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The system of local and regional self-governments in the EU is characterized by an extremely large number of small units. The situation in Croatia, a country with only 3.87 million inhabitants, is no different. There are 576 local and regional self-government units. The basic feature of self-government in Croatia is the equal scope of authority in performing tasks, regardless of the number of inhabitants, the area they inhabit, or their ability to pursue sustainability objectives. In this paper, we analyze the capacities of performing municipal services in 127 Croatian cities and examine whether cities differ in their ability to perform public functions. Results show that cities can be grouped into three different clusters. The validity of the results on clusters was confirmed with an ANOVA, where a significant difference was found between all three clusters. Ranking cities according to the capacity for providing municipal services shows that cities with higher capacities are clustered together, implying that cities indeed differ in their ability to perform municipal services. Further, the results indicate that 80 percent of the cities belong to the cluster that consists of cities with a very low capacity for providing public services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We delve into whether the equalization of basic public services can mitigate regional disparities in China's economic resilience. Our analysis reveals that COVID-19 has diminished economic resilience and exacerbated regional differences. Notably, these regional disparities constitute the primary cause of spatial variations in economic resilience. Despite the initially low level of basic public services in Chinese cities, there is a discernible upward trend, indicating a gradual narrowing of regional disparities. Furthermore, we uncover a substantial positive correlation between the equalization of public services and variations in regional economic resilience, thereby offering fresh empirical evidence that the equalization of public services can help bridge the gap in regional economic resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The aims of this study are to investigate the spatial configuration and scale nesting characteristics of ecological networks under the two scales of Nanchang City and Nanchang City Circle, and to provide reference for regional ecological security protection. [Methods] Nanchang City Circle was taken as the research area. Based on the comprehensive sources identification framework of ‘Function-Attribute-Structure’, the ecological sources were extracted under the two scales of Nanchang City and Nanchang City Circle, and the ecological network was constructed by the Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model. Simultaneously, nested analysis of ecological corridors, ecological pinch points, and barrier points at two scales were conducted to identify similarities and differences across different scales. [Results] (1) The comprehensive ecosystem services in Nanchang City were significantly lower than those in the Nanchang City Circle. There were significant faults in the top 35% of the comprehensive ecosystem services at the two scales. Combined with the structure and attribute characteristics, 56 ecological sources were extracted at the scale of Nanchang City, and the distribution of the ecological sources was more fragmented from the east to the west, while 78 ecological sources were extracted at the scale of Nanchang City Circle, and the spatial distribution of the ecological sources was more uniform. (2) At the scale of Nanchang City, 77 ecological corridors were constructed, and the corridors connecting the east and west sources of Nanchang City were fragile. At the scale of Nanchang City Circle, 310 ecological corridors were constructed, of which 29 were used to connect the ecological sources of Nanchang City and surrounding counties and districts. The ecological sources in Nanchang City and those in surrounding counties and districts of Nanchang City had strong interaction and connection. (3) The ecological processes of two different scales in Nanchang City and Nanchang City Circle were closely related. There were 26 overlapping corridors under the two scales, a total of 611.78 km, 4 overlapping ecological pinch points and 8 overlapping barrier points. The ecological pinch points were significantly different in the northwest and east of Nanchang City, and the barrier points were significantly different in the northeast and southwest of Nanchang City. [Conclusion] Nanchang′s ecological network is relatively stable. There are many overlapping features of corridors, ecological pinch points, and barrier points in the ecological network at two scales, and they are essential for ecological conservation and restoration. The repair of overlapping elements can increase the link of the ecological network on the east and west sides of the city, as well as help to maintain the general safety and stability of the city′s ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demand-responsive transport (DRT) could be an alternative for extending the accessibility of high-speed rail (HSR) servicing cities in rural environments, where fixed public transport does not provide efficient services. This paper proposes a method to analyse the factors that influence the implementation of DRT systems for inter-urban mobility, connecting and integrating towns in rural areas. Methodologically, a vehicle routing problem analysis in a GIS-based environment is applied to a theoretical case study to evaluate the factors that influence DRT efficiency in different scenarios, considering the specific singularities of this kind of inter-urban long-distance mobility. The results suggest the optimal DRT solutions in these rural contexts to be those that, after adjusting the fleet to specific demands, use low-capacity vehicles, which are much better adapted to the geography of sparsely populated areas. Moreover, in adapting DRT systems to HSR travellers' needs, windows catering to these needs should incorporate the option of setting the pickup or arrival times. This paper demonstrates that DRT systems could reach significant levels of service in rural areas compared with fixed lines and even private vehicles, especially when evaluating key aspects of the system's efficiency for its implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social enterprises (SEs) are claimed to be able to address "wicked social problems1" in various policy instruments and governance models. However, doubts have been raised about whether the hybrid nature results in fundamental challenges that could prevent SEs from becoming ideal and sustainable public service organizations. Drawing upon organizational resilience literature, this article reveals two trade‐offs between social and business service qualities when SEs seek long‐term solutions to the challenges in delivering public services. This article argues that SEs—employing different hybrid models, emphasizing social or business service quality—jointly can overcome the trade‐offs to deliver sustainable and accountable public services at the public service contract level and the individual user's level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The changes in geopolitical and ecological conditions brought about the need to use environmentally friendly sources of vehicle power. This impacted the accelerated activities related to the use of hydrogen fuel in transport means. Based on the observations carried out in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, it was found that the process of implementing hydrogen-powered vehicles in public transport is connected with difficulties faced by transport companies with regard to the purchase of these transport means. This study aims to analyse the conditions for making decisions regarding the implementation of hydrogen-powered buses in urban transport. A case study was considered, and the factors influencing the decisions related to the application of hydrogen-powered buses in Poland were analysed. The survey method was used to carry out the research. A questionnaire was developed, and the survey was conducted among representatives of transport companies that provide public transport services in Polish cities. As a result of the research, it was found that city authorities play a key role in deciding on the implementation of hydrogen-powered buses. The highest ranks among the proposed criteria influencing the decision on the purchase of hydrogen-powered buses were the economic ones. The concerns and benefits resulting from the potential purchase of hydrogen-powered buses were also examined. It was revealed that the decision to buy buses is most influenced by factors such as ensuring access to hydrogen and its price. The recommendations for transport companies and city authorities were formulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) face challenges in capturing long-distance text correlations, and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) networks exhibit limited feature extraction capabilities for text classification of public service requests. To address the abovementioned problems, this work utilizes an ensemble learning approach to integrate model elements efficiently. This study presents a method for classifying public service request text using a hybrid neural network model called BERT-BiLSTM-CNN. First, BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) is used for preprocessing to obtain text vector representations. Then, context and process sequence information are captured through BiLSTM. Next, local features in the text are captured through CNN. Finally, classification results are obtained through Softmax. Through comparative analysis, the method of fusing these three models is superior to other hybrid neural network model architectures in multiple classification tasks. It has a significant effect on public service request text classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Media self-censorship related to war and military conflict is usually analysed by evaluating the journalistic practices of the countries involved in the war. The objective of this study is to explore how the self-censorship of Latvian public service media (Latvian Radio and Latvian Television) employees developed in response to changes in the internal socio-political discourse after Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine, because of which the Latvian PSM found themselves in the crossfire of long-term criticism and attacks by politicians and audience representatives. Employing semi-structured interviews and qualitative content analysis, this study analyses the perception of self-censorship at all levels (journalists, producers, programme hosts, editors) (15 informants), factors that influence the development of self-censorship, informants' coping strategies, and the impact of self-censorship on PