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1 – 10 of over 1000Anna V. Chatzi and Kyriakos I. Kourousis
Healthcare has undergone multiple phases in gaining understanding, accepting and implementing quality and safety, with the last 3 decades being crucial and decisive in making…
Abstract
Purpose
Healthcare has undergone multiple phases in gaining understanding, accepting and implementing quality and safety, with the last 3 decades being crucial and decisive in making progress. During that time, safety has always been quoted along with quality, but the cost of error in healthcare (both in human lives and monetary cost) has been continuing to rise.
Design/methodology/approach
This article discusses the authors’ expert perspective in comparison to the industry’s research and practice outputs.
Findings
Healthcare has not yet defined quality and safety. This is allowing the misconception that already established quality management systems (QMSs) are fit for safety purposes as well. Even though aviation has acted as a paradigm for healthcare, further alignment in embedding safety management systems (SMS) has yet to be realised.
Originality/value
In this paper, the distinct nature of safety and its detachment of quality is being discussed, along with the need for clear and safety specific processes. Setting common language is the first step in establishing appropriate safety processes within SMSs, operating in tandem with QMSs, to promote patient safety successfully.
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Mahmud Al Masum and Lee Parker
This paper aims to investigate how the technical logics of a World Bank-led performance management reform interacted with the social, political and historical logics within a…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate how the technical logics of a World Bank-led performance management reform interacted with the social, political and historical logics within a developing country (DC) regulatory organisation. The institutional environment both within and outside the organisation was considered to understand the performance management reform experience.
Design/methodology/approach
An interview-based, longitudinal, qualitative case study approach was used to locate accounting in its technical, social and political space. A large regulatory organisation in Bangladesh was investigated as a case study to reveal how traditional organisational practices and public sector norms mediated a performance management reform. Informed by the institutional logics (IL) and economies of worth perspectives, interviews were used to locate IL at macro-level and associated organisational actors’ strategic responses that ultimately shaped the implementation of a performance management system (PMS).
Findings
This paper reveals how accounting, as a social and political practice, influences accountability reform within a regulatory organisation. It provides an account of both the processes and resultant practices of an accounting reform initiative. While a consultative and transparent performance management process was intended to enhance accountability, it challenged the traditional organisational authority structure and culture. The new PMS retained, modified and adjusted a number of its characteristics over time. These adjustments reflected an amalgamation of the influence of institutional pressures from powerful constituents and the ability of the local agents (managers) in negotiating and mediating the institutionalisation of a new PMS.
Practical implications
The findings of this paper carry major implications for policy makers, particularly with respect to the design of future reform programs on PMS.
Originality/value
This paper offers a theoretical mapping of IL and its organisation-level interpretations and practices. Thus, the authors locate power and influence at field and firm levels. The findings of this study reflect historical, political and cultural backgrounds of the case study organisation and how these contextual forces were active in shaping the meaning of reform logics. Though the institutional environment and agents were unique to the case study organisation, this research offers a “process generalisation” that reveals how a best practice PMS was translated and transformed by the traditional organisational practices in a DC regulatory context.
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Luke McElcheran and Mario Santana Quintero
Toronto's heritage program is reporting year over year growth in both the number of listed and designated properties and the amount of money secured for heritage projects. At the…
Abstract
Purpose
Toronto's heritage program is reporting year over year growth in both the number of listed and designated properties and the amount of money secured for heritage projects. At the same time, it is widely recognized that heritage trade skills are in decline. The purpose of this research is to examine Toronto's heritage policy in its regulatory and economic context to understand why heritage trades are struggling while the heritage program and the market for heritage professional services flourish and to suggest solutions based on existing policy tools.
Design/methodology/approach
This research looks at the policy documents at the federal, provincial and municipal level that determine the minimum standard for heritage conservation in Toronto. It refers to secondary research on the economic context for these regulations to understand how they are applied and why they tend to produce certain outcomes. It introduces the regulatory context set by Canada's Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places and the Ontario Heritage Act. It goes on to analyse Toronto's local policy in more detail including density bonusing programs, the Toronto Official Plan and Heritage Conservation District planning standards.
