1,720,956 research outputs found
An assessment of public accountability mechanisms towards eradicating corruption in the Eastern Cape
Get PDFThe study critically examined the implementation of Public Accountability strategies and mechanisms: A case of Buffalo City Municipality. The problem statement gave emphases on the multiple cases drawn from stats reflected in domestic surveys that shows how corruption and maladministration have impacted the province negatively as well as the extreme poverty lines that dominate the communities in the republic and also the province. The New Public Management Theory was used to interpret the manner in which the participants were expected to give their views on leadership and accountability among others key issues. The objectives of the study were to; To assess the mechanisms implemented by Buffalo City Municipality., To explore the challenges affecting public accountability enforcement mechanisms in Buffalo City Municipality towards eradicating corruption, Determine the manner through which the Buffalo City Municipality can adopt tried and tested mechanism from Regional, national & international case studies on how to effective enforce public accountability for the sustainable management and curbing of corruption for effective and efficient service delivery and to recommend new mechanisms which Buffalo City Municipality can utilise in enforcing public accountability towards eradicating corruption in its institutions in order to encourage sustainable community development through service delivery. The study adopted a case study approach based on a mixed method paradigm where data was collected through a questionnaire, interviews and document analysis. Case studies are normally associated with qualitative research, but can also be used as a method of inquiry employing a positivist epistemology and ontology. A total sample of 50 participants was chosen through a non-probability sampling technique. The major findings of the study reflected that there is a huge break in communication between government and the citizens in the locality while also establishing that the mechanisms currently being used were only as good as the factors influencing their implementation among other issues. Major recommendations included community engagement, capacity building and skills development, retention and expansion, lack of resources, promote individual independence of the community and the enhancement the Public Participation Unit
A theory-based analysis of labour unions in the South African Public Service
Get PDFThis study provides a theory-based analysis of labour unions in the South African Public Service (SAPS), focusing on the evolving dynamics of labour relations, power structures, and collective bargaining processes. The research investigates how both historical legacies and contemporary socio-economic conditions shape the role of unions within the public sector. Specifically, the study examines the influence of apartheid-era policies, post-apartheid reforms, and the impact of global economic trends on labour organisations. Theoretical frameworks such as institutional theory, social movement theory, and marxist perspectives, along with indigenous frameworks like ubuntu philosophy, worker democracy, liberation unionism, and social movement unionism, underpin the analysis. The research follows a qualitative design, drawing on an in-depth analysis of academic literature, policy documents, legal frameworks, and secondary data sources to uncover trends and patterns in labour relations. Key findings reveal a complex interplay of socio-economic inequalities, political governance, and legislative frameworks that continue to shape union activities within the SAPS. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of socio-cultural dynamics in understanding labour relations within a historically charged environment. This paper contributes to theoretical debates in industrial relations by offering nuanced insights into the challenges and opportunities confronting unions in the South African public sector. The findings have practical implications for policymakers, union leaders, and public administration practitioners aiming to encourage more equitable labour relations and promote social justice. Ultimately, the study provides a framework for rethinking labour union strategies in light of contemporary challenges and the broader pursuit of transformation in the public service
A global normative public management framework for revitalizing inner-city decay: A Systems Theory perspective
Get PDFProgramme evaluation is a critical management tool internationally, enabling the assessment of whether public sector policy objectives are effectively met. In South Africa, such evaluations are essential for refining governance strategies in response to persistent urban challenges. This paper arises from a programme evaluation of inner-city turnaround initiatives aimed at addressing urban decay and problem buildings. It seeks to develop a normative public management model, with a focus on the role of city governments and municipalities in leading regeneration efforts. A qualitative research design was adopted, employing thematic content analysis to examine governance and management practices across South African municipalities. Systems theory, conceptualised within public administration and management, served as the analytical framework for interrogating the interrelated factors driving urban decline. This lens informed the construction of a normative model designed to guide coordinated municipal responses, enhance institutional capacity, and improve strategic urban planning. Findings demonstrate that systems theory offers a robust foundation for understanding and managing the complexities of inner-city environments. The paper presents a visual normative model that emphasises the critical leadership role of city governments in reversing urban deterioration. By bridging theory and practice, the study contributes to academic and practical discourses on urban governance and offers a structured, adaptable model for inner-city regeneration both locally and globally
Engaging Stakeholders In Public Sector Healthcare: Driving Transformation In The Eastern Cape Department Of Health\u27s Re-Engineering Journey
Get PDFThe Eastern Cape Department of Health (ECDoH) is undergoing a re-engineering process to enhance service efficiency and address organizational inefficiencies, such as a bloated structure and excessive personnel costs. However, employees, as key stakeholders, were not meaningfully engaged in the process. This study investigates the role of stakeholder engagement in the ECDoH\u27s transformative efforts, highlighting its impact on inclusivity, strategic alignment, and transparency. Grounded in a constructivist paradigm, this study adopts a qualitative approach using focus group discussions with 12 participants from diverse stakeholder groups. Thematic analysis revealed critical gaps in the ECDoH\u27s engagement strategy, including the absence of a stakeholder engagement plan and the top-down nature of decision-making, which excluded employees\u27 input. Employees were aware of the re-engineering process but expressed concerns about the lack of transparency and the potential adverse effects, such as demotions and job transfers. The findings emphasize the risks of excluding employees from decision-making, including resistance, litigation, and decreased morale. Recommendations include the development of a comprehensive stakeholder engagement plan that encourages participatory decision-making, promotes transparency, and leverages employees\u27 insights to enhance organizational change processes. This study critically explores the importance of integrating stakeholder engagement into re-engineering initiatives to ensure buy-in, reduce implementation challenges, and achieve sustainable organizational transformation. It contributes to the broader discourse on employee participation in public sector reforms, offering insights for policymakers and organizational leaders
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Get PDF“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Get PDFWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Get PDFWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
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