Algorithmic transparency and bureaucratic discretion: The case of SALER early warning system

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 449-470
Author(s):  
J. Ignacio Criado ◽  
Julián Valero ◽  
Julián Villodre
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Civil Servants ◽  
Public Employees ◽  
Discretionary Power ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Regional Administration ◽  
Documentary Analysis

The governance of public sector organizations has been challenged by the growing adoption and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems and algorithms. Algorithmic transparency, conceptualized here using the dimensions of accessibility and explainability, fosters the appraisal of algorithms’ footprint in decisions of public agencies, and should include impacts on civil servants’ work. However, although discretion will not disappear, AI innovations might have a negative impact on how public employees support their decisions. This article is intended to answer the following research questions: RQ1. To what extent algorithms affect discretionary power of civil servants to make decisions?RQ2. How algorithmic transparency can impact discretionary power of civil servants? To do so, we analyze SALER, a case based on a set of algorithms focused on the prevention of irregularities in the Valencian regional administration (GVA), Spain, using a qualitative methodology supported on semi-structured interviews and documentary analysis. Among the results of the study, our empirical work suggests the existence of a series of factors that might be linked to the positive impacts of algorithms on the work and discretionary power of civil servants. Also, we identify different pathways for achieving algorithmic transparency, such as the involvement of civil servants in active development, or auditing processes being recognized by law, among others.

scholarly journals Strategic Management of Crossmedia Production at Estonian Public Broadcasting

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Indrek Ibrus ◽  
Astra Merivee
Keyword(s):  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Public Broadcasting ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
New Production ◽  
Comprehensive Strategy ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Documentary Analysis ◽  
Public Broadcaster ◽  
Organisational Strategy

Abstract This article investigates the strategies behind the production of crossmedia content at Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR), Estonia’s public broadcaster. The empirical work that supports its analytic objectives consists of multiple methodologically varying sub-studies: a textual analysis of ERR’s existing online presence and crossmedia content; 32 semi-structured interviews with its various top- and mid-level managers; and a documentary analysis of its associated strategies, guidelines, and communications. The paper suggests that, despite ERR’s advanced presence on digital platforms, it notably lacks a more comprehensive strategy for crossmedia content production and for achieving better inter-organisational cooperation that would enable new production processes. Although a few more advanced crossmedia productions have taken place, these have tended to emerge ad hoc - out of initiatives from individual employees. The article, however, suggests that, despite the current lack of an organisational strategy, the experiences acquired by its employees are creating a timely momentum for using interpretative and adaptive approaches to developing its new crossmedia production strategies.

scholarly journals Resilience to Ostracism: A Qualitative Inquiry

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Waldeck ◽  
Ian Tyndall ◽  
Nik Chmiel
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Occupational Status ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Experience Pain

Ostracism is a painful event, which may lead to prolonged psychological distress. However, little is known about the mechanisms which may help people recover from such events. This study explored how people who are not chronically ostracised describe processing and coping with ostracism. Using a qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 participants (age group: 18-59; 12 female) from different occupational status groups. Thematic analyses revealed four major themes within the data: participants' immediate reaction to ostracism (“reflex”), subsequent reflections (“reflection”), efforts to manage their behaviour (“regulation”), and capacities to cope following ostracism (“adjustment”). Intensity emerged as a superordinate theme whereby the closer the ostraciser was to the participant, the greater the negative impact. The findings suggested that although most people will experience pain or stress following ostracism, it is how such events are reflected upon and managed that will determine when it leads to distress. Furthermore, some people may be resilient to ostracism. However, this resistance may weaken if the ostraciser(s) are considered close to the person.

Trust formation in information systems implementation in developing countries

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ranjan Vaidya
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Comparison Method ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Critical Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Trust Relationships ◽  
Trust Formation ◽  
Information Systems Implementation

Purpose The purpose of this study is to understand the trust formation expectations of stakeholders in the implementation of information and communications technology for development (ICT4D) projects. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a qualitative methodology inspired by a critical approach. It uses a thematic analysis approach, and draws the results using a constant comparison method. It is guided by the Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of practices. This is an empirical study that uses semi-structured interviews for the data collection. Findings Lack of an integrated view of emancipatory expectations has a negative impact on the trust levels of stakeholders. An integrated view of emancipation has physical, moral and social dimensions. Originality/value The study brings forth the concept of entry point activities (EPAs). To the author’s knowledge, this is the first application of this concept in ICT4D research. EPAs can be used to develop trust relationships between the stakeholders of ICT4D projects.

