Search results

1 – 10 of over 30000
Article
Publication date: 28 May 2021

Gal Yavetz and Noa Aharony

The purpose of this study is to examine the information distributed on social media by government ministries. In addition, this study seeks to categorize and identify the…

1020

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the information distributed on social media by government ministries. In addition, this study seeks to categorize and identify the characteristics of the highest engaging government social media posts.

Design/methodology/approach

This article is based on content analysis to examine the work of Israeli government ministries on Facebook. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze 6,292 posts posted over a six-month period, and a sample of 230 of the most popular posts was analyzed qualitatively.

Findings

Findings indicate that government ministries primarily direct and link to internal Facebook pages, with few, if any, referrals to official government websites. In addition, the types of content that generate the highest levels of engagement are classified as operations and events or symbolic acts (e.g. greetings or condolences) and are containing visual content as photos or video clips.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on the topic in several ways. First, it presents findings from a cross-national study of government authorities and organizations that operate and serve diverse populations in a multicultural country. Second, this study presents a novel examination of information strategies by government organizations with focusing on the characteristics of links, media types, content and posting frequency.

Details

Aslib Journal of Information Management, vol. 73 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-3806

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 October 2019

Steffen Roth, Teemu Santonen, Maximilian Heimstädt, Carlton Clark, Nikolay Trofimov, Jari Kaivo-oja, Arthur Atanesyan, Balazs Laki and Augusto Sales

The purpose of this paper is to examine how much value national governments worldwide place on political, economic, scientific, artistic, religious, legal, sportive…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how much value national governments worldwide place on political, economic, scientific, artistic, religious, legal, sportive, health-related, educational and mass media-related issues. This knowledge is critical as governments and policies are typically expected to be congruent with the importance these issues have for society.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on theories of polyphonic and multifunctional organization, the authors recoded and analyzed a US Central Intelligence Agency directory to test the cabinet portfolio of a total of 201 national governments for significant biases to the above issues.

Findings

The results suggest that governments worldwide massively over-allocate their attention to economic issues.

Originality/value

The authors conclude that this strong pro-economic governance-bias likely translates into dysfunctional governance and development at both the national and supra-national level.

Details

Journal of Organizational Change Management, vol. 32 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0953-4814

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 1996

Haoran Lu

Performance budgeting had been tried once and failed. Is there any reason to believe that the new performance budgeting will work? After reviewing existing studies on performance…

141

Abstract

Performance budgeting had been tried once and failed. Is there any reason to believe that the new performance budgeting will work? After reviewing existing studies on performance budgeting, the paper proposes that two obstacles continue to undermine its success. They are the poor quality of performance measures and their rare acceptance by budgetary decisionmakers. Unfortunately, these two impediments result from the generic defect of performance budgeting: i.e., its attempt at both comprehensiveness and rationality. The paper concludes by suggesting ways by which performance measures can be better utilized.

Details

Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, vol. 10 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1096-3367

Article
Publication date: 22 February 2013

Stephen Korutaro Nkundabanyanga, Venancio Tauringana, Waswa Balunywa and Stephen Naigo Emitu

The purpose of this study is to examine the association between accounting standards, legal framework and the quality of financial reporting by the Ministry of Water and…

1823

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the association between accounting standards, legal framework and the quality of financial reporting by the Ministry of Water and Environment in Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a self‐administered questionnaire to survey 120 staff and stakeholders of the Ministry of the Water and Environment. Correlation analysis was employed to determine the association between accounting standards, legal framework and the quality of financial reporting.

Findings

Results indicate that accounting standards and legal framework are all positively and significantly associated with the quality of financial reporting, providing evidence of the effect of accounting standards and legal framework on the quality of financial reporting in Uganda

Research limitations/implications

Scarce literature using African data means that it is not possible to compare the findings to previous research.

Practical implications

The finding of an association between accounting standards, the legal framework and quality of financial reporting implies that the government of Uganda needs to adopt a more robust approach in enforcing compliance to improve the quality of financial reports produced by the Ministry of Water and Environment.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the dearth of evidence on government accounting literature in Africa by investigating for the first time, the association between accounting standards, legal framework and the quality of financial reporting by a government department.

Details

Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, vol. 3 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2042-1168

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 January 2022

Ahmed Ibrahim Alzahrani

Governments of the developing countries must be ready to embrace the evolution of information technology. However, the growth in demand for online services and expectations for…

Abstract

Purpose

Governments of the developing countries must be ready to embrace the evolution of information technology. However, the growth in demand for online services and expectations for convenient access to government resources are placing governments under pressure to deliver outstanding e-services. Despite the successful attempts of the Saudi Government to deliver e-government services, the literature still needs to be advanced with evidence to demonstrate the current status of government websites. Additionally, the growth of e-government services should be periodically monitored and evaluated.

