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1 – 10 of over 130000Jan Maluleka, Marcia Nkwe and Patrick Ngulube
In the wake of the fourth industrial revolution, where most information is accessible online, archives should be visible online for them to fulfil their legislated mandate and…
Abstract
Purpose
In the wake of the fourth industrial revolution, where most information is accessible online, archives should be visible online for them to fulfil their legislated mandate and facilitate access to information resources. The Covid-19 pandemic has further underscored the importance of online platforms in making archives accessible without the public having to visit archival institutions physically. The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which public archival institutions of South Africa are visible online with the view to deepen their understanding of how archives promote themselves online.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employed content analysis to establish the online content of public archival institutions in South Africa. A google search was conducted using the names of the archival institutions as search terms. The top results obtained after the search were recorded for further analysis.
Findings
The findings suggest that public archival institutions in South Africa have limited online presence. Only the National Archives of South Africa had an active website with collections that are accessible online. Some provincial archives had websites hosted by their parent bodies while others had no websites at all. Only the Limpopo and Eastern Cape provincial archives had their Facebook pages in the top results. There were no signs of other social media sites in the top results.
Originality/value
The study concludes that public archival institutions are not visible online. All provincial archives need to have websites where they can be accessed. The use of social media platforms needs to be prioritised. In this fourth industrial revolution age, people communicate and interact online. Public archival institutions should therefore make it their primary mandate to take the archives to where the people are currently meeting.
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Catherine Asamoah, Harry Akussah and Adams Musah
The purpose of this study is to examine the disaster management procedures and measures adopted by public institutions in managing their information resources with a view to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the disaster management procedures and measures adopted by public institutions in managing their information resources with a view to identifying possible problems and making recommendations for their resolution.
Design/methodology/approach
Questionnaires, interviews and observation were used to collect data from 65 respondents from 19 ministries and five respondents from the Public Records and Archives Administration Department (PRAAD) and the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO). Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to analyze the data collected for the study.
Findings
In the 19 ministries surveyed, the findings revealed high levels of unpreparedness to manage disasters concerning public records. The study also revealed the exposure of the ministries to various kinds of risks in their operations, and the lack of coordination between the heads of public sector institutions, NADMO and PRAAD. Also, inadequate budgetary allocation for the records department of the ministries and PRAAD was identified.
Research limitations/implications
The study concentrated on the headquarters (HQ) of the ministries because they are the administrative headquarters of public sector institutions and they make policies that are complied with by all the Regional and District branches as well as the Departments and Agencies in executing their tasks. The major limitation of the study was the inability of the researcher to cover all the ministries.
Practical implications
The recommendations made included cooperation among heads of the ministries, PRAAD and NADMO to develop a national information disaster management plan for the effective management of public records and information and a comprehensive program in public institutions to orientate staff on information disaster management.
Social implications
The study set the tone for public sector institutions and other institutions in the same area of operation to review the processes and procedures with regard to recordkeeping. Also, the study is anticipated to draw the attention of policy-makers (management of the ministries) and regulatory bodies in the field of records and disaster management (PRAAD and NADMO) to review their plans and policies to make provision for information disaster management.
Originality/value
The study is a research paper and critically looks at the disaster preparedness of public sector institutions in managing their records/information. It also examines whether there are any collaboration and coordination among public sector institutions in Ghana in having disaster preparedness and management plan to safeguard public records/information.
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This paper seeks to conduct an in‐depth study of international trends in private higher education and focus on the Indian scenario
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to conduct an in‐depth study of international trends in private higher education and focus on the Indian scenario
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology adopted is conceptual, analytical and comparative.
Findings
Though there has been better acceptability of private higher education institutions in India today than the “trepidation” felt at their emergence three decades ago, certain basic questions have been raised: Is the presence of private sector in higher education inevitable? Is it desirable too? Why is the Supreme Court of India intervening in matters pertaining to private higher education so frequently? What are the issues at stake?
Originality/value
An attempt is made to highlight the political‐economic, socio‐cultural, national‐international, ethical‐philosophical and legal‐practical aspects of this outreaching theme, in general, and focus on the driving forces, causes, and consequences of the emergence of the private higher education during the last three decades, in particular.
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Teresa P. Gordon and Mary Fischer
Performance measures have long been a topic of interest in higher education although no consensus on the best way to measure performance has been achieved. This paper examines the…
Abstract
Performance measures have long been a topic of interest in higher education although no consensus on the best way to measure performance has been achieved. This paper examines the extent and effectiveness of service efforts and accomplishment reporting by public and not-for-profit U.S. colleges and universities using survey data provided by the National Association of College and University Business Officers. Effectiveness is evaluated using the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) suggested criteria. Regression analysis suggests an association between the extent of disclosure and size, leverage, level of education provided, and regional accreditation agency. Private institutions rate themselves as more effective communicators. Effectiveness of communication is also associated with the extent of disclosure, level of education provided and accreditation region.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) have issued significantly different accounting and financial reporting…
Abstract
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) have issued significantly different accounting and financial reporting standards for contributions. These standards are particularly significant for reporting by private and public institutions of higher education. This paper summarizes many of these differences including timing of revenue recognition, classification of contributed resources, recording pledges, and recognition of “collections.” A framework is suggested for evaluating accounting and financial reporting standards for contributions. Finally, recommendations are made to both FASB and GASB for changes to make their standards more consistent.