Findings
Toronto's heritage policy creates asymmetrical opportunities for heritage professionals and heritage specializing tradespeople. While the work that heritage professionals do is required or strongly encouraged by policy and increases reliably with the amount of funding secured for heritage projects, heritage tradespeople do not enjoy similar advantages. Their work is not required in the same way as heritage professionals' or encouraged to the same degree, and money secured for heritage projects does not necessarily go towards work that would engage the building trades necessary to maintain heritage structures.
Originality/value
The value of job creation in heritage trades is a mainstay of heritage economic advocacy, and there is growing interest in the value of these trades skills as a resource for sustainable building practices. There is relatively little research considering how heritage policy and theory affect career opportunities for workers with these trades skills, and none that addresses those systemic pressures in the context of municipal heritage programs in Canada.
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Manar Lootah, Kimberly Gleason, Deborah Smith and Taisier Zoubi
The purpose of this paper is to examine failures in internal and external controls associated with sovereign wealth funds (SWFs), using three caselets to illustrate the fraud…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine failures in internal and external controls associated with sovereign wealth funds (SWFs), using three caselets to illustrate the fraud triangle theory factors.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a qualitative research approach. Caselets are used to illustrate the fraud triangle factors associated with SWFs.
Findings
Ideally, SWFs would be characterized by opacity and the strategic flexibility to advance political goals, but this operational agility facilitates an environment ripe for fraud, in large part because there is little transparency with regard to their regulatory structure. Elements of the fraud triangle inherent in the structure of SWFs contribute to the fraud found in the three case examples.
Research limitations/implications
The authors use three SWF fraud cases rather than statistical sampling of all SWFs, which limits the generalizability of the findings. Future research should explore additional recommendations for the evaluation of SWF governance.
Practical implications
The overlap between public sector governance and SWF governance creates an environment amenable to fraud, and as a result, fraud has occurred in several SWFs. Governance recommendations should take into account the lessons learned from previous SWF fraud cases.
Social implications
Ideally, SWFs would be characterized by opacity and the strategic flexibility to advance political goals, but this operational agility may also facilitate an environment ripe for fraud, in large part because there is little transparency with regard to their regulatory structure.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to identify the fraud triangle risk factors associated with sovereign wealth funds using SWF fraud caselets.
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Maha Shehadeh, Fatma Ahmed, Khaled Hussainey and Fadi Alkaraan
This study investigates the impact of corporate governance on FinTech disclosure levels in Jordanian conventional and Islamic banks. It aims to determine whether governance…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the impact of corporate governance on FinTech disclosure levels in Jordanian conventional and Islamic banks. It aims to determine whether governance mechanisms affect disclosure practices in the FinTech sector, exploring the interplay between governance and transparency in financial innovations.
Design/methodology/approach
The research methodology entails a thorough analysis of data from all 15 Jordanian conventional and Islamic banks listed on the Amman Stock Exchange, covering the period from 2015 to 2022. This study uses manual content analysis using a custom FinTech Disclosure Index (FDI) and quantitative analysis with a two-way clustered error regression model.
Findings
The findings show that corporate governance mechanisms, particularly board size, board meetings and “Big4” audit firms, are crucial in enhancing FinTech disclosure across conventional and Islamic banks. However, Islamic banks consistently show higher disclosure levels than their conventional counterparts, attributed to their distinct governance structures that emphasize ethical governance and transparency. These results indicate an awareness among decision-makers about the importance of business model transformation toward FinTech.
Originality/value
This study pioneers the introduction of FDI, using it for a novel comparative analysis of FinTech disclosure levels between Islamic and conventional banks. By exploring how various governance structures influence FinTech disclosure, this research provides fresh insights into the interplay between corporate governance and financial technologies in the banking sector.
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This chapter examines why the central banks might need to engage in innovation work. Externalities and public good rationales for innovation at central banks are examined. This…
Abstract
This chapter examines why the central banks might need to engage in innovation work. Externalities and public good rationales for innovation at central banks are examined. This chapter then looks at different tools such as sandboxes, innovation hubs and TechSprints that the central banks might use to promote innovation with external stakeholders, and how the central banks can promote internal innovation within the central banks. Governance issues related to innovation promotion are also examined.
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This chapter looks at the need for the central bank to shift their mindset more towards resilience instead of stability at all costs, as well as embracing innovation…
Abstract
This chapter looks at the need for the central bank to shift their mindset more towards resilience instead of stability at all costs, as well as embracing innovation, experimentation and testing. The chapter then looks at the need for the central bank to upgrade their mode of operations, particularly to achieve a better balance between rules-based and goals-based regulations, and a more collaborative approach towards stakeholders. This chapter ends by looking at the need for digital transformation of central banking operations, both for those external oriented, e.g. SupTech and RegTech, and those internal-oriented.