Design/methodology/approach

This study aims to revisit e-government websites previously surveyed (2006-2012) in Saudi Arabia and examine growth based on the five-stage maturity model. This study supports the approach with a review of the United Nations data and links this assessment with the five-stage maturity model.

Findings

The results revealed remarkable improvements in the maturity level of online services provided by the government websites of Saudi Arabia.

Practical implications

The relationship between e-government use and investment decisions appears to be bidirectional, as greater levels of investment seem to offer more opportunities for service improvement.

Originality/value

The outcomes are expected to assist executive authorities in understanding the current situation of e-government and plan appropriate strategic suggestions and development.

Details

Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, vol. 16 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6166

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 31 January 2020

Kyungran Roh, Hyunok Ryu and Gary N. McLean

The purpose of this study is to explore ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of national human resource development (NHRD) policies led by South Korean central…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of national human resource development (NHRD) policies led by South Korean central government agencies, identifying what policy decisions have been made and how they were implemented.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected data from the 2016 NHRD policy budget plans of the ministries and used content analysis. The unit of analysis was the fourth level, a sub-task, in each ministry’s policy budget plan. All coded policy contents were analyzed in terms of the centralized NHRD model, as well as through the perspective of developmental task theory.

Findings

The study yielded the following policy and implementation problems. First, the current system of NHRD policies established and implemented by individual ministries risks hampering the validity and effectiveness of the policies. Second, the structure of NHRD policy execution may cause similarity and redundancy across policies, thereby hindering the efficiency of the policies. Third, it is problematic when NHRD policies focus on solving short-term problems to the exclusion of long-term ones.

Originality/value

This study provides public recommendations to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of NHRD policies created by South Korea’s Central Government. If such an analysis has been made internally by the government, it has not been made publicly available. It also offers practical insights that might help to improve state-led human resource development policies for other countries – especially developing countries – that are planning to introduce central government-led NHRD or to improve existing NHRD policies.

Details

European Journal of Training and Development, vol. 44 no. 4/5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2046-9012

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2013

Brendan E. Asogwa

Nigeria has set up an e‐government initiative termed the “National e‐Government Strategy” (NeGSt) for the purpose of using ICT infrastructure to enhance public services. It was…

2957

Abstract

Purpose

Nigeria has set up an e‐government initiative termed the “National e‐Government Strategy” (NeGSt) for the purpose of using ICT infrastructure to enhance public services. It was expected that e‐government would enable the Nigerian government at all levels to render efficiencies in the public sector, ensure higher productivity and economic growth, foster national competitiveness and lead to the attainment of the vision 20‐2020. Regrettably, the e‐services envisaged seem not to be impacting much on public service delivery in the country. The aim of this paper is to examine the benefits and the status of e‐government in Nigeria, the barriers to the accomplishment of the goal, and some ways out.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of ten federal government ministries in Nigeria that have an official website were sampled. The study population was 100 randomly drawn employees in the ministries, and a structured questionnaire and oral interviews were used. Data were analyzed using frequency tables, simple percentages, and bar charts.

Findings

The study finds that e‐government would provide faster access to government information, lower administrative costs, increase transparency in government ministries, and reduce bribery and corruption, among others. These opportunities are threatened by low bandwidth and internet penetration, inadequate ICT infrastructure and technicians, incessant power outages, technological obsolescence, and other barriers. The Nigerian government should carry out a SWOT analysis of the e‐government project in the country, strengthen the e‐government infrastructure and ensure steady power supply before embarking on the e‐government project again.

Practical implications

This paper exposes the challenges and strategies for the e‐government initiative in Nigeria. It will help leaders to see areas of weakness and the need to re‐strategize. The paper serves as a beacon for further research and discussion on e‐government and online public services in developing countries.

Originality/value

This paper exposes the challenges and strategies for the e‐government initiative in Nigeria and suggests some measures for e‐government to develop and to improve.

Details

Library Hi Tech, vol. 31 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0737-8831

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2005

Caroline E. Akporido

To examine the budgetary procedures of Government ministry libraries in Delta State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Purpose

To examine the budgetary procedures of Government ministry libraries in Delta State, Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire and interview approach was used to identify the various components of ministry libraries and determine the budgetary process they used.

