Suchergebnisse

What variables explain variation in job satisfaction among municipal government employees? Using data from a recent survey of over 1,200 full-time municipal employees, this research tests the relative influence of 11 environmental variables and 3 demographic factors on variation in job satisfaction among this rarely studied group of employees. The regression analysis revealed that environmental factors such as promotional opportunities, pay and benefits satisfaction, performance appraisal satisfaction, equipment and resources, training, workload, supervisory relationships, and most important of all, departmental esprit de corps were significantly, and positively, related to overall job satisfaction. In contrast, demographic variables were relatively poor predictors of job satisfaction. Over 50 percent of the variation in job satisfaction among municipal employees is explained using this model.

The rent-seeking theory was one of the first economic instruments developed to model corruption in the public sector. Comparing corruption with lobbying, it proposes that the former is the lesser of two evils, since lobbying entails the wastage of resources in the competition for preferential treatment. This study shows that the traditional rent-seeking theory misunderstands three factors: (1) the impact of a corrupt monopoly on the rent's size; (2) corruption as a motivation for supplying preferential treatment; & (3) corruption involves a narrower range of interests than those of competitive lobbying. Taking these factors into consideration, the opposite argument is valid: corruption has worse welfare implications than alternative rent-seeking activities. 71 References. Adapted from the source document.

Increasing numbers of people internationally are volunteering their time and expertise to a wide range of public sector and not‐for‐profit organisations. This resource needs to be organised and managed effectively to realise the potential benefits. Surveys 1,226 male and female volunteer Special Constables and regular officers from five UK police forces. Reports their motivations, experiences, preferences, deployment, training, relationships with full‐time officers, reasons for leaving and factors influencing the decision to rejoin. Identifies demographic factors associated with length of service. Managerial and organisational implications are discussed, particularly the need for detailed, up to date information on the volunteers and their experiences and aspirations to aid recruitment, retention and effective deployment.

The implementation of environmental protection policies in Flanders and Wallonia (Belgium) is investigated, looking at the stages of application and the roles of the actors involved. The factors which intervene in the implementation of a European policy, whose characteristics include reformulation at local level, are identified. Structural and political factors affecting change in agricultural and environmental policies are outlined, including regionalization and the division of responsibilities. The example of Belgium shows how it is important that each authority can redefine its own interests in defending the environment using its own resources and contacts. Implementation at local level implies a series of re-interpretations of each agri-environmental measure in the light of expectations and the reactions of land-users. ; Peer reviewed

Ability to raise sufficient revenue to satisfy expenditure needs is the most important concern in local government financing. Local governments under fiscal stress often need to dig deep into their tax base to generate enough financing because of inflexible revenue resources. This paper examines the factors that determine the level of tax effort, particularly the influences of fiscal stress on the tax effort of three adjacent small cities in Virginia. An ordinary least squared model was formulated for this purpose. Our findings indicate that, together with fiscal stress, retail sales, state aid, the joint effect of unemployment and welfare expenditures are important factors in predicting the tax effort. The difference in response among the cities in question is also established as a result of the analysis.

This article focuses on how work in small groups is structured in exploratory sequences in relation to directionalfactors. The structures refer to the level of cooperation in the groups. Videotapes of ninth-grade students working in groups, during regular classroom hours, were coded and analyzed. The model of directional factors proposes that a group -in order to function well-must regulate its behavior through attending to demands, resources, planning, coordination, distribution of work and production. It was found that cooperative groups patterned their exploratory sequences closer to what is usually referred to as ideal problem-solving behavior and that there were some essential differences in how directional factors were introduced and completed during group work between cooperative and less cooperative groups.

The role of industrialization in economic development can
hardly be overemphasized. The process of industrialization takes place
through capital formation, and it is important that the factors which
determine the rate of capital formation be identified and properly
analysed. This book gives an in-depth analysis of private industrial
investment in Pakistan during the Sixties, which increased sharply
during the Second Plan period but declined during the Third Plan period.
It examines the influence of foreign. resources inflow as well as of
other factors on private industrial investment during the Sixties. It
contains an enlightening discussion about the concentration of
industrial power in a few hands, their control over financial
institutions, and their role in the industrial growth of
Pakistan.

International education has been a growing field in the US since the beginning of major exchange activity with the establishment of the Fulbright-Hays Fellowships after WWII. In its various aspects in the US--exchange of American & foreign students, faculty, leaders, & specialists--international education assists a minimum of 250,000 individuals each year to study, teach, or perform research. Worldwide, the number of exchanges is several times this total. Factors that have promoted the growth of large scale exchange, such as the new wealth of resource-rich nations, diminishing dominance of the US, changing attitudes toward education, & interdependence of nations, are examined. The role of these factors in determining the future of exchange of discussed. Modified HA.

Water demand management, or making better use of the water we have - as opposed to augmenting supply - is increasingly proposed as a way of mitigating water-scarcity problems. Moving water away from agriculture to uses with higher economic value is one of the main measures widely seen as desirable. Sectoral "allocation stress? is seen as resulting from the disproportionate share, and inefficient use of water in the agricultural sector. This apparent misallocation is often attributed to the failure of government to allocate water rationally. This paper revisits this commonly-accepted wisdom and examines the nature of urban water scarcity, showing the importance of economic and political factors, shaped by incentives to decision-makers, and sometimes compounded by climatic conditions. It shows that cities' growth is not generally constrained by competition with agriculture. In general, rather than using a narrow financial criterion, cities select options that go along the "path of least resistance,? whereby economic, social and political costs are considered in conjunction. The question of allocation stress is thus reframed into an inquiry of how transfers effectively occur and can be made more effective.

