Policy & Governance Review
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Capacity of Higher Educational Institutions in Delivering Graduate Programs in Public Administration
Full text linkThe concern on capacity has become an intriguing study to examine the capacity of state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs) in the Philippines to deliver quality graduate programs. This paper is a comparative assessment on the capacity of to deliver graduate programs in Public Administration of four HEIs in the National Capital Region (NCR), namely: Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration (UP-NCPAG), and the University of Makati (UMak) using indicators in six capacity areas, to wit: Human Resources, Knowledge Management Resources, Physical/Material Resources, Organizational/Leadership Resources, Networking/Linkage Resources, and Cross-border Services employing a qualitative, multi-source case study research design such as direct observations, documents or archival records, verbal reports from key informants (key informant interviews or KII), survey questionnaire, and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). The results show that UP-NCPAG is very strong in four capacity areas; PUP is strong in all capacity areas; UMak is very strong in two capacity areas, strong in two capacity areas, but moderate in two capacity areas; and PLM is very strong in one capacity area, strong in three areas, but moderate in two areas
Land Issues in Forest Areas of Yogyakarta Special Region and The Dynamic of Decision Making Process
Full text linkThere is a forest land identified as Ab Gronden, located in Gunung Kidul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region. Ab Gronden occupation has led to prolonged conflict over land until today. Environment and Forestry Service (EFS) of Yogyakarta Special Region has made a decision of “do nothing†from the policy set by central government to solve the problem. This study intends to examine factors underlying the decision of “do nothing". This type of research is a case study, that is a study on a policy in the context of real life and uses historical approach holistic single case study through the procedures of data collection and analysis systematically. The sources of data in this study consisted of both primary and secondary sources of data and were analyzed qualitatively. The results of this study found the following conclusion factors underlying of why decision of “do nothing†choosed by EFS is because of there is no policy agenda of forest land statue yet. EFS has experience a dilemma and conflict to make a decision relate to: a) the differences in the ab gronden perception among actors, b) multy level hierarchy of decision making, c) there is no initiation of dialogue between related actors. The Organizational Politics Model has not been able to work in decision making of government organizations that are grounded in legal provisions. The do nothing decision was made because the bargaining process between the actors was not running
Public Service Motivation and Service Quality of Local Government Employees: A Moderated Mediation Analysis
Full text linkThe study of public service motivation (PSM) is an emerging topic in relation to understanding the impact of perceived service quality within public-sector organizations. Drawing upon the self-determination theory, this paper develops and validates a conceptual model incorporating the relationship between PSM and perceived service quality by the user. Moreover, this study also examines the moderated-mediation models of service factors in the link. This paper further argues user orientation as a mediator in the nexus between PSM and service quality, and service climate as a moderator in the effect of user orientation on service quality. This research was conducted on 250 frontline public servants and their users in Bintan Regency, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia. The data was performed using structural equation modeling. The proposed model suggests (1) PSM positively related to service quality, (2) user orientation partially mediates the relationship, and (3) the indirect effect of PSM on service quality (via user orientation) is quasi moderated by service climate within the public organization. Accordingly, few theoretical and practical implications for policymakers are formulated
Understanding Japan’s Civil Service System: Norms, Meritocracy, and Institutional Change
Full text linkThis article aims to elucidate the tradition of Japan’s public administration emphasizing the civil service system. A number of studies explain the impact of the tradition (norms, values, and institutions), in shaping the process and result of public administration reform. By applying the historical institutionalism perspective, this study reveals how the legacy of the past, the tradition promoted by the Meiji Restoration, creates the new tradition of public administration. This study selects Japan as a typical case representing Asian developmentalists. The remarkable Meiji restoration marked the process of adoption and adjustment of the Germanic traditions in the bureaucracy modernization. Norm institutionalization has established the new norms and civil service system. The basic norms consist of legality, consensus, and seniority. It develops the "kyaria" denoting recruitment, selection, and promotion influenced by seniority, long term performance, and prestigious university recommendation and produces competent and dominant mandarins in the policy process. However, the parliament continuously initiates the reform to reduce the mandarin's domination and heighten political control over the bureaucracy. The reform has not yet changed the power balance of two institutions since the â€kyaria's†embeddedness in Japan's polity produces two consequences. First, it contributes to public administration modernization. The mandarin’s outstanding performance increases political legitimacy and social acceptance to the "kyaria"system. Second, the parliament cannot drastically reduce the mandarin’s role since the lifetime employment model enriches them with knowledge and experience of the government affairs. Conducting cautious reform and, at the same time, working closely with the mandarin are the primary reform strategy of the parliament
Governing Village Fund in Indonesia: Is It Eradicating Poverty?