scholarly journals Exploring the origins of burnout among secondary educators

2009 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian L. Van Tonder ◽  
Colette Williams
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Secondary Educators ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Rich Data ◽  
Context Specific

Orientation: Maslach and Leiter (1997) have suggested that burnout constitutes an erosion of the soul. Burnout is a non-discriminatory phenomenon with a pronounced negative impact on the individual employee and the organisation and is particularly prevalent among educators.Research purpose: This study aimed to explore the probable reasons for burnout among secondary educators. Study motivation: Several South African studies have focused on the phenomenon of burnout among educators but the probable reasons for burnout in this population have not yet received adequate attention. This study extended earlier international research that probed this facet.Research design, approach and method: A mixed-methods design with a predominantly qualitative methodology was employed to explore the probable reasons for burnout among 59 educators from three urban secondary schools in Gauteng, South Africa. Data comprised Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey protocols and rich data work descriptions. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with the f ve participants who tested highest on the burnout indicators.Main findings: The results indicated that a negative learner profile and workload were the most frequently cited reasons for potential burnout.Practical/managerial implications: Burnout requires considered attention and aggressive context-specific intervention to contain its negative impact on both the educator and the student learning experience.

BUILDING THE PROGRAM OF TRAINING ETHNIC KNOWLEDGE FOR CADRES, CIVIL SERVANTS AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES UP TO 2030

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyen Van Dung ◽  
Nguyen Ngoc Minh ◽  
Pham Kim Cuong
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Political System ◽  
Civil Servants ◽  
Public Employees ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
Current Period ◽  
Urgent Task ◽  
Practical Research ◽  
Local Levels

Developing a ethnic knowledge training program for cadres, civil servants and public employees according to 04 target groups (Prime Minister, 2018) in the political system from the central to local levels to meet the requirements of ethnic minority affairs up to 2030 is an urgent task. Because the program is “the core” to create a breakthrough in training ethnic knowledge, improving the capacity of the contingent of cadres, civil servants and public employees in formulating ethnic policies and organizing the implementation of Party and State’s policies in the current period. The article analyzes the results of theoretical and practical research on the development of ethnic knowledge training program and provides the results of developing a program that meets the requirements of Vietnam’s ethnic minority affairs from now to 2030.

scholarly journals Achieving Social and Ecological Outcomes in Collaborative Environmental Governance: Good Examples from Swedish Moose Management

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2329
Author(s):  
Sabrina Dressel ◽  
Annelie Sjölander-Lindqvist ◽  
Maria Johansson ◽  
Göran Ericsson ◽  
Camilla Sandström
Keyword(s):  
Social Learning ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Collaborative Governance ◽  
Theory Of Change ◽  
Ecological Context ◽  
Discretionary Power ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Resource Governance ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
The Social

Collaborative governance approaches have been suggested as strategies to handle wicked environmental problems. Evaluations have found promising examples of effective natural resource governance, but also highlighted the importance of social-ecological context and institutional design. The aim of this study was to identify factors that contribute to the achievement of social and ecological sustainability within Swedish moose (Alces alces) management. In 2012, a multi-level collaborative governance regime was implemented to decrease conflicts among stakeholders. We carried out semi-structured interviews with six ‘good examples’ (i.e., Moose Management Groups that showed positive social and ecological outcomes). We found that ‘good examples’ collectively identified existing knowledge gaps and management challenges and used their discretionary power to develop procedural arrangements that are adapted to the social-ecological context, their theory of change, and attributes of local actors. This contributed to the creation of bridging social capital and principled engagement across governance levels. Thus, our results indicate the existence of higher-order social learning as well as a positive feedback from within-level collaboration dynamics to between-level collaboration. Furthermore, our study illustrates the importance of institutional flexibility to utilize the existing knowledge across stakeholder groups and to allow for adaptations based on the social learning process.

scholarly journals Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo: Enhancing Indonesia’s Multilateral Defence Diplomacy?

