This study examines how motivational signals in job advertisements relate to public employers’ recruitment success, testing hypotheses derived from signalling theory and person – environment fit... Show moreThis study examines how motivational signals in job advertisements relate to public employers’ recruitment success, testing hypotheses derived from signalling theory and person – environment fit theory. We combine job advertisements collected via web crawling with matched survey data on the recruitment process (1,863 recruiters), capturing Germany’s public sector job market. Using quantitative text analysis, we identify motivational signals in the job advertisements and analyse to what extent they relate to indicators of recruitment success. Results show that prosocial signals positively relate to a higher quality of applications and a more qualified selected candidate. By contrast, extrinsic and intrinsic motivational signals did not exhibit statistically significant effects. Show less
A core idea of bureaucratic organizations is that rule-following is a necessary precondition to pursue the publicinterest. However, rules may sometimes become dysfunc-tional, burdensome, and even... Show moreA core idea of bureaucratic organizations is that rule-following is a necessary precondition to pursue the publicinterest. However, rules may sometimes become dysfunc-tional, burdensome, and even interfere with public valuedelivery. In those situations, professionals sometimesengage in prosocial rule-breaking (PSRB), rather than rule-following, with the aim to deliver meaningful public ser-vices. This article examines leadership encouragement andpsychological safety as antecedents of PSRB behavior. Datafrom two waves of a multi-source dataset consisting of pro-fessionals' self-reported PSRB behavior and psychologicalsafety (n=837 and 965 respondents) and their supervisor-reported encouragement for PSRB behavior (n=58 and64 respondents) is used. Findings point to a positive rela-tionship between psychological safety and PSRB. Moreover,the study partly supports the hypothesis that leadershipencouragement is associated with higher levels of PSRB,but only under conditions of high psychological safety. Show less
While the importance of reducing meat loss and waste is acknowledged due to its substantial environmental impacts, the aspect of animal welfare largely remains unaddressed. The suffering and death... Show moreWhile the importance of reducing meat loss and waste is acknowledged due to its substantial environmental impacts, the aspect of animal welfare largely remains unaddressed. The suffering and death that is inflicted on animals to produce food that is never eaten remains invisible. This study aims to bridge the gap between food loss and waste (FLW) accounting literature and animal welfare considerations. It achieves this by estimating the number of animal lives embodied in meat loss and waste of six major meat-producing species along the food supply chain and by modelling three potential reduction scenarios. It shows that approximately 18 billion animal lives were embodied in losses and waste of global meat production and consumption in 2019. The scenarios reveal that wasted and lost animal lives could be reduced by 7.9 billion if best regional efficiencies were mainstreamed, and by 4.2 or 8.8 billion if Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 was implemented, achieving a 50% loss and waste reduction in the downstream or whole supply chain, respectively. Considering species specific conscience and sentience, and previous recommendations, the analysis finds leverage points for change at the consumption stage in developed, high-income countries, in Industrialized Asia, judging by absolute, and in North America and Oceania, judging by per-capita numbers, as well as in top countries of FLW and animal life loss. It further identifies trade-offs for animal welfare between reducing FLW of different meat types, especially chicken and beef, and reducing production-based losses while keeping emissions and resource use low and supporting food security. Show less
Several critics have argued that private prisons are not only problematic because of their worse efects but also intrinsically wrong. This article analyzes two prominent arguments for this claim:... Show moreSeveral critics have argued that private prisons are not only problematic because of their worse efects but also intrinsically wrong. This article analyzes two prominent arguments for this claim: the representation argument and the condemnation argument. The conclusion is that these arguments fail to show that there is something intrinsically wrong about private prisons. This is especially true if the arguments are extended to non-proft private prisons under social injustice contexts that states are responsible for. In such cases, non-proft private prisons might not only be on a par with public prisons but be preferable to them. However, the arguments are also insufcient to oppose every conceivable for-proft private prison. Show less
Qualitative comparative analysis is gradually becoming more established in the evaluation field. The purpose of this article is to highlight the potential for evaluation research of engaging in... Show moreQualitative comparative analysis is gradually becoming more established in the evaluation field. The purpose of this article is to highlight the potential for evaluation research of engaging in consecutive rounds of this analysis. This is possible when approaching qualitative comparative analysis as a systematic strategy for configurational theorizing. To substantiate this potential, we present two evaluation studies on Research and Development subsidies for companies in Poland. Compared with the results of the first study, the findings of the subsequent consecutive qualitative comparative analysis studies were much more nuanced and helped in developing a full-fledged configurational program theory. In addition to elaborating on the strengths of a consecutive qualitative comparative analysis approach and the relevance of configurational program theories for evaluators, this article shares the main lessons learned in overcoming challenges common to such designs. Thus, concrete guidance is offered to researchers and evaluators who are willing to take configurational theorizing seriously. Show less
