Search results
1 – 10 of over 9000
Few issues in recent times have so provoked debate and dissention within the library field as has the concept of fees for user services. The issue has aroused the passions of our…
Abstract
Few issues in recent times have so provoked debate and dissention within the library field as has the concept of fees for user services. The issue has aroused the passions of our profession precisely because its roots and implications extend far beyond the confines of just one service discipline. Its reflection is mirrored in national debates about the proper spheres of the public and private sectors—in matters of information generation and distribution, certainly, but in a host of other social ramifications as well, amounting virtually to a debate about the most basic values which we have long assumed to constitute the very framework of our democratic and humanistic society.
Jenni Kantola, Kirsi Lehto and Riitta Viitala
This study explores municipal leaders' perceptions on strategic human resource management in their local government organization. Previous studies on companies demonstrate that…
Abstract
Purpose
This study explores municipal leaders' perceptions on strategic human resource management in their local government organization. Previous studies on companies demonstrate that the top manager's perceptions of the importance of human resource management (HRM) for the organization are reflected in the quality of human resource management and its strategic role. The authors are interested in how leaders in municipalities perceive HRM.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors interviewed 30 leaders of Finnish municipalities for this qualitative study focused on municipal leaders' perceptions of HRM. The authors applied a discourse analytical approach in the analysis.
Findings
The authors recognized four discourses that frame perceptions of HRM: HRM as a strategic weapon, HRM as an underperformer, HRM as a matter of formality and HRM as a cost generator. In addition, the authors recognized that the discourses reflected leaders' self-positioning in relation to the power to impact issues related to HRM. Shifting between distinct roles demonstrated that municipal leaders' emphasis on HRM and its strategic alignment reflects the power relations in the municipality and the attitudes to the importance of HRM.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the academic discussions on HRM in municipalities and provides views on the municipal leader's role and impact on valuing and investing in HRM. From a practical point of view, the study will increase municipal leaders' knowledge of HRM's impact on the performance of the organization and also of the possible means of HRM.
Details
Keywords
Meghan E. Hollis and Wesley G. Jennings
The purpose of this paper is to systematically and comprehensively review the extant literature on racial disparities in police use of force.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to systematically and comprehensively review the extant literature on racial disparities in police use of force.
Design/methodology/approach
The current study uses a narrative meta-review of racial disparities in police use of force through a systematic and exhaustive search of several academic databases (e.g. Criminal Justice Abstracts; EBSCO Host, PsychInfo, etc.).
Findings
The current meta-review identified 41 studies that matched the selection criteria. These studies examined public and police officer perceptions of use of force, rates of use of force, types of force used, neighborhood contextual correlates of use of force, and severity of force used. The relationship between race and use of force remains unclear after an examination of these studies. This indicates a need for high-quality research focusing on comparable operationalization of variables and stronger methodologies.
Research limitations/implications
The research implications derived from this meta-review indicate a need for increased research to better understand the intersections of race and police use of force (and the factors that increase the likelihood of force being used more broadly).
Practical implications
The practical implications derived from this meta-review indicate the need for monitoring techniques, such as the use of police body-worn cameras that could serve to deter inappropriate use of force.
Originality/value
The state-of-the-art review on racial disparities in police use of force is the first of its kind. This study comprehensively reviews the literature on racial disparities in police use of force. This study will be useful for those who wish to further explore racial disparities and use of force issues in policing, and for police managers and administrators who want to address concerns related to racial disparities in use of force in their organization.
Details
Keywords
Research into the issues faced by managers who introduce IT into their organisations: how does technological change affect human resources policies? What human resources issues…
Abstract
Research into the issues faced by managers who introduce IT into their organisations: how does technological change affect human resources policies? What human resources issues need to be dealt with before the benefits of technological change can be fully exploited?
Details
Keywords
Nicholas J. Kinnie and Alan J. Arthurs
A national survey shows that personnel specialists are still failing to exploit fully the benefits of information technology (IT) in their own work. In seeking to explain this…
Abstract
A national survey shows that personnel specialists are still failing to exploit fully the benefits of information technology (IT) in their own work. In seeking to explain this, looks at the IT skills and knowledge of personnel specialists and their attitudes towards the use of IT. While these provide part of the explanation for the under‐utilization of IT, argues that more important inhibitions derive from the professional values of personnel specialists and their political power within organizations.
Details
Keywords
Discusses the problems faced when designing and delivering IT programmesfor Personnel practitioners and students. Argues that the futureprovision of IT teaching of personnel…
Abstract
Discusses the problems faced when designing and delivering IT programmes for Personnel practitioners and students. Argues that the future provision of IT teaching of personnel programmes depends on the provision of teaching materials, staff training programmes and the diversity of student experience.
