and the empiricist observation language.
Abstract: This article explores the development of three features of positivism from the 1800s to the present: the unity of science, the verification criterion of meaning, and the empiricist observation language. The development of these features is demonstrated in the mid-20th century public administration (PA) literature and in the self-reflective literature of the last three decades. Contemporary positivism has been substantially moderated: The verification criterion of meaning has been abandoned, but the unity of science remains a presupposition, and the empiricist observation language remains an important tool. By presenting this intellectual history, some clarity may be added to the philosophical discourse in PA.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an exploratory comparative case study of two very similar hybrid settings that differ in the type of interaction between state and non-state actors, showing that different interactions may have different impacts on the outcomes of the particular settings.
Abstract: Public services are increasingly delivered through hybrid settings of state and non-state actors. A key characteristic of such settings is the interaction between these actors. Different interactions may have different impacts on the outcomes of the particular settings. Yet to date, this key characteristic has received limited attention in scholarship. This article addresses this knowledge gap by presenting an exploratory comparative case study of two very similar hybrid settings that differ in the type of interaction between state and non-state actors.
TL;DR: The authors showed that social relations and participative management style have stronger influences than physical conditions on public employees' perceived performance and that different approaches of management will show different effects on organizational performance according to the levels of performance.
Abstract: Many organization theorists have recognized the Hawthorne studies as path-breaking demonstrations of the influence of social and psychological factors in the workplace. We provide evidence that important implications of the Hawthorne studies can be applied to the federal workforce. Our analysis shows that social relations and participative management style have stronger influences than physical conditions on public employees’ perceived performance. This result is congruent with summary translations of the lessons of the Hawthorne studies: “Attention is gratifying!” and “The attention apparently raised morale, and morale raised productivity.” The present study indicates that the different approaches of management will show different effects on organizational performance according to the levels of performance.
TL;DR: This article reviewed a range of problems with suspicious activity reports (SARs) and argued that robust community relationships are necessary to achieve contextually situated reports that eschew overt forms of bias.
Abstract: Suspicious activity reports (SARs) are an increasingly important tool in the law-enforcement repertoire, especially for counterterrorism. In spite of significant problems with such reports, they are experiencing a resurgence that can be attributed partly to the institutionalization of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “fusion centers,” which are taking the lead in vetting and interpreting these reports as they enter into law-enforcement and counterterrorism databases. Based on a 3-year study of DHS fusion centers, this article reviews a range of problems with SARs and argues that robust community relationships are necessary to achieve contextually situated reports that eschew overt forms of bias.
TL;DR: The authors argues that despite frequent debates about the excesses of government, public administration lacks a systematic theoretical examination of the concept of moderation, and proposes a systematic approach to the problem of moderation in public administration.
Abstract: The article argues that despite frequent debates about the excesses of government, public administration lacks a systematic theoretical examination of the concept of moderation. To that end, the ar...
TL;DR: In their critique of Spicer's and Wagenaar's account of value pluralism, Talisse, Overeem, and Verhoef seem to suggest either that VP does not exist or that it is irrelevant for public administration.
Abstract: In their critique of Spicer’s and Wagenaar’s account of value pluralism (VP), Talisse, Overeem, and Verhoef seem to suggest either that VP does not exist or that it is irrelevant for public administration (PA). My argument is that in public governance, there are many conflicting intrinsic values. This means we can speak of incommensurability, the key feature of VP, and there is much potential for PA in this realization. I propose additional research questions on the nature of value conflict in late modern governance: which intrinsic values conflict in public governance, how often do they conflict, and how is this dealt with by both individuals and institutions? Answers to these questions will have a great deal of practical relevance and might possibly lead to what Beck Jorgensen and Rutgers call a new “Public Values Perspective (PVP)” in PA.
TL;DR: Although Max Weber was pessimistic regarding the effects of rationalization and bureaucracy on human life and freedom, he saw the disenchantment of the world that results from the ascent of science as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Although Max Weber was pessimistic regarding the effects of rationalization and bureaucracy on human life and freedom, he saw the disenchantment of the world that results from the ascent of science...
TL;DR: The findings indicate that without having a clear understanding of the transport-accessibility challenges at transport-planning levels and adopting equities in practice, the promotion of disability rights in local transport would be impossible in developing societies like Pakistan.
Abstract: A total of 245 rural men and women with physical disabilities were interviewed to assess their access to road transport. The overall level of access was poor for both the men and women with physica...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors embeds Agafonow's argument in the societal and institutional context by building upon Luhmann's social systems theory and show that the institutional form of social enterprises is shown to weaken these imperatives in several ways.