Full text linkThis study was conducted by its finding that there were inconsistencies and uncorrelated data from the government score-based report about Village Fund, and the public perception of the village fund. This research observes relevance of those numbers using the Impact Assessment concepts. This research can act as a useful insight for the governments, researchers and societies to evaluate the commitment of the government to build Indonesia from village. By using descriptive quantitative research method, this paper critically summarises the government report of the Village Fund by contrasted the priorities target of the fund. From the assessment, it was found that the development of the village facilities, infrastructure, and community empowerment program currently increased, but the village fund still has a problem with its equalisation and utilisation of the fund. In conclusion, the achievement numbers of the village fund do not have any correlation with the poverty reduction, because there are lack of equalisation and perception in some sectors. The perception index does not correlate with the satisfaction index in terms of infrastructure development, and the intervention of the village fund does not have a connection with the understanding of people on the use of the fund
Improved Access and Participation for Persons with Disabilities in Local Governance
Full text linkThe disability agenda has only gained adequate attention in the public administration discourse after the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of PWDs (CRPD) was enacted on 13 December 2006, followed by the launching of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 which included Goal No. 3 on Good Health and Well Being, and Goal No. 10 on Reduced Inequalities. In the Philippines, Republic Act 7277 known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons and Republic Act 10070 which provided for the creation of Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) in local government units are among the laws currently governing disability affairs matters. This paper looks into the status of the implementation of RA 10070 in the Provincial Government of Camarines Norte, Philippines. The researcher used qualitative methodology including key informants’ interview, focus group discussion case analysis and documentary analysis. The paper ends by the establishment of a framework, the Disability-Inclusive Theory or ACCESS Theory, that discusses the conditions and elements affecting the formulation of policies and enactment of local laws that provide access and other means to eventually empower PWDs and enable them to become more active participants in their respective communities
Cultural Public Sphere: Tracking the Yogyakarta City Policy Agenda through the #JogjaOraDidol Hashtag on Twitter
Full text linkInstead of studying the virtual space using the Political Public Sphere concept, this study adopts the Literary Public Sphere point of view to examine and narrate the nature of a Cultural Public Sphere in social media. The researchers see interactivity in social media as an articulation of expression involving emotions and aesthetics (affective communication). Using the mixed method of Topic Modelling, Social Network Analysis (SNA), and Discourse Analysis in the case of the presence of the #JogjaOraDidol hashtag in Twitter, this study conclude that the Cultural Public Sphere has three dimensions of Public Sphere as introduced by Dahlgren (2005). The dynamic of inclusivity for anyone to express themselves and to engage in public issues discussions indicates that space is inclusive not only because of the technical support of the media but also because of the commitment of its users (structural dimension). The emergence of three virtual communities (fans, artists and activists) that develop a collective identity represents a subset of the real local population and demonstrates the ideal role taking of the representational aspect of Public Sphere. The interactional one is indicated by the discourse constructed using reflexive but straightforward symbols represent the interaction between users and the meaning that users do to the contents of the media used. Meanwhile, the real action show of the discourse develops virtually does not entrap the user in pseudo-empowerment. As an implication, using specific parameter, notably the hashtag identifies a social movement, policymakers can use data from social media in the agenda-setting process. Additionally, in the context of #JogjaOraDidol, soft data can also be used to evaluate the moratorium policy of granting the hotel's construction permit
Performer, Reporter, and Marketer: Three Different Local Parliament Faces on Social Media
Full text linkIndonesian local parliaments have an image as a corrupt, closed, outdated, and unreachable institution in the public’s eyes. However, the parliaments have never tried to more actively developing policies which encourage active community participation. The recent adoption of social media by local parliaments seems to be a sign of the parliament’s willingness to encourage greater community contributions. However, little can be understood about the implications of these activities. Moreover, whether social media contributes significantly to community participation in local parliaments. The purpose of this study is to explore the use of social media by local parliaments. This study employed qualitative multiple case studies by conducting a content analysis on Facebook and Twitter in four local parliaments. This study found three faces of local parliaments on social media which are performers, reporters, and marketers. In general, there has been a willingness of local parliaments to become more transparent and participatory institutions. Nevertheless, the massive adoption of social media to promote more participatory democratic practices was conducted half-heartedly by the local parliaments. Practically, if local parliaments want to use social media to enchance their image, they must publish content that promotes openness such as online assembly and educative information
The Complexities of Regional Development Planning Reform: The Indonesian Case
Full text linkDevelopment planning reform retains a significantly prominent position as it determines the success of development particularly in developing countries. However, implementing development planning reform is no easy feat as various obstacles ensue. This study was conducted in the Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia to identify these specific obstacles through a content analysis of regional development planning documents, provided along with the support of relevant literature study. The results of the study show that the obstacles encountered were quite complex, namely the low capacity of regional government, failure in implementing principles of good governance and bureaucratic reform, and the intensity of political elites’ dominance in the region who utilize development planning as a means of achieving their interests. Affirmative policies to enhance regional capacity, to rearrange regulations and limit political party dominance, and to reconfigure the regional head’s position as a political functionary and personnel administrator are thus recommended to address these issues