Details
Keywords
Mario A. Davila, Deborah J. Hartley and Ben Brown
The purpose of this study is to gain a broad understanding of public perceptions of the police and violence.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to gain a broad understanding of public perceptions of the police and violence.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses survey data collected from a nationally representative sample (N = 1,223) by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Chicago. Descriptive, bivariate correlational and multivariate regression analyses of the data were conducted.
Findings
Descriptive analyses show the populace is equally concerned about the police use of violence and violence against the police, but bivariate analyses indicate the two types of concern are unrelated, and multivariate regression analyses show that few variables impact both types of concern. Consistent with prior research, young people and racial/ethnic minorities reported greater concerns about police violence than did older adults and Whites, yet neither age nor race/ethnicity impacted concerns about violence against the police. Perceived mistreatment by the police was the only variable which impacted perceptions of police violence and violence against the police in a consistent and cogent manner.
Originality/value
This study is the first to examine public perceptions of the police as both the agents and victims of violence. The results indicate public perceptions of the police are more complex than was previously believed.
Details
Keywords
Presents the results of a survey of the use of human resource information systems (HRIS) in smaller organizations, conducted in 1998. The survey enquires as to the nature of…
Abstract
Presents the results of a survey of the use of human resource information systems (HRIS) in smaller organizations, conducted in 1998. The survey enquires as to the nature of information stored electronically in three core areas: personnel, training and recruitment as well as the type of information analysis being undertaken. Significant relationships were found between the total number of people employed by the organization, and certain aspects of its information storage and manipulation. Smaller organizations were also found to be less likely to use HRIS, and HRIS was also used less frequently in training and recruitment. No sectoral differences were found. Similar to the results of IES/IPD surveys, and some academic work, it was found that HRIS are still being used to administrative ends rather than analytical ones.
Details
Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to systematically and comprehensively review the extant literature on measurement issues in police use of force.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to systematically and comprehensively review the extant literature on measurement issues in police use of force.
Design/methodology/approach
The current study uses a narrative meta-review of measurement issues in police use of force through a systematic and exhaustive search of several academic databases (e.g. Criminal Justice Abstracts, EBSCO Host, PsychInfo, etc.).
Findings
The current meta-review identified 56 studies that matched the inclusion criteria. These studies examined public and police officer perceptions of use of force, rates of use of force, types of force used, neighborhood contextual correlates of use of force, and severity of force used. A wide variety of approaches were used to measure use of force, and operationalization of use of force was inconsistent across studies. This indicates a need for high-quality research focusing on comparable operationalization of variables, consistency in measurement, and use of more rigorous research techniques. The use of validated measures is essential moving forward.
Practical implications
The practical implications derived from this meta-review indicate a need for future researchers to carefully evaluate the measurement approaches used in use of force studies. The lack of consistency in measurement of use of force research is concerning, and a focused effort is required to validate measures.
Originality/value
The state-of-the-art review on measurement issues in police use of force is the first of its kind. This study comprehensively reviews the literature on measurement issues in police use of force. This study will be useful for those who wish to further explore measurement issues in police use of force issues in policing and those who wish to work toward validated use of force measures.
Details
Keywords
Stephanie J. Arthur, Robert D. Hisrich and Ángel Cabrera
The aim of this study was to determine what facilitators and impediments to regional and global entrepreneurship exist, as identified by the 145 industry contacts globally…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study was to determine what facilitators and impediments to regional and global entrepreneurship exist, as identified by the 145 industry contacts globally surveyed, and if education stood out as a critical factor.
Design/methodology/approach
An electronic, open‐ended survey was conducted; responses were categorized into three groups of factors – i.e. economic, social and personal – and analyzed accordingly by region and job function of respondent.
Findings
The survey revealed many similarities among responses, regardless of country of origin; although education was not the most frequently cited factor critical for successful entrepreneurship, it did rate highly in comparison to others.
Research limitations
Larger studies are needed to corroborate the findings of this initial study, particularly in some regional categories. The open‐ended question format required some subjective interpretation by the researchers; future surveys utilizing an objective answer format would be recommended.
Practical implications
The amount of consensus indicates that if entrepreneurs, academics, and others collaborated and pooled their knowledge and resources, some of the critical barriers to success could be overcome. The field could benefit by future research focusing on identifying specific collaboration strategies among regions or countries leading to the growth of entrepreneurial ventures and economic development.
Originality/value
Surveying experts regarding the facilitators and impediments to entrepreneurship (both regionally and globally) will help to bridge the gulf between theory and practical solutions to drive economic development.
Details