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1 – 10 of over 1000Ghulam Mustafa, Waqas Rafiq, Naveed Jhamat, Zeeshan Arshad and Farhana Aziz Rana
This study aims to evaluate blockchain as an e-government governance model. It assesses its alignment with legal frameworks, emphasizing robustness against disruptions and…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to evaluate blockchain as an e-government governance model. It assesses its alignment with legal frameworks, emphasizing robustness against disruptions and adherence to existing laws.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper explores blockchain’s potential in e-government, focusing on legal, ethical and governance aspects. It conducts an in-depth analysis of blockchain’s integration into data governance, emphasizing legal compliance and resilient security protocols.
Findings
The study comprehensively evaluates blockchain’s implementation, covering privacy, interoperability, consensus mechanisms, scalability and regulatory alignment. It highlights governance’s critical role in ensuring legal compliance within blockchain paradigms.
Research limitations/implications
Ethical and legal concerns arising from blockchain adoption remain unresolved. The study underscores how blockchain challenges its core principles of anonymity and decentralization in e-government settings.
Practical implications
The framework outlined offers potential for diverse technological environments, albeit raising ethical and legal queries. It emphasizes governance’s pivotal role in achieving legal compliance in blockchain adoption.
Social implications
Blockchain’s impact on legal and ethical facets necessitates further exploration to align with its core principles while addressing governance in e-government settings.
Originality/value
This study presents a robust framework for assessing blockchain’s viability in e-government, emphasizing legal compliance, despite ethical and legal intricacies that challenge its fundamental principles.
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This paper aims to discuss the capability of current governance models to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the tourism sphere and propose a broad model of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to discuss the capability of current governance models to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the tourism sphere and propose a broad model of governance to support the SDGs agenda.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper reviews the existing literature and uses it as a basis for developing a model of governance. The proposed model is inspired by recent studies that discuss the implementation of the SDGs agenda in tourism and on Fennell’s (2019) framework for tourism ethics.
Findings
The study proposes a multi-level model of governance that espouses the need for a stronger supranational system that curtails the power of both governments and the private sector. It also emphasizes the need to identify hypernorms that delimit the capacity for action at the various levels and which are determined by accessing varied stakeholders’ views within this system at the international level.
Originality/value
This paper proposes a model of governance for the implementation of the SDGs as a foothold for future discussions. It highlights the main challenges that may be faced in the implementation of such a system and suggests several avenues for future research.
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Piotr Popęda and Bartłomiej Hadasik
The paper's primary purpose is to define and characterize the innovative concept in public management theory, New Public Governance (NPG), from its theoretical framework and the…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper's primary purpose is to define and characterize the innovative concept in public management theory, New Public Governance (NPG), from its theoretical framework and the view of public management institutions. The second objective is to create a logical framework to explain this notion. The broader role of this paper is to expand the understanding of this contemporary public management trend.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodological approach of the authors' research is based on a deep understanding of theoretical sources, particularly the scientific precursors in the literature surrounding the NPG theory. The authors used the following methods to achieve the paper's goals: critical thematic literature review and synthetic comparative analysis.
Findings
In regards to scientific analysis, the goals of NPG were achieved, considering that its concept and main characteristics were displayed in definitional terms as a trend in public management, emphasizing institutional cooperation and co-production, having strengths in social inclusion and weaknesses in the lack of participatory experience of the actors. Additionally, the authors created the original 6-CO coherent conceptual framework describing the flows in the NPG operation based on theoretical foundations. The analysis of theoretical sources not only allowed the collection of common and disconnected features of the reasoning behind the definition and depth of the NPG but also insufficient development of the theory in existing sources.
Originality/value
The paper demonstrates critical new scholarship surrounding the NPG theory because it (1) applies one of the latest trends in public management, (2) juxtaposes various academics' understanding of the concept and, most importantly, (3) advances the theory of NPG with the original 6-CO coherent conceptual framework as a practical implication of the theory originator.
