EUREKA: Social and Humanities
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The evaluation of public policy implementation failures and possible solutions
Full text linkThe study examines the root causes of Public Policy implementation failures. It further explores the mechanisms that will ensure successful policy implementation within the public sector. The main objective of the study is to establish and identify the factors that impede the successful implementation of government policies and to identify possible solutions to successfully formulate and implement public policies. The study adopted a conceptual approach relying heavily on secondary data. It is understandable, that the government‘s national and local spheres should want to downplay policy failure and trumpet apparent success, but to do so risks losing an understanding of why failure is so common and how it might be eradicated or at least minimised. The study examines the robust policy design mechanisms. The study seeks to identify significant policy risks and challenges. The study examines the root causes of Public Policy implementation failures. It further explores the mechanisms that will ensure successful policy implementation within the public sector. The main objective of the study is to establish and identify the factors that impede the successful implementation of government policies and to identify possible solutions to successfully formulate and implement public policies. The study adopted a conceptual approach relying heavily on secondary data. It is understandable that the government‘s national and local spheres should want to downplay policy failure and trumpet apparent success, but to do so risks losing an understanding of why failure is so common and how it might be eradicated or at least minimised. The study examines robust policy design mechanisms. The study seeks to identify significant policy risks and challenges. It is evident, that there is an increasing awareness that policies fail on their own merits; rather their progress is dependent upon the process of implementation. To better comprehend how to refine policy support it is first instructive to appreciate the nature of policy failure, logically the reasons why things go wrong should assist to guide the search for possible solutions. Successful policy implementation consists of four determinants, which are policy design, stakeholders, and their involvement, institution, and context as well as the implementation strategy. It is very important to consider these four aspects when executing public policy because this will alleviate policy implantation failures. The study concludes with the mechanisms and solutions of successful policy implementation
Experiencing work in the fourth industrial revolution: a qualitative study on work identity and new ways of work
Full text linkThe Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) disrupts the world of work, as new technologies alter the nature of employees' tasks and responsibilities. Consequently, it is crucial to understand how employees navigate these changes and how it impacts their work identity. However, there is a lack of research specifically focusing on the work identity of employees during the 4IR. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) and the New Way of Working (NWOW) on work identity among employees in a South African insurance company. To achieve this, an exploratory qualitative approach was adopted, involving semi-structured interviews with 12 employees from junior, middle, and senior job levels within the insurance company. The data, obtained from the interviews, were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings from the data analysis indicate that the majority of the employees demonstrated an understanding of the impact of the 4IR and its implications on their career development, work environment, and the adoption of 4IR and NWoW practices. These findings suggest that the 4IR and NWoW have influenced the work environment and how employees perceive and identify with their work. Based on the results, it is recommended that employees receive adequate training and education to support them in adapting to these changes. Change management initiatives should be tailored to meet both employee and organisational needs. The small sample size and data collection during the pandemic, along with variations in work schedules, should be considered when interpreting the findings. To enhance the generalisability of the findings, future studies should aim to replicate this research in different settings with a larger sample size. Future researchers should explore how organisations implement change management initiatives that positively influence work identity
Harnessing the power of education for social change
Full text linkIt cannot be overthrown that South African education - basic and higher - plays a central role in generating constructive social impact. Global education is no exception to this endeavor given that each country’s education system is interlaced with the global standards and norms. In the same vein, it cannot be downplayed, that South Africa’s education has been characterized by colonial and apartheid structures that sought to advance social injustices, such as the exclusion of underprivileged communities, Black South Africans and indigenous languages, among many other determinants. In view of this fact, it remains consequential to recurrently re-visit this system in a bid to underline some of the intricacies that exist within it, while attempting to solve any identified challenges. Bearing this in mind, this article aims to harness the power of South African education in respect of social change; and illustrate how and why it remains a vehicle that can be regarded and utilized to create social change, cohesion and consciousness. Argumentative research technique is employed herein, while critical pedagogy as a theoretical framework is applied to advance the discussions of the article. The principal findings and discussions, among others, underscore that learners and students should be provisioned with an education system that contests and addresses contemporary social injustices, such as gender-based oppression, unemployment, poor healthcare system and fragile economy, among other challenges. In this way, this significant component of social and human existence becomes more inclusive and pertinent in contemporary terms. The closing remarks underscore the necessity to continue debating issues that pertain to education in an attempt to lucidly outline its constructive outcome
SADC and ECOWAS’S peace and security architecture preparedness and the COVID-19 pandemic
Full text linkThe coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic remains a global security threat, as the result of the emerging and exacerbated security challenges that have impacted on the national security policies of various regional economic communities (RECs). This study analyses SADC and ECOWAS’ responses to the Covid-19 pandemic under their respective existing peace and security structures and explores if both RECs, SADC and ECOWAS have been efficient. This article discusses the Southern African and West African security setting, how its security architecture emerged and whether it has been successful in overcoming the security ramification in the region under the Covid-19 pandemic.