Lobna Mohamed Abdellatif, Baher Mohamed Atlam and Ola Abdel Moneim El Sayed Emara
This paper aims to show the aligned development that took place in public administration and public financial management toward serving public values. By analyzing the mode of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to show the aligned development that took place in public administration and public financial management toward serving public values. By analyzing the mode of institutions’ interaction, the paper attempts to pinpoint the changing trends in budget institutions in Egypt, probing the extent to which they can be read from an administrative perspective and the possibility of enhancing budgetary outcomes under the existing administrative arrangements.
Design/methodology/approach
An analytical framework for public management administrative and budgetary institutions’ alignment is presented. A ladder analysis is developed to highlight the consistency of rationale between the two sets of institutions. The alignment is demonstrated at three consecutive levels: control and discipline, efficiency and effectiveness and openness and communication.
Findings
The international experience reveals that the alignment of administrative and budgetary institutions is both theoretically traceable and practically applicable in the case of developed economies. Whereas, in the case of Egypt, both sets of institutions have been exposed to best practices; yet, they are not seen as complementary and enforcing each other. The internalization of the benefits of reforms in the two tracks into an integrated public management context in the case of Egypt is not reached.
Practical implications
Egypt needs to ensure the alignment of both dimensions to maximize the benefits of reform.
Originality/value
The ladder approach sorts the developments in both administrative and budgetary institutions into three levels to help assessing the maturity and conformity in countries’ public management systems.
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This exploratory research seeks to clarify the role of cultural organisations as knowledge-intensive public organisations (KIPOs) and the trend of digital content creation in…
Abstract
Purpose
This exploratory research seeks to clarify the role of cultural organisations as knowledge-intensive public organisations (KIPOs) and the trend of digital content creation in museum sectors and national strategies through a country case study. It aims to provide a deeper understanding and analysis of museums' roles as KIPOs, specifically focusing on their digitalisation and digital content development for service delivery. Digital technology utilisation in the museum sector has amplified the significance of digital content, not only because of the increasing use of digital technologies among the public but also because it provides attractive new content to appeal to customers, as well as more efficient knowledge management and knowledge reproduction tools for KIPOs. Thus, this paper analyses digital content creation in the museum sector and policy frameworks to provide insights into the role of museums as KIPOs by utilising digital technologies.
Design/methodology/approach
We conducted literature review on six keywords, combination of “cultural institution”, “museum”, “digitalization”, “digital content”, and “ICT” to understand the digitalisation of museums amongst academic papers, then used a case study to figure out the common issues as well as case-specific features of these digital offerings through analysis of the digital platforms of museums. Specifically, we choose the case of South Korea, its national strategies and budget allocations and the museum sectors in the country. Thus, the secondary data analysis was provided by the official channels, such as documents from government agencies, media sources, such as articles from newspapers and magazines and academic works of literature, such as papers in scientific journals.
Findings
This paper reveals the research trend in museums' digitalisation, especially through the case study, how the South Korean government has argued digital content development in museum sectors through their national strategies and budget allocations, and the trend of museums' digital offerings since 2021. This paper thus presents a novel contribution to the field by delving into the research trend in digitalisation and digital content development in the museum sector and analysing the South Korean government's national strategies and budget allocation in this context. The literature review shows that the digitalisation of museums has increased research interest in the last few years in limited areas. South Korea has allocated budgets and policies to encourage digital content creation in museums, and this study identifies an increase in digital content creation in the museum sector.
Research limitations/implications
The paper chose one-country case study, that of South Korea; thus, there are representative limitations and thus in terms of generalisation of the results. Further research with case studies from other countries and comparative studies are required.
Practical implications
This study highlights the importance of digitalisation and digital content development in the museum sector through government policies, strategies and financial investment.
Social implications
It highlights the importance of digitalisation and the introduction of digital contents amongst museums to gain new visitors and change the relationship between the institutions and the customers.
Originality/value
It deals with the digitalisation of museums as KIPOs and it is a new and relevant topic per se. This study enhances the understanding of the museum sector’s digital content development and national policies to support its activities. It provides insights into the utilisation of digital technologies in cultural institutions for digital service delivery in public organisations.