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This paper aims to examine the impact of Zakat avoidance on firm value and investigates how board characteristics moderate this relationship within the context of Saudi Arabia, a…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the impact of Zakat avoidance on firm value and investigates how board characteristics moderate this relationship within the context of Saudi Arabia, a Muslim nation.
Design/methodology/approach
Using panel data from 2009 to 2020, encompassing 78 nonfinancial firms listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange, this study constructs an enhanced measure of Zakat avoidance that integrates insights from tax avoidance research, Shariah principles and the regulations of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority. This research uses empirical techniques, including panel data regressions and interaction analysis to investigate how board characteristics may influence this relationship.
Findings
Descriptive analysis reveals pervasive Zakat compliance, underscoring the effectiveness of Saudi Arabia’s robust Zakat system. Regression results indicate a positive association between Zakat payment and firm value. Remarkably, board characteristics exhibit no significant link to Zakat avoidance, emphasizing the potency of the Zakat system and religious adherence. However, the moderation analysis reveals that board independence and meeting frequency positively moderate the relationship between Zakat avoidance and firm value.
Practical implications
The study emphasizes the vital importance of upholding Zakat obligations to cultivate trust among stakeholders and amplify firm value. It advocates for governance frameworks that foster vigilant oversight and independence, ultimately enhancing a firm’s overall worth. Furthermore, the study’s findings provide valuable insights for corporate leaders, investors, policymakers and society as a whole, facilitating the promotion of ethical financial conduct and driving holistic economic development.
Originality/value
This research introduces novel insights by scrutinizing the intricate interplay of Zakat avoidance, board dynamics and firm value within the context of a culturally distinctive emerging economy. The development of a distinct Zakat avoidance metric, along with comprehensive empirical assessment, contributes to the originality of the study. Moreover, the investigation into the moderating influence of board characteristics adds value to the existing body of knowledge.
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Julia Viezzer Baretta, Micheline Gaia Hoffmann, Luciana Militao and Josivania Silva Farias
The purpose of this study is examined whether coproduction appears spontaneously in the literature on public sector innovation and governance, the citizens’ role in coproduction…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is examined whether coproduction appears spontaneously in the literature on public sector innovation and governance, the citizens’ role in coproduction and the implication of citizens’ participation in the governance of innovation networks.
Design/methodology/approach
The review complied with preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) protocol. The search was performed in the Ebsco, Scopus and WOS databases. The authors analyzed 47 papers published from 2017 to 2022. Thematic and content analysis were adopted, supported by MAXQDA.
Findings
The papers recognize the importance of the citizens in public innovation. However, only 20% discuss coproduction, evidencing the predominance of governance concepts related to interorganizational collaborations – but not necessarily to citizen engagement. The authors also verified the existence of polysemy regarding the concept of governance associated with public innovation, predominating the term “collaborative governance.”
Research limitations/implications
The small emphasis on “co-production” may result from the search strategy, which deliberately did not include it as a descriptor, considering the research purpose. One can consider this choice a limitation.
Practical implications
Considering collaborative governance as a governing arrangement where public agencies directly engage nonstate stakeholders in a collective decision-making process that is formal, consensus-oriented and deliberative (Ansell and Gash, 2007), the forum where the citizen is supposed to be engaged should be initiated by public agencies or institutions and formally organized, as suggested by Österberg and Qvist (2020) and Campomori and Casula (2022). These notions can be useful for public managers concerning their role and how the forums structure should be to promote collaboration and the presence of innovation assets needed to make the process fruitful (Crosby et al., 2017).
Originality/value
Despite the collaborative nature of public innovation, the need for adequate governance characteristics, and the importance of citizens in the innovative process, most studies generically address collaborative relationships, focusing on interorganizational collaboration, with little focus on specific actors such as citizens in the governance of public innovation. Thus, it is assumed that the literature that discusses public innovation and governance includes the discussion of coproduction. The originality and contribution of this study is to verify this assumption.
