An Organisational Approach to Analysis of Policy Innovation by Local Authorities in Britain: The Importance of the Concepts of Scrutiny, Conflict, and Centralisation

1988 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
F J Burdett ◽  
M G Bradford

In this paper an organisational approach is used to study the timing, duration, and outcome of the policymaking on public provision of local authorities. The organisation is considered as an intervening analytical level that bridges the gap between the effect of individual actors and that of the structure of society on the geography of public provision. Drawing on the literature of organisation theory, we analyse the effects of processes within organisations to help explain variation in public provision between authorities. The separate and combined effects of three major organisational concepts are examined: Scrutiny, conflict, and centralisation. These concepts are applied to policy innovation in four English local authorities, and specifically to their policies for the adoption of new technology in schools. Although the separate effects of the concepts help our understanding, it is their interaction which makes a significant contribution to the explanation of the timing and duration of policy innovation, as well as explaining the policy outcome, which was the aim of most previous work. Further understanding is gained when these concepts are set within the context of the overall structure and behaviour of the organisation.

2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 545-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen V. Milner ◽  
Sondre Ulvund Solstad

ABSTRACTDo world politics affect the adoption of new technology? States overwhelmingly rely on technology invented abroad, and their differential intensity of technology use accounts for many of their differences in economic development. Much of the literature on technology adoption focuses on domestic conditions. The authors argue instead that the structure of the international system is critical because it affects the level of competition among states, which in turn affects leaders’ willingness to enact policies that speed technology adoption. Countries adopt new technology as they seek to avoid being vulnerable to attack or coercion by other countries. By systematically examining states’ adoption of technology over the past two hundred years, the authors find that countries adopt new technologies faster when the international system is less concentrated, that changes in systemic concentration have a temporally causal effect on technology adoption, and that government policies to promote technology adoption are related to concerns about rising international competition. A competitive international system is an important incentive for technological change and may underlie global technology waves.


2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 166-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susmita Chatterjee ◽  
Bibek Ray Chaudhuri ◽  
Debabrata Dutta

In this article, we look at the determinants of the new technology adoption by consumers in the case of mobile telecommunications. The dynamic nature of the telecom industry is a result of the frequent technological change. Consumers witness different technology standards in mobile communications, starting from the first generation (1G) to second generation (2G) subsequently to third (3G) and now experiencing fourth (4G) in some countries such as Norway, Sweden, South Korea, and the USA including ours. The movement from one standard to the other has been predicted to be smooth as all of them are vertical substitutes for each other. Given the various dimensions such as price, requirements, utility and so on, these technology standards are not perfect substitutes. The article investigates the prospect of a new technology standard roll out in India. A survey of 400 mobile phone customers in metro telecom circles has been carried out for this purpose. The study applies structural equation modeling (SEM) and explores the adoption intention of this new technology among the respondents. Results show that the presence of low-cost alternatives that is the availability of a lower technology standard poses a significant hurdle to the adoption of new technology services.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 49-57
Author(s):  
Khairull Anuar Ismail ◽  
Nabsiah Abdul Wahid

Recently in Malaysia, a substantial number of consumers have been found to be avoiding online shopping as they prefer to shop in physical stores. This scenario brings up the issue of whether Malaysian consumers are ready technologically to shop online. To tackle this issue, a review of the concept of technology readiness is made to help explain Malaysian consumers’ online purchase intention behaviour. Technology readiness is chosen here because the concept reflects an individual’s predisposition in the usage and adoption of new technology. For the purpose of this review, this study selects technology readiness concept as proposed by Parasuraman  (2000). From the review, this study found that technology readiness has been measured in the past either as a single (unidimensional) or a multidimensional construct involving four factors, namely, optimism, innovativeness, discomfort and insecurity. A summary on past researchers’ findings in identifying the relationship between technology readiness (and its proposed dimensions) with technology usage is included in this review. For example, technology readiness was found to have a significant influence on behavioural intention in using mobile commerce to purchase travel-related service. Additionally, technology readiness motivator (optimism and innovativeness) and inhibitor (discomfort and insecurity) were identified to be related to intention to use technology. Based on the review, this study proposes a model to help explain the user’s intention to purchase online situation. In the proposed model, both technology readiness motivators and inhibitors are suggested to show positive and negative influences respectively on the user’s intention to purchase online. This review is thought to be beneficial to many. For instance, researchers would find insights on the usefulness of technology readiness and on how it has been and can be applied for further investigation. As for marketing practitioners, the review would help guide them understand the influence technology readiness has on consumers behaviour intention in adopting online shopping which they could apply for future marketing strategy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2.29) ◽  
pp. 326
Author(s):  
Ahmad Fadzli Ahmad Tajuddin ◽  
Anis Yusal Yusoff ◽  
Mohd Rezaidi Ishak