Findings

Even though the Government funds both types of libraries, budgetary procedures differ between ministry libraries and academic libraries. Perhaps the most noteworthy finding is that, unlike academic libraries, ministry libraries are often fully funded, yet they are rarely managed by a librarian. Furthermore, ministry library staff are often not involved in the budgetary process.

Originality/value

Provides insights into how the governmental funding process operates in Nigeria and how these processes could be improved.

Details

The Bottom Line, vol. 18 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0888-045X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 February 2008

Marita Vos and Evelyn Westerhoudt

The purpose of this paper is to provide a current state of the art of government communication in The Netherlands which can help to promote a dialogue about how communication…

4342

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a current state of the art of government communication in The Netherlands which can help to promote a dialogue about how communication quality in this field can be improved further.

Design/methodology/approach

In 2006 a survey was conducted for the second time to trace the communication trends in ministries, provinces, municipalities and water boards. The survey was set up in association with sector representatives and it is implemented every two years. The respondents were the top manager and the communication managers of all organisations in the four public sectors. The questionnaire was answered online and the response was 33 per cent.

Findings

The paper finds that the communication budget remained reasonably intact, even in more difficult years, and is now regarded with cautious optimism. The principal goals of government communication are to make government action more transparent and to generate interaction with the outside world. The respondents saw the main tasks as: communicate from a wider societal perspective, make the organisation more communicative internally and (especially in the municipalities) do more work on citizen participation. What strengths should a communication professional possess? As in 2004, when a similar survey was conducted, the most frequently cited competencies were analytical insight and empathy. In the discipline‐specific competencies, advisory skills and knowledge of the target group were mentioned most often. Knowledge of the political environment scored slightly lower than in 2004. The section on the main developments in government communication met with a mixed response. The ministries said more unity and coordination. The provinces mentioned, amongst others, a shift from a re‐active to pro‐active approach. The municipalities stressed citizen participation and the water boards stressed staying closer to people and their living environment. As in 2004, a common denominator for all the sectors was more attention to digital communication. Now that government communication has further developed, coherence and differences in approach between the tiers of government have to be taken into account.

Practical implementations

The survey provides insight into what the various public sectors (ministries, provinces, municipalities and water boards) see as the added value of communication.

Originality/value

This investigation focuses on government communication and gives insight into this area of communication.

Details

Journal of Communication Management, vol. 12 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1363-254X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 May 2018

Elona Guga

An attempt will be made to shed light on the course and pattern of the decentralization process by analyzing the historical development of local government and the…

Abstract

Purpose

An attempt will be made to shed light on the course and pattern of the decentralization process by analyzing the historical development of local government and the territorial-administrative reform of 2015-2020 in Albania and the factors that have been shaping it. The scope is to understand the impact of the reform elements on the subnational governments and in general their overall impact on the government. The purpose of this paper is to fill the gap in the existing literature for Albania and at offering some insights on the administrative-territorial reform. Furthermore, it will contribute to the current debate on fiscal decentralization in South Eastern European (SEE) countries and the public management model implemented after the last reforms.

Design/methodology/approach

The first section analyzes the historical development of local government reforms from the 1990s to today and will help to identify if there is instrumentalism advocacy. The second section explains the determinants of the local government’s fiscal autonomy in Albania of the period from 2003 to 2016. Three indicators are used as proxies for fiscal decentralization: the proportion of subnational expenditure over national expenditure, of total subnational revenues over total revenues of central government and the indicator of own subnational revenues over total revenues of the central government. The data from the budget and the revised budgets are then compared.

Findings

Despite Albania’s commitment to decentralize its government functions, there is still work to do. The territorial and administrative reform has not generated the expected results. Almost 90 percent of the revenues still come from the central government’s unconditional transfers. Therefore, the Albanian Government should build capacities and skills, and train the employees of each level of government that currently benefit from international assistance.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis represents a single case study on the territorial-administrative reform in Albania. Its implementation started in 2015 and it is probably too early to discuss outcomes. However, it might be useful to analyze the first results after a two-and-a-half-year period of implementation of reforms. Despite contributing to the existing gap in the literature, additional research will be necessary to better understand the decentralization process not only in Albania, but in all SEE countries.

Practical implications

It is necessary to first understand the lack of initial output, as well as the various challenges faced, in order to take the corrective measures on time.

Originality/value

This paper discusses in detail the reform adopted and the progress made by the Albanian local government units. The reform attempts to develop better relationships between the central and local governments and hence improve their service delivery, transparency and accountability. This paper is the first one that is attempting to analyze the initial output of the territorial-administrative reform of 2015-2020.

Details

International Journal of Public Sector Management, vol. 31 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0951-3558

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 30000