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This study aims to analyse the effect of competition on retail fuel prices in a small European Union (EU) country with high market concentration.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyse the effect of competition on retail fuel prices in a small European Union (EU) country with high market concentration.
Design/methodology/approach
The researchers use a panel data set to estimate a fuel price equation that includes supply and demand factors as well as time-fixed effects.
Findings
The study finds that more competitors in the local market decrease prices, whereas the high market share of oligopoly brands does not condition this effect. Additionally, independent brands set lower prices than wholesalers, and gas stations located near the borders of almost all neighbouring countries are associated with higher prices.
Research limitations/implications
The study suggests that Slovenia’s retail fuel market maintains competitive pricing despite high oligopolistic shares because of historical regulatory influences that shaped firm behaviour and pricing strategies, along with geographical and economic factors such as Slovenia’s role as a transit country. External competitive pressures from neighbouring countries and high levels of traffic, combined with the remnants of regulatory structures, help prevent market abuses and keep fuel prices lower than in other EU countries.
Practical implications
It also indicates that policy should encourage fiercer competition in the local market by increasing the density of gas stations, especially from independent brands.
Originality/value
These findings may be associated with specific country characteristics. This paper introduces unique findings that shed light on the impact of a small market on competition, with a particular focus on highlighting the effect of oligopolistic brands.
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Christian Friedrich and Reiner Quick
Whistleblowers are individuals who detect and report misconduct in an organization. They help to mitigate organizational misbehavior and resulting damages effectively and…
Abstract
Purpose
Whistleblowers are individuals who detect and report misconduct in an organization. They help to mitigate organizational misbehavior and resulting damages effectively and relatively quickly. Whistleblower protection has not been systematically required in the European Union (EU), leaving many large organizations unregulated. This study aims to get in-depth insights into how unregulated organizations design, handle and view whistleblowing with the advent of a novel EU Whistleblowing Directive.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted 17 semistructured interviews with a diverse group of organizations headquartered in Germany and inductively analyzed them following Grounded Theory. Linking the Grounded Theory to the legal endogeneity model, they developed seven perspectives that help to explain how organizations view whistleblowing.
Findings
In trying to make sense of the role of whistleblowing in the organization’s governance, organizations and their managers assume different perspectives. These perspectives guide their approach to whistleblower protection in the context of evolving regulation with little regulatory guidance. Perspectives vary in the degree of supporting whistleblowing regulation, from viewing whistleblowing as a natural, everyday governance tool to denying it and fearing denunciation. Most organizations exhibit several perspectives.
Originality/value
Little is known about day-to-day whistleblowing practices from the perspective of organizations. The authors fill this research gap by providing initial evidence on how organizations approach whistleblowing and the EU Whistleblowing Directive. Identifying organizations’ perspectives may help us understand how ineffective or noncompliant whistleblowing systems emerge and how organizations can improve.
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Rafael Teixeira, Jorge Junio Moreira Antunes, Peter Wanke, Henrique Luiz Correa and Yong Tan
This paper aims to measure and unveil the relationship between customer satisfaction and efficiency levels in the most relevant Brazilian airports.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to measure and unveil the relationship between customer satisfaction and efficiency levels in the most relevant Brazilian airports.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors utilize a two-stage network DEA (data envelopment analysis) and AHP (analytic hierarchy process) model as the cornerstones of the study. The first stage of the network productive structure focuses on examining the infrastructure efficiency of the selected airports, while the second stage assesses their business efficiency.
Findings
Although the results indicate that infrastructure and business efficiency levels are heterogeneous and widely dispersed across airports, controlling the regression results with different contextual variables suggests that the impact of efficiency levels on customer satisfaction is mediated by a set of socio-economic and demographic (endogenous) and regulatory (exogenous) variables. Furthermore, encouraging investment in airports is necessary to achieve higher infrastructural efficiency and scale efficiency, thereby improving customer satisfaction.
Originality/value
There is a scarcity of studies examining the relationships among customer satisfaction, privatization and airport efficiency, particularly in developing countries like Brazil.
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