Abstract: Agafonow’s article locates the role of social enterprises in devolving value through output maximizing behavior. This short paper embeds Agafonow’s argument in the societal and institutional context by building upon Luhmann’s social systems theory. According to Luhmann, the functional system of the economy exhibits “imperatives” that cause social ills. The institutional form of social enterprises is shown to weaken these imperatives in several ways. One of these ways, discussed by Agafonow, is the substitution of profit maximization by output maximization. Other ways are the substitution of high-powered incentives by low-powered ones as elaborated in the work of Williamson and Hansmann.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine the work of the settlement women and explore how contemporary network managers can adapt and apply valuable but frequently overlooked managerial lessons from the field's history, and how contemporary managers can apply these lessons to the field of governance.
Abstract: Networks are developing alongside traditional bureaucracies as viable entities for addressing wicked problems. This alternate organizational model requires that administrators learn to manage and lead in more horizontal power-sharing structures. Public administration scholars trace the rise of networks in the United States back to the 1990s, yet the settlement women of the Progressive Era established a managerial and organizational precedent for using democratically anchored governance networks to affect social change. This article examines the work of the settlement women and explores how contemporary network managers can adapt and apply valuable but frequently overlooked managerial lessons from the field’s history.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors take an interest in the accumulation and use of fund balances by local governments and show that there is no consensus on the ideal percentage of savings governments should save.
Abstract: Researchers have recently taken an interest in the accumulation and use of fund balances by local governments. Nevertheless, there is no consensus on the ideal percentage of savings governments sho...
TL;DR: As the founding president of a new republic, which he called an "experiment" in government, George Washington was keenly aware of the importance of "precedents" in shaping "institutions".
Abstract: As the founding president of a new republic, which he called an “experiment” in government, George Washington was keenly aware of the importance of “precedents” in shaping “institutions.” Following...
TL;DR: The dominance of the medical profession with its high corporate power has been institutionalized into the governance structure, constraining actors’ choices in ways that only permit incremental changes in hospital care.
Abstract: This article aims to understand the evolution of health care governance in the Dutch hospital and home care sector. We pay particular attention to how institutionalized governance structures shape policy reform. Professionally-dominated governance structures are likely to continue to exist to some degree, even when new policy measures seek to introduce hierarchical control or market mechanisms in order to restrict professional autonomy. In contrast to the home care profession, the dominance of the medical profession with its high corporate power has been institutionalized into the governance structure, constraining actors’ choices in ways that only permit incremental changes in hospital care.
TL;DR: For some time, police departments have been disappearing from rural communities in North Carolina as mentioned in this paper, and this article seeks to locate the factors facilitating the disbandment of small police departments in these communities.
Abstract: For some time, police departments have been disappearing from rural communities in North Carolina This article seeks to locate the factors facilitating the disbandment of small police departments
TL;DR: In this article, the role of private property rights in the process of spatial planning is considered from the viewpoint of the dichotomy of power between the private property right and public policy, and the authors investigate which mechanisms are available to settle these interests, such as the binding zoning plan with its regulations and the options for government land acquisition.
Abstract: This article addresses the role of private property rights in the process of spatial planning. The article considers this process from the viewpoint of the dichotomy of power between the private property rights and public policy. On one hand, there is the private owner, who has the right to decide how to use the land based on the right to dispose. On the other hand, there is the government, which has the right to aim at realizing socially desirable land use based on its role as custodian of the public good. The article investigates which mechanisms are available to settle these interests, such as the binding zoning plan with its regulations and the options for government land acquisition. The article in short presents the integrated approach that is in force in the Netherlands. As this settlement process concerns the relationship between citizen and State, attention is paid to human rights aspects of property. The article addresses briefly the issue of land administration systems; adjusting public powers ...
TL;DR: The continued interest in (neo-)pragmatism for public administration is a validation of the very kind of democratic discourse that the philosophy holds dear as discussed by the authors. But the back-and-forth also reinforces...
Abstract: The continued interest in (neo-)pragmatism for public administration is a validation of the very kind of democratic discourse that the philosophy holds dear. Yet the back-and-forth also reinforces ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine how the widespread penetration of new information and communication technologies is implicated in this situation and how information is no longer just a resource but also a generative power.
Abstract: In recent decades, Western democratic governments have encountered coordination challenges in the face of increasing levels of complexity. This article examines how the widespread penetration of new information and communication technologies is implicated in this situation. Attention is drawn to how information is no longer just a resource but also a generative power. While the new informational dynamics entail greater capacities for instrumental manipulation, they are also recursive and produce emergent effects. These new dynamics introduce a novel set of coordination and control challenges that mark a significant departure from industrial modes of governance and organization.