Public agencies are increasingly explaining and justifying their conduct in ways that go beyond what is legally required. This rise of voluntary accountability in the public sector is noteworthy,... Show morePublic agencies are increasingly explaining and justifying their conduct in ways that go beyond what is legally required. This rise of voluntary accountability in the public sector is noteworthy, especially in light of concerns about inadequate accountability safeguards in modern governance. The objective of this dissertation is to understand the motivations behind organisational accountability-seeking behaviour. Drawing from a reputational perspective on accountability, this dissertation investigates the following research question: What are the drivers of voluntary accountability? Based on a multi-method study of EU agencies, this dissertation shows that there is no "holy grail" of one dominant set of driving motivations behind voluntary accountability, although reputational considerations do emerge as a prominent force. While different mechanisms are at play, it is possible to better understand the drivers of voluntary accountability – both conceptually and in terms of motivations – by looking at the audience to whom account is rendered: the “forum” in accountability terminology. This dissertation finds that accountability-seeking motivations are intimately inter-linked to the relationship actors seek to cultivate and cannot be elucidated in abstract thereof. Hence, even though voluntary accountability by definition originates from the account-giver, the best advice to anyone seeking to understand voluntary accountability is to look to the forum! Show less
While discourse about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has primarily focused on 'whether the goals' are achieved, there remains limited understanding of how developed countries organize... Show moreWhile discourse about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has primarily focused on 'whether the goals' are achieved, there remains limited understanding of how developed countries organize their monitoring and evaluation (M & E) systems, which play a crucial role in tracking progress towards the SDGs. In this contribution, we unpack the M & E frameworks of Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. To do so, we have devised an analytical heuristic that combines insights from the literature on policy performance measurement and measurement infrastructures with the more specific literature on SDG governance. Through document analysis and elite interviews conducted in 2021, our findings highlight similarity in underdeveloped M & E frameworks, rather than significant variation across the three case studies. The results do not suggest a linkage between SDG performance and the development of M & E frameworks. Show less
Administrative burdens appear to influence citizens' perceptions of welfare policies and attitudes toward beneficiaries. However, empirical evidence that has disentangled different state actions'... Show moreAdministrative burdens appear to influence citizens' perceptions of welfare policies and attitudes toward beneficiaries. However, empirical evidence that has disentangled different state actions' effects on policy perceptions is scarce. We applied a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial survey experiment and manipulated the conceptually distinct state actions implemented in German unemployment benefits. We investigated whether and how exposure to learning demands, compliance demands, and sanctions affected citizens' prejudices against beneficiaries, policy support, and perceived legitimacy. The results from a sample of 1602 German citizens indicate that those confronted with program sanctions exhibit less policy support and expect higher policy spending. Similarly, sanctions decreased the Federal Employment Agency's perceived legitimacy. These results have implications for administrative burden and policy feedback research. Distinguishing different state actions provides nuances to assess policy feedback effects. Practitioners should consider whether program sanctions are necessary because they evoke unintended policy feedback effects. Show less
Previous studies have identified individual and organizational factors that influence the turnover intentions of bureaucrats. However, they have overlooked how the type of national bureaucracy... Show morePrevious studies have identified individual and organizational factors that influence the turnover intentions of bureaucrats. However, they have overlooked how the type of national bureaucracy influences turnover intention. Combining data sets on macro-level bureaucratic structures and individual civil servants, we examine how bureaucratic politicization and closedness are associated with the turnover intentions of bureaucrats in 36 countries. Our analysis indicates that there is large cross-national variation in turnover intention, and that bureaucratic structures matter as one of the predictors of turnover intention. Public servants working in more closed and regulated bureaucracies exhibit lower turnover intention. We also find that public servants working in more politicized bureaucracies (in which personnel decisions are made via political connections) have lower turnover intention than those working in more merit-based systems. Such low turnover intention in politicized bureaucracies may be explained by the characteristics of patronage appointments in which public jobs are distributed based on personal or political loyalty. Show less