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Mohammad Delwar Hussain and Iftekhar Ahmed
This study aims to examine the impact of governance on the double-bottom-line performance of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Bangladesh.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the impact of governance on the double-bottom-line performance of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Bangladesh.
Design/methodology/approach
This study relies on three dimensions of corporate governance (CG) practices, that is, functions of the board of directors (BoD), top-level management activities and external governance mechanisms. This study uses panel data econometrics, particularly pooled OLS, fixed effects and two-stage system generalized method of moments to deal with potential endogeneity concerns. The panel data set covers 1,200 MFI year observations from Bangladesh for the period between 2005 and 2019.
Findings
The findings show that the presence of stakeholders on boards plays a critical role in MFIs. The dual goals of MFIs are influenced by board size, board independence and CEO duality. Internal management activities, risk perceptions and external governance also impact MFIs’ performance. Women on board have an inverse association with outreach. The activities of female managers have a significant impact on depth of outreach.
Research limitations/implications
Like many others, this study also admits the data constraint issues in microfinance research. CG data for MFI are mostly unavailable in the public domain; therefore, this study must rely on third-party data sources. This study only includes MFIs that has data for all variables of interest.
Practical implications
Governance attributes in hybrid organizations are constituted differently. To warrant multistakeholder engagement, there is a need to develop a distinctive governance manual for hybrid organizations like MFIs.
Social implications
This study proposes adopting a Social Director on the BoD to ensure the scope of outreach depth, given the importance of social goals in MFIs.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the ongoing debate on microfinance governance, addresses the issue based on different theoretical aspects using a country-specific data set and uses dynamic panel models to deal with potential endogeneity concerns.
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Mauro Sciarelli, Giovanni Landi, Lorenzo Turriziani and Anna Prisco
This study aims to explore the impact of controversial firms’ corporate sustainability assessments on their risk exposure according to the environmental, social and governance…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the impact of controversial firms’ corporate sustainability assessments on their risk exposure according to the environmental, social and governance (ESG) paradigm.
Design/methodology/approach
This study conducts a cross-sectional study using the ordinary least squares approach to test how corporate social responsibility practices affect firms’ risk exposure, testing the three single impacts of ESG components and the impact of an overall ESG assessment. This study considers the largest Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 stock market index companies and focus on a double-risk measurement – systematic and idiosyncratic – developing an empirical study on 132 controversial companies listed on the S&P index.
Findings
Empirical findings indicate that the overall ESG assessment and the environmental and social sub-dimensions decrease idiosyncratic firm risk. At the same time, no significant results are found according to the systematic risk component.
Originality/value
This study fits into the domain of risk management research, investigating whether additional and non-financial disclosures regarding sustainability issues decrease information asymmetries, improving investors’ decision-making and stakeholders’ relations. Prior literature has shown limited evidence on the relationship between corporate social performance (CSP) and firm risk based on controversial companies. The main contribution is to consider the controversy as an independent factor from the industry sector, given that the implications of CSP actions and practices are mainly firm-specific.
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Khairul Anuar Kamarudin, Nor Hazwani Hassan and Wan Adibah Wan Ismail
This study examines the non-linear effect of board independence on the investment efficiency of listed firms worldwide. This study further tests whether the COVID-19 pandemic…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines the non-linear effect of board independence on the investment efficiency of listed firms worldwide. This study further tests whether the COVID-19 pandemic, industry competition and economic development influence the relationship between board independence and investment efficiency.
Design/methodology/approach
The data are retrieved from the Thomson Reuters (Refinitiv) database and include international data from 33 countries, comprising 21,363 firm-year observations. The authors' regression analyses include firm-specific variables as controls that may impact investment efficiency. The authors also perform various robustness tests including, alternative measures of investment efficiency, weighted least squares regression, quantile regression and endogeneity issues.