The main theme of this paper encompasses on the operationalization of the notion of integrity focusing on the performance of local authorities (LAs) in Malaysia. Specifically, the study applies the Community Integrity Building (CIB) concept which highlighted on the significant contribution of tripartite parties in gearing for better organizational performance namely community monitors, contractors and LAs. Furthermore, CIB creates an enhanced feedback loop of continuous improvement and vigilance, creating better community over time. The study also pioneered on measuring of fix rate methodology and integrity approach objectively; thus bridging the gap between conceptualization and operationalization spectrum. Finally, the paper concludes by enlightening and giving some insights on the potentials of CIB approach and changing the typical art of doing things in public service especially with regards to integrity agenda vis-‘a-vis building stronger local community.              


Author(s):  
Salma Firdose ◽  
L. Manjunath Rao

With the adoption of new technology and quality standards, the software development firms are still encountering the critical issues of risk modelling. With the changing dynamics of customer needs, potential competition has being mushrooming in the global IT markets to relay a new standard of software engineering which has higher capability of sustaining risk.  However, till date, it is still theoretical to large extent from research viewpoint. Hence, this paper presents a mathematical model called as 3LRM that is designed with the simple approach keeping in mind the real-time issues of risk factors in software engineering for ICT software development project. The study has also identified requirement volatility as one of the prominent source of risk and hence, the framework intends to identify a risk as well as mitigating the risk to a large extent. The paper is illustrated with some of the simple statistical approaches of random probability.


1969 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-26
Author(s):  
B. W. Bobst

Agriculture is experiencing an increasing reliance on commercial and governmental sources of capital in order to finance the adoption of new technology and the organizational changes made necessary by that technology. If this trend progresses, it is reasonable to suppose that the interdependence of flows of funds to the farm sector with flows to other sectors will become greater and will become a more important consideration in matters of farm credit policy. In a recent paper, Lee has called for further research into the implications of changes in the financial structure of the farm sector, among them the growth of alternative sources of funds and the changing roles of major lending groups. It is the intent of this paper to suggest a procedure through which the financing of the farm sector can be analyzed as one of a number of economic sectors which are financially interrelated.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-167
Author(s):  
Harun Harun ◽  
David Carter ◽  
Abu Taher Mollik ◽  
Yi An

Purpose This paper aims to critically explore the forces and critical features relating to the adoption of a new reporting and budgeting system (RBS) in Indonesian local governments. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on an intensive analysis of document sources and interview scripts around the institutionalization of RBS by the Indonesian government and uses the adaption of Dillard et al. (2004) institutional model in informing its findings. Findings The authors find that at the national level, the key drivers in RBS adoption were a combination of exogenous economic and coercive pressures and the wish to mimic accounting reforms in developed nations. At the local government level, the internalization of RBS is a response to a legal obligation imposed by the central government. Despite the RBS adoption has strengthened the transparency of local authorities reports – it limits the roles of other members of citizens in determining how local government budgets are allocated. Research limitations/implications The results of the study should be understood in the historical and institutional contexts of organizations observed. Practical implications The authors reinforce the notion that accounting as a business language dominates narratives and conversations surrounding the nature of government reporting and budgeting systems and how resource allocation is formulated and practiced. This should remind policymakers in other developing nations that any implementation of a new accounting technology should consider institutional capacities of public sector organizations and how the new technology benefits the public. Social implications The authors argue that the dominant role of international financial authorities in the policymaking and implementation of RBS challenges the aim of autonomy policies, which grant greater roles for local authorities and citizens in determining the nature of the budgets and operation of local authorities. Originality/value This study extends institutional theory by adapting the Dillard et al. (2004) model in explaining the forces, actors and critical features of a new accounting system adoption by local governments.


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