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Aljaž Kunčič and Andreja Jaklič
This chapter examines the role of formal and informal institutions in foreign direct investment (FDI) dynamics.
Abstract
Purpose
This chapter examines the role of formal and informal institutions in foreign direct investment (FDI) dynamics.
Design/methodology/approach
We examine the effects of the quality of legal, political, and economic formal institution as well as the effect of institutional distance (based on new dataset) on bilateral inward FDI stocks in 34 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries for the period 1990–2010 using a gravity specification. Additionally, we also examine FDI for the effects of a specific informal institution – attitude of the public toward economic liberal issues. Reactions of FDI to liberal and nonliberal public opinion (part of informal institutions) are examined with and without controlling for formal institutions.
Findings
Findings show that the quality of legal and political institutions are important determinants of FDI, that legal and political institutional distance are both significant obstacles to FDI, and that public opinion also matters. We find that it is important to control for formal institutions when looking at the effect of informal institutions, and that both past liberal and nonliberal public opinion correlate with FDI, but only nonliberal public opinion significantly reduces inward FDI directly.
Research limitations/implications
Results are relevant for enterprises’ investment strategies, marketing strategies influencing public opinion as well as for policy makers, and governmental agencies involved in investment promotion programs.
Originality/value
Exploring the interplay between formal and informal institutions, institutional quality, institutional distance, and their effect on FDI in a bilateral panel.
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Victoria Abena Nutassey, Bomi Cyril Nomlala and Mabutho Sibanda
This study assessed the role of political institutions in the relationship between economic institutions and public debt in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Abstract
Purpose
This study assessed the role of political institutions in the relationship between economic institutions and public debt in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on data availability, the study was done for 40 Sub-Saharan African countries from 2010 to 2019 employing generalized method of moment.
Findings
The authors documented a negative and significant relationship between economic institutions and public debt as well as a negative and significant effect of political institutions on public debt in SSA. Also, the study recorded that political institutions play a negative and significant role in the economic institutions-public debt nexus in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, a threshold of 3.691 is given when it comes to the role of political institutions in the association between government spending and public debt nexus in SSA.
Research limitations/implications
The authors failed to take certain indicators of economic institutions, such as freedom to trade internationally, the size of government and legal system and property into consideration.
Practical implications
The authors suggest that democracy is necessary for boosting economic institutions-induced public debt reduction in SSA.
Originality/value
The novelty of this study is evident in two ways: first, the authors assessed the relationship between economic institutions and public debt in SSA using novel measures such as government integrity, tax burden and government spending from the Heritage Foundation instead of traditional institution measures from World Governance Indicators used by earlier studies. The authors further contribute to literature by being the first to consider the foundational role of political institutions in employing economic institutions to fight high public debt in SSA. Again, the authors included the threshold at which political institutions can cause economic institutions to have a desired impact on public debt in SSA.
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Hamid Zarei, Hassan Yazdifar, Mohsen Dahmarde Ghaleno and Navidreza Namazi
Despite cultural dimensions being included in hundreds of business and management research studies, there have been relatively few studies in public-sector accounting that include…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite cultural dimensions being included in hundreds of business and management research studies, there have been relatively few studies in public-sector accounting that include the use of cultural dimensions. It is posited that national cultural variables impact the institutions, which, in turn, have an influence on public-sector budgeting. The study aims to contribute to the literature by examining these relations in 31 countries.
Design/methodology/approach
These relationships are empirically evaluated by structural equation modeling using measures of national culture from Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness (GLOBE) study and Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGIs) measures named institutions from the World Bank. Furthermore, measures of public-sector budgeting are evaluated in which public-sector budgeting is classified according to the legislative power of the purse and budget transparency.
Findings
Generally, findings reveal that institutions mediate the relationship among national cultural variables and budgeting at the national level. By that means, budgeting in a given nation is linked to the nation's supporting institutions which, in turn, are influenced by the national culture of those who maintain them. Particularly, power distance and uncertainty avoidance impact budgeting through the full mediation of institutions.
Research limitations/implications
The World Bank's database used for the institutions contained over 200 countries (Kaufmann et al., 2007); the GLOBE cultural database (House et al., 2004) contained data for 62 societies; the public-sector budgeting (Qi and Mensah, 2011) included power of the purse and budgeting transparency country scores for 49 countries and the datasets comprised 31 nations, mostly from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. While smaller than we would have preferred, the size is consistent with other international studies (for instance: Waldman et al., 2006; Kwok and Tadesse, 2006).
Practical implications
The findings of the paper suggest that any plan to improve a nation's budgeting should consider the links between budgeting, supporting institutions and the culture of those that run them. The formal adoption of new methods and standards by supporting institutions may not be enough without accompanying efforts to transform national culture.
Originality/value
The theoretical contribution of the paper is discussed further in the paper.
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