The ubiquity of experts in contemporary policy-making has been met with enthusiasm in some quarters, but has also faced severe criticism. Beyond the democratic concerns regarding expert power,... Show moreThe ubiquity of experts in contemporary policy-making has been met with enthusiasm in some quarters, but has also faced severe criticism. Beyond the democratic concerns regarding expert power, critics have raised worries about whether experts actually contribute to increasing the epistemic quality of policies, in line with normative expectations. Yet, so far, limited attention has been paid to the specific conditions under which experts involved in policy-making are likely to live up to such expectations. The article outlines a set of such conditions and empirically examines their fulfillment in the case of a real-world expert body. The article contributes theoretically to normative political theory about the proper role of expertise in policy-making; methodologically by linking normative theorizing and empirical analysis; and empirically through a longitudinal analysis based on large-n data of the extent to which the expert body under scrutiny satisfies a set of quantifiable empirical indicators of the proposed conditions. Show less
Staalduinen, D.J. van; Bekerom, P.E.A. van den; Groeneveld, S.M.; Stiggelbout, A.M.; Van den Akker-van Marle, M.E. 2023
Background: An important element of value-based health care (VBHC) is interprofessional collaboration in integrated practice units (IPUs) for the delivery of the complete cycle of care. High levels... Show moreBackground: An important element of value-based health care (VBHC) is interprofessional collaboration in integrated practice units (IPUs) for the delivery of the complete cycle of care. High levels of interprofessional collaboration between clinical and nonclinical staff in IPUs are assumed rather than proven. Factors that may stimulate interprofessional collaboration in the context of VBHC are underresearched.Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine relational coordination (RC) in VBHC and its antecedents.Approach: A questionnaire was used to examine the association of both team practices and organizational conditions with interprofessional collaboration in IPUs. Gittell’s Relational Coordination Survey was drawn upon to measure interprofessional collaboration by capturing the relational dynamics in coordinated working. The questionnaire also included measures of team practices (team meetings and boundary spanning behavior) and organizational conditions (task interdependence and time constraints).Results: The number of different professional groups participating in team meetings is positively associated with RC in IPUs. Boundary spanning behavior, task interdependence, and time constraints are not associated with RC.Conclusions: In IPUs, the diversity within interprofessional team meetings is important for establishing high-quality communication and relationships.Practice Implications: Hospital managers should prioritize facilitating and encouraging shared meetings to enhance RC levels among professional groups in IPUs. Show less
Staalduinen, D.J. van; Bekerom, P.E.A. van den; Groeneveld, S.M.; Franx, A.; Stiggelbout, A.M.; Akker-van Marle, M.E van den 2023
Introduction: An important aspect of Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC) is providing the full cycle of care for a specific medical condition through interprofessional collaboration. This requires... Show moreIntroduction: An important aspect of Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC) is providing the full cycle of care for a specific medical condition through interprofessional collaboration. This requires employees from diverse professional backgrounds to interact, but there is limited knowledge on how professionals perceive such interprofessional collaboration. We aimed to provide insight into how different professionals perceive Integrated Practice Unit (IPU) composition and what factors influence the quality of interprofessional collaboration within IPUs.Methods: A survey was administered to employees from different professional backgrounds (medical specialists, nurses, allied health professionals, administrative employees) working in IPUs to assess their perception of the composition of their IPU and the quality of the interactions. Subsequently, semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the findings of the survey.Results: Medical specialists and nurses were most frequently considered to be part of an IPU and indicated that they have high quality interactions. Allied health professionals were less often considered part of the team by all other professional groups and all report low quality interaction with this group. The extent to which a professional group is perceived as a team member depends on their visibility, involvement in the treatment of the patient, and shared interest. Differences in the quality of interprofessional collaboration are influenced by organizational structures, knowledge of each other’s expertise, and by ways of communication.Conclusions: In VBHC, there seems to be a lack of common perception of an IPU’s composition and a failure to always achieve high quality interprofessional collaboration. Given the importance of interprofessional collaboration in VBHC, effort should be invested in achieving a shared understanding and improved collaboration. Show less