2021 ◽  
pp. 186810342110089
Author(s):  
Frega Wenas Inkiriwang
Keyword(s):  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Past ◽  
Documentary Analysis

Defence diplomacy has gained attention in the past decades. Hence, Indonesia has also developed its defence diplomacy for achieving its strategic interests. In Indonesia’s defence diplomacy, bilateral forms have dominated the practice of joint exercises with its defence partners. However, under the Yudhoyono administration in 2014, Indonesia hosted its first multilateral joint exercise, the Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo (MNEK), which aimed at facilitating multilateral engagement with greater international partners. This exercise was continued by the Widodo administration as a biannual event in the following years. Since this multilateral exercise has rarely been studied, this article attempts to qualitatively examine how this exercise has developed and contributed to Indonesia’s multilateral defence diplomacy. To support the analysis, this article relies on a combination of documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews, including with numerous participants of past MNEK exercises in 2014, 2016, and 2018.

scholarly journals Network governance forms in healthcare: empirical evidence from two Italian cancer networks

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Romiti ◽  
Mario Del Vecchio ◽  
Gino Sartor
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare System ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Network Governance ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
General Validity ◽  
Regional Administration ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Italian Regions ◽  
Cancer Networks

Abstract Background This study focuses on the application of Provan and Kenis’ modes of network governance to the specific field of public healthcare networks, extending the framework to an analysis of systems in which networks are involved. Thus, the aim of this study is to analyze and compare the governance of two cancer networks in two Italian regions that underwent system reconfiguration processes due to reforms in the healthcare system. Methods A qualitative study of two clinical networks in the Italian healthcare system was conducted. The sample for interviews included representatives of the regional administration (n = 4), network coordinators (n = 6), and general and clinical directors of health organizations involved in the two networks (n = 25). Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Results Our study shows that healthcare system reforms have a limited impact on network governance structures. In fact, strong inertial tendencies characterize networks, especially network administrative organization models (NAO). Networks tend to find their own balance with respect to the trade-offs analyzed using a mix of formal and informal ties. Our study confirms the general validity of Provan and Kenis’ framework and shows how other specific factors and contingencies may affect the possibility that cancer networks find positive equilibria between competing needs of inclusivity and efficiency, internal and external legitimacy, and stability and flexibility. It also shows how networks react to external changes. Conclusions Our study shows the importance of considering three factors and contingencies that may affect network effectiveness: a) the importance of looking at network governance modes not in isolation, but in relationship to the governance of regional systems; b) the influence of a specific network’s governance structure on the network’s ability to respond to tensions and to achieve its goals; and c) the need to take into account the role of professionals in network governance.

scholarly journals Views and experiences of family physicians about Syrian refugee patients in Turkey: a qualitative research

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duygu Ayhan Baser ◽  
Özge Mıhcı ◽  
Meltem Tugce Direk ◽  
Mustafa Cankurtaran
Keyword(s):  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Family Physicians ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Syrian Refugee

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the attitudes, views and solution proposals of family physicians (FPs) about primary healthcare problems of Syrian refugee patients. This study would be the very first study for Turkey that evaluates the attitudes, views and solution proposals of FPs about primary healthcare problems of Syrian refugee patients. Background: Following the anti-regime demonstrations that started in March 2011, the developments in Syria created one of the biggest humanitarian crises in the world and the largest number of asylum seekers continue to be hosted in Turkey. There are some studies evaluating asylum seekers’ access to healthcare services in Europe, and the common result is that refugees have free access to primary healthcare services in most countries; however, they face many obstacles when accessing primary healthcare services. While there are studies in the literature evaluating the situation of access to primary healthcare services from the perspective of asylum seekers; there are few studies evaluating the opinions/views of FPs. Methods: A qualitative methodology informed by the grounded theory was used to guide the research. A total of 20 FPs were interviewed face to face through semi-structured interviews, using 12 questions about their lived experience and views caring of refugee population. Interviews were analysed thematically. Finding: The following themes were revealed: Benefiting from Primary Health Care Services, Benefiting from Rights, Differences Between the Approach/Attitudes of Turkish Citizens and Refugees, Barriers to Healthcare Delivery, Training Needs of Physicians, Solution proposals. FPs reported that there is a need for support in primary care and a need for training them and refugees in this regard and they specified refugee healthcare centres are the best healthcare centres for refugees; however, the number of these and provided services should be increased.

A Conservative Critique of Blacksburg

2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 725-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip W. Gray ◽  
Sara Mattingly-Jordan
Keyword(s):  
Civil Servants ◽  
Discretionary Power ◽  
Constitutional Democracy ◽  
Michael Oakeshott ◽  
Administrative Theory

This article presents a conservative rejoinder to the Blacksburg perspective inviting a more discursive elaboration on the overlaps between key conservative thinkers, such as those from Michael Oakeshott, and portions of the Blacksburg view, specifically from the works of John Rohr and Charles T. Goodsell. We posit a conservative perspective that would contest three points in the Refounding texts. The article concludes by elaborating on the generative role that a discussion between the Refounders and key conservatives plays in positing new avenues for administrative theory and addressing challenges to the discretionary power of civil servants in a constitutional democracy.

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