This practical manual for goat production systems covers breeding and selection, feeding based on available crops and resources, and targeted preventative health care for increased productivity and income. It is required reading for livestock farmers, veterinarians, commercial farming companies, researchers and animal science specialists.

Metadata only record ; The report/case study discusses the importance of agriculture in the Karatu district, the loss of agricultural productivity from soil and land degradation, how climate change jeopardizes small farmers in the district, and how conservation agriculture (CA) could significantly address problems of agricultural productivity. The study/intervention was focused on five villages in the Karatu district and was intended to strengthen the livelihood and food security of small farmers through protection of ecosystem services that would allow for sustainable crop production intensification. These CA practices and services were implemented through outreach, education and training with small Tanzanian farmers. Involved stakeholders were farmers, government actors, intentional institutions, and non-governmental organizations. As conservation agriculture practices were adopted, scientists examined fluctuations in how farmers generating income and the various concerns that ensued. Critical factors that enable successful intervention were outlined as the following: strong interaction between all stakeholders, problem analysis by local farmers, involvement of facilitators skilled in CA practices, and initial provision of resources needed to implement CA. Factors that discouraged implementation of CA practices were lack of needed resources; lack of CA experts, training, and policy; and lack of involvement of stakeholders. Authors of the report suggested that the district should have an explicit, national policy approach to conservation agriculture; collaboration should be strengthened to align goals and implementation efforts; various approaches to CA should be utilized to maximize participation in CA; resources needed to implement CA s should be reasonably priced and accessible to local farmers. The report concludes that CA efforts should be expanded through stronger linkages with extension officers and national governmental agencies. Also, food processing strategies could be utilized to add value to the increased production gains from CA.

It is recognised by society that freshwater resources play a major role in economic development and in maintaining life supporting ecosystems services. Transboundary river basins cover about 45% of the earth's land surface and their governance is therefore of critical importance. Transboundary freshwater resources are considered a common-pool resource. Collective action is therefore needed in order to supply both public and private goods from these resources but is yet in short supply. This thesis intends to analyse a complementary framework to the common Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach with the objective of enhancing investments in collective action to address this dilemma. Results indicate that transboundary water resources management in itself can be identified as a regional public good. The results also indicate that IWRM has been promoted as a standard management concept; often without first having identified and agreed the objectives of the intended multiple uses of water. Outcomes related to IWRM at the transboundary scale are therefore difficult to identify and evidence points towards continued water quality degradation at a global scale and development opportunities not achieved. Two different tools for how to assess the generation of benefits from cooperation are presented in this thesis including an institutional assessment framework adapted to transboundary institutions. Together these steps make up an outcome-driven approach that clarifies the value of water in all management and development stages. Through such an outcome-driven approach, water issues can provide the incentives necessary in order to identify cooperative paths and thus become important factors in negotiations to establish effective regional governance regimes. This would take the broader political, economic and geographical context into consideration thus supporting a process towards more integration of interests between countries.

PurposeThis article provides an academic viewpoint on contemporary factors associated with talent management (TM) in the hospitality and tourism sector.Design/MethodologyA critical discussion of macro and micro level factors is provided, while highlighting opportunities and challenges for TM policies and practices. The influence of senior managers in developing TM, with emphasis on SME's, is examined and examples of 'best practice' in TM are outlined.FindingsGiven the scale and importance of the sector to economic growth, it is imperative that governments assume a greater leadership role in shaping the training and education agenda. TM practices need to reflect the uniqueness and complexity of the sector and effective implementation of TM requires CEO/Owner-Manager commitment and cascading down of a talent mind-set/culture within organisations. Examples of best practice in TM provide a significant opportunity for the sector to improve both its employer branding and competitiveness. Examples include: aligning TM with strategic business goals; provisions of robust data generated across HR functions; and demonstrating the impact of TM on employees' enhanced emotional labour through higher levels of engagement and motivation and on organisational outcomes.Practical implicationsThe article argues that organisations need to take each dimension of talent management more seriously than many organisations have done so in the past. Coherent TM practices, in particular, competitive reward and training and development opportunities, will improve employer branding and will directly impact upon the quality of recruitment applications received by organisations.Originality/valueThe article provides important insight and practical recommendations on how the sector can improve its productivity and future sustained competitiveness in the challenging times ahead.

PurposeMultinational enterprises (MNEs) strive to expand into new markets either by exploiting their resource base or by gaining access to partner companies that own the required resources. Thus, companies face the compete–cooperate–coopete decision. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of MNEs' networks of interorganisational alliances, and their interaction with resource ownership, and market attractiveness, on the choice of international expansion modes, whether they are sole venture (competitive) or collaboration agreements (cooperative) or both (coopetitive).Design/methodology/approachA biprobit model is used to analyse more than 50,000 new international operations by 164 MNEs in a five-year window. A moderation analysis is carried out to reveal the interaction between network centrality, resource ownership and market size.FindingsThe results show the extent to which the competitive–collaborative contradictory forces attenuate each other in different market scenarios. This study's contribution advances the resolution of the resource allocation dilemma by recognising the conditions for the selection of each expansion mode: sole venture, cooperation and coopetition.Originality/valueMainstream international business theory claims that firm's own resources and transaction outcomes are generally sufficient to explain their international expansion decisions, whereas network and social capital theories focus on the role of relationships and network embeddedness. Both perspectives seem to neglect the fact that firms frequently develop both factors simultaneously. This study bridges these perspectives and reveals the interplay between resource ownership, alliance network centrality and market size for MNEs' expansion mode choice.

Проанализированы и исследованы основные факторы, влияющие на развитие фермерских хозяйств. Bibl.8. ; Analyzed and investigated major factors affecting development of farming businesses. Bibl.8.