Coincidentally, both SADC and ECOWAS have been confronted with existing and emerging human security threats, such as increased poverty, inequality, and the spread of diseases, such as Covid-19. The Covid-19 pandemic, a non-traditional security threat, has exposed how RECs, such as SADC and ECOWAS, respond to non-traditional and emerging security threats, suggesting for the transcendence of their security architecture that caters equally for non-military and emerging human security threats, alike military threats. This article explores the regional security experiences, challenges, and responses of both the SADC and ECOWAS under the Covid-19 pandemic
Critiquing American structural racism: a comparative analysis of the cases of Muhammed Ali and Collin Kaepernick
Full text linkIn fighting for justice and equality in the face of American institutional racism, Muhammed Ali became an internationally known and respected figure. His 1976 auto-biography, The Greatest, with Richard Dunham and edited by Toni Morrison is a fast paced and well written book. It showcases the intellect, humanity, and determination behind the globally recognized icon. The auto-biography is interesting in the sense that it places boxing on the periphery and instead focuses on Ali’s struggles and disappointments, to be recognized as a man in the American South, which would later morph into the greater struggle for civil rights for American minorities. In fighting against what this research terms ‘structural racism, what emerged was a battle against the very fabric of core norms and culture, which establishes white American hegemony. In taking on established structures, Ali faced the wrath of ‘the Establishment.’ The idea of this term becomes vivid via comparative analysis of other case studies, which reveal that those who question American structural racism are met with similar reactions and consequences for their criticism. This study is thus relevant because it exposes how Ali’s own fight for justice and racial equality 60 years ago is essentially no different than it is today
Rethinking the development of social policy in front of the millennium goals. changing programs and speeches as alternatives to the official message
Full text linkThis article focuses on Mexicans, socially perceived as poor, and the impact of social policy in force in the second decade of the 21st century, focused on improving the living conditions of the population, living in poverty and facing the national democratic process, which represents the alternative of change to the national conditions in Mexico. A country with social inequalities, where the lack of guaranteeing equal living conditions through institutional frameworks that guarantee opportunities and access to common satisfiers is evident. Therefore, in the midst of a democratization process, the State seeks to address the levels of precariousness. In the midst of the recognition of the basic needs to be met among those who are reviewing the renewed social policy of the 21st century, the need to strengthen the living conditions of the excluded is prioritized and in its consolidation process it would guarantee attention to poverty through institutional channels. This is the case of the social development law, which deals with a problem of productive order from a State vision. An analysis is carried out that seeks to identify the relationship between the effectiveness of current actions to combat the lack of attention to basic needs and the institutionalized discourse, which, according to the social research approach, strengthens the interest in conducting studies on social precariousness as a group characteristic; fueled by the political discourse, exalted by the government in turn of the poor first. In this case, it is the message that strengthens the need to analyze the way, in which poverty is measured based on the recognition of poverty lines, as an instrument that allows knowing the number of people in that condition, according to the levels of dissatisfaction of food needs and due to the low level of economic income (inability to consume a basic set of food goods) for rural and urban environments. Therefore, it seeks to measure the lack of food needs, without considering the causes of inability to generate minimum income levels to consume basic foods
Comparative analysis of bank lending to non-financial corporations under the conditions of inflation targeting
Full text linkThe influence of the interest policy of the National Bank of Ukraine on the dynamics of lending to non-financial corporations during the period of using the monetary regime of fixed exchange rate and inflation targeting is considered. It has been proven, that the use of the symmetric corridor of the interest policy of the National Bank of Ukraine has a negative effect on the volume of lending to non-financial corporations, since high rates on deposit certificates of the National Bank of Ukraine create a risk-free and highly profitable instrument for the placement of bank assets, which discourages lending to the real sector of the economy. The absence of a connection between the interest rate policy and the dynamics of the consumer price index and the money supply during the period of inflation targeting is substantiated, which made it possible to prove the low level of effectiveness of the chosen monetary regime.
The aim of the article is to study the problems of bank lending to non-financial corporations of Ukraine in the conditions of inflation targeting and to develop proposals for its stimulation, taking into account foreign experience.
Methods. The methodological basis of the work is the dialectical method of cognition, the position of the theory of monetary policy and credit. The work uses methods of economic and mathematical statistics and methods of correlation analysis to analyze the features of lending to non-financial corporations and the impact of inflation targeting on the dynamics of bank lending; generalization methods for formulating research conclusions.