Findings
The results reveal a non-linear relationship between board independence and investment efficiency. Specifically, the relationship follows a U-shaped pattern, indicating that the negative impact of board independence on investment efficiency becomes positive after it reaches its optimal point, thus supporting optimal board structure theory. Interestingly, the authors find no significant evidence of board independence’s effect on investment efficiency during the pandemic. In contrast, the relationship between board independence and investment efficiency is significant only during the non-pandemic period. Furthermore, the authors discover evidence of a U-shaped relationship in both emerging and developed markets, as well as in industries with high and low competition.
Research limitations/implications
The authors' study discovers new evidence on the non-linear impact of board independence on investment efficiency, which has not been explored previously in existing research.
Practical implications
This study has practical implications for investors by emphasising the importance of corporate governance and the appointment of independent directors. Investors should consider the findings of this study when making decisions related to corporate governance, as they can impact a firm's investment efficiency.
Originality/value
Despite a considerable body of literature exploring the link between corporate governance and investment effectiveness, there is a dearth of research on the non-linear effects of board independence. Furthermore, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, industry competition and economic development remain unexplored.
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Md Tarikul Islam, Mia Mahmudur Rahim and Sanjaya Chinthana Kuruppu
This paper examines the link between the failure of public accountability and stakeholder disengagement brought about by a New Public Management (NPM) style “smart solution”…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines the link between the failure of public accountability and stakeholder disengagement brought about by a New Public Management (NPM) style “smart solution” introduced to reduce public urination in Dhaka city. It shows how New Public Governance (NPG), Islamic and dialogic approaches can improve decision-making and solutions.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on the concepts of public accountability, NPM, NPG and dialogic accountability, this study highlights how narrow conceptions of accountability and poor stakeholder engagement impacted the effectiveness of the “smart solution” based on data collected through observation and unstructured in-depth interviews.
Findings
Evidence suggests that narrow conceptions of accountability driven by monologic NPM perspectives led to poor stakeholder engagement, which impacted the effectiveness of the “smart solution”. The solution that consists of changing anti-urination signage from Bengali to Arabic script has not solved Dhaka's public urination problem. In many instances, the solution has disenchanted certain stakeholders who view it as an offence against Islam and a confusing de-privileging of the Bengali language which has significant national and cultural value in Bangladesh.
Originality/value
The findings of the study contribute to policymaking discussions on how to effectively engage with stakeholders and extend the literature on accountability within the context of conflicting public versus private demands related to a public nuisance. The study outlines important issues related to stakeholder engagement and introduces a framework that conceptualises how to increase the effectiveness of public policy decisions using NPG, Islamic and dialogic accountability approaches, especially on matters that require significant public/external stakeholder support. It also provides a conceptual integration of these various approaches, including nuanced insights into accountability challenges within “non-Western” contexts.
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P. Raghavendra Rau and Ting Yu
Over the past two decades, the topics of Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) have attracted an increasing amount of…
Abstract
Purpose
Over the past two decades, the topics of Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) have attracted an increasing amount of interest, reflecting a growing sensitivity of investors and corporations towards environmental, social and governance issues.
Design/methodology/approach
This survey offers an overview of the academic literature on ESG/CSR through the lens of investors, institutions and firms. We first discuss the definitions of ESG and CSR and their relationship to each other.
Findings
We next describe how ESG is measured and note problems with the measurement of and quality of ESG data and discrepancies between different measures of ESG. We then turn our attention to investors, examining what types of investors invest in ESG and the role of institutional investors in ESG. From the firm's perspective, we discuss why firms themselves conduct ESG. We also summarize the literature on the impact of ESG on firms: how ESG affects firms' financing, disclosure and reporting activities and firm performance. Finally, we describe other consequences of the focus of ESG and CSR on firms and investors.
Originality/value
This survey offers an overview of the academic literature on ESG/CSR through the lens of investors, institutions and firms.