1,720,989 research outputs found
Volunteers in State Government - Preliminary Research Findings
No full textThis article will highlight some of the findings of the preliminary research, and will look at some public policy issues which still need to be addressed. A fuller discussion of the research wis contained in a Working Paper which is on the IPAA website
Customer satisfaction measures in the public sector: what do they tell us?
No full textIn attempting to devise customer satisfaction measures, there are a number of factors which can affect the interpretation of results - the nature of the customer, service provision, service quality and, for the public sector, the extent to which consumer sovereignty exists. It is the contention in this paper that valid and reliable measures of customer satisfaction with public service provision are difficult, if not impossible, to achieve, as there are too many independent and intervening variables which compound the results. Resources may be better directed towards setting and maintaining high levels of standard of service. The paper addresses the difficulties outlined above and highlights the complex nature of a customer or service beneficiary who can be, at the same time, a taxpayer, voter, recipient of financial benefits, with expectations of the public sector and its delivery agent, yet cannot choose another provider
Unveiling ethical product features: The importance of an elaborated information presentation
Get PDF© 2017 Elsevier Ltd Despite growing consumer awareness of ethical consumption, market sales are not growing accordingly. Because the presentation of appropriate ethical product information may influence consumers to choose ethical products, this paper analyses the requirements necessary for the successful communication of ethical product features. Based on McGuire's (1976) information-processing model, and a review of current literature, the information's comprehensibility, meaningfulness, and credibility are investigated in an online survey of US American citizens (n = 595) for two product categories representing Fast Moving Consumer Goods, and durable goods. A generalized mixed logit model revealed that all three communication factors affect consumers' choices. The more concerns about, or expertise in, organic production and fair trade purchase the consumers expressed, the less important their price sensibility and the more they preferred a comprehensive addendum and credible sources (e.g., government certificate or traceability). The results strongly suggest that advertisers and marketers can customize product communications in order to better engage both the mass market, and ethically oriented consumers
Non-profit organisations and accountability: A comment on the Mulgan and Sinclair frameworks
No full textRecent literature on the accountability of non-profit organisations (NPOs) especially community sector agencies, suggests that they lack accountability right across a range of areas – legal compliance and financial reporting, overall performance, and treatment of individual clients. Commentators are concerned about public sector standards of accountability for those NPOs drawn into the public domain of providing taxpayer-funded services and the 'cost' of such accountability especially its impact on flexibility and spontaneity of response to client needs. \ud
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This article explores approaches to performance measurement frameworks applicable to NPOs by a review of the debates on accountability and stewardship. It concludes that the NPO sector is required at different times, to demonstrate the 'accountability' measures of the public sector – outcomes performance measures (public interest focus) – as well as of the private sector – bottom line performance measures (private interest or consumerism focus). Inevitability, though, the NPOs remain mission-driven, reflecting a community (pluralism) focus. \ud
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The solution requires an integration of socio-political and economic efficiency measures compatible with the existing regulatory regime in which the NPO operates
A Qualitative Analysis of Social and Economic Factors in a 'Sunbelt' Labour Market. Working Paper No. 01/07
No full textThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the principal dimensions of a particular type of local labour market (LLM) in Australia. Qualitative research explored the causality of the principal dimensions of this LLM. The labour market was characterised by relatively weak labour market outcomes, particularly high rates of unemployment and low labour force participation. Several demographic, social and economic causes were identified and tended to distinguish the labour market from other types of labour markets\ud
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The significance of this research for policy formulation stems from the popularity of such areas in Australia as destinations for residence, particularly from inter and intra-state internal migration. To the extent that this tendency continues, the challenge for those who formulate labour market policy is how to make provision for the productive use of such labour supply. This, in itself, assumes that such labour markets constitute a problem in need of a solution
The Quest for Performance Measurement in Nonprofit Organisations: Multiple Accountabilities to Multiple Stakeholders for Indeterminate Objectives - Is there a Solution?
No full textMeasuring The Unmeasurable? A Review of the 'Performance Measurement' of Policy Advice in Government in Australia and New Zealand
No full textA 'Sunbelt' Labour Market in Australia: The Sunshine Coast, 1996-2001. Working Paper No. 01/07
No full textThis paper explores the principal characteristics of a 'sunbelt' labour market as a particular type. While there are advantages of this and similar regions where these have developed in attracting population growth, the labour market in this case exhibits relatively high rates of unemployment, part-time employment and low rates of labour force participation. Demographic changes and industry and occupational structure appear to interact with relatively low labour market clearance. The findings are consistent with building a profile of different types of labour markets and point to the need for more directed policies to minimise unemployment
The GST Compliance Costs Of Nonprofit Organisations
No full textOn 2 December 1998, the Federal Government tabled their policy paper entitled Regulation Impact Statement for the Introduction of a Goods and Services Tax (RIS) in the House of Representatives. The Federal Government predicted that total gross GST compliance costs to Australian businesses in the first year of implementation would be approximately 1,195 per firm). Furthermore, it is estimated that the recurrent net compliance costs will be much lower at $131 per firm. Whilst the government made brief references to charitable organisations in their analysis, it stated that the compliance costs faced by nonprofits would, in substance, be no different to the compliance costs faced by businesses or government departments.\ud
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This paper examines the RIS process in relation to nonprofit organisations in the context of recent taxation legislation affecting nonprofit organisations. It argues that the assumption that nonprofit compliance costs are similar to government and business costs is flawed and makes a case for the RIS process to be reformed to include more appropriate assessments of the impact of legislation on nonprofit enterprises
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