Results. The monetary regime of inflation targeting is quite often recommended by the International Monetary Fund for implementation in countries with emerging markets as a basic set of central bank tools for regulating inflation and ensuring price stability. However, in conditions of import dependence of the national economies of countries with emerging markets, in addition to changes in the money supply and credit activity of banks, the dynamics of export-import operations and the volume of official reserve assets, which determine the level of the exchange rate, have a decisive influence on the dynamics of the consumer price index, and it, in turn, determines the level of prices for imported goods and services. Neglecting the non-monetary factors of supply inflation during the implementation of the interest policy leads to the limitation of bank lending to non-financial corporations, which in turn reduces the ability of enterprises to increase capital investments at the expense of bank loans, as well as to develop domestic production with high added value and to implement the policy of import substitution. Therefore, for this purpose, it is necessary to use the asymmetric corridor of the central bank's interest policy and stimulate targeted bank lending to non-financial corporations
How fourth industrial revolution skillsets mediate the relationship between work integrated learning, graduate employability, and future job
Full text linkThe emerging work context of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) has increased the industry's calls for future-capable graduates who can demonstrate digital literacy and innovation knowledge, and other behavioural competencies for employability. Gaps between work integrated learning (WIL) and 4IR competencies in driving graduates' transition to the employment of the future exist in the literature. With a structural equation modelling (SEM) approach, this study examines the nexus between WIL, graduate employability, and future job. It further examines whether 4IR skillsets can boost (mediate) the effectiveness of WIL in enhancing graduate employability. With a correlational non-experimental research design, 375 engineering students from two universities in Nigeria were sampled. A composite-based SEM, comprising measurement and structural assessment model, was used to test the hypothesized model, implemented in SmartPLS software version 3.3.3. The instrument's validity and reliability were established through hetero trait – Mono trait ratio and average variance extracted. The structural model analysis rejected three hypotheses, testing direct relationships between WIL, graduate employability, and future job. Findings showed that WIL had a positive and significant relationship with graduate employability, 4IR skillset, and future job. It was established, that the 4IR skillset plays a considerable role and positively mediates the relationship between WIL and graduate employability. The study offers important insights on WIL as a strategy for developing graduate employability to prepare students for employment in the digital er
Comprehending stakeholders’ involvement in the integrated development planning process as a tool for improved community participation
Full text linkThis study is primarily aimed at comprehending the key stakeholders, involved in applying the Integrated Development Planning (IDP) process for improved community participation in the Tzaneen municipal area. It is argued in this study, that the IDP is centred on the priorities and desires of the communities. Communities have the opportunity to engage in identifying their most desired needs. The IDP process requires all stakeholders who live and do business within a municipal jurisdiction to partake in the design and execution of the municipal development plan, also known as the IDP. This study is grounded in the ladder of citizen participation theory, pioneered by Arnstein Sherry in 1969. Arnstein (1969)'s ladder of citizen participation theory talks about community involvement in the planning process in the United States. This empirical study was conducted in the Tzaneen municipal area, South Africa, and four hundred and ten (410) participants were sampled in the area through probability and non-probability sampling techniques. The study adopted a mixed-method research approach. The data was collected and analysed until saturation was reached. Data were collected using surveys, semi-structured interviews, and a review of existing literature. This study revealed that more than half (56 %) of participants indicated that they were not consulted and encouraged to participate in the IDP process as relevant stakeholders. Consultation of stakeholders is often inadequate. Most of the participants are dissatisfied with their representatives' manner and level of involvement, and they do not feel well represented. This study concludes by recommending that municipalities adhere to the Municipal Systems Act (2000) and the Republic of South Africa (1996) Constitution, both of which require municipalities to actively involve stakeholders in the planning process to provide services sustainably and satisfactory. The Batho Pele principles should be followed to guarantee a harmonious relationship between the municipality and its stakeholders. Stakeholders will have reasonable expectations regarding service delivery due to effective consultation
Same yardstick, different results: efficacy of rubrics in science education assessment
Full text linkAssessments have become integral to today's teaching and learning. Within the world of assessments, there are two paramount ideologies at work: assessments for learning and assessments of learning. The latter are typically administered at the end of a unit or grading period and evaluate a student’s understanding by comparing their achievement against a class, nationwide benchmark, or standard. The former assesses a student’s understanding of a skill or lesson during the learning and teaching process. Assessment for learning enables teachers to collect data that will help them adjust their teaching strategies, and students to adjust their learning strategies. In order to achieve this goal, teachers can make use of several assessment tools, such as concept maps, oral presentations, peer review, portfolios, examinations, written reports, and rubrics. The use of rubrics not only makes the teacher’s standards and result grading explicit but can give students a clear sense of what the expectations are for a high level of performance on a given science assignment. In this study, quantitative data were collected from tasks, assessed by 10 teachers who were purposefully sampled; while qualitative data were collected from interview responses of the same teachers to explore the extent of uniformity in the use of rubrics. The researchers compared and analyzed the different scores, allocated by the respective participants, and analyzed the qualitative data using qualitative data analysis. The study suggests that if interpreted and used well, rubrics support learning by enabling an efficient, consistent, objective, and quick way of assessing students’ work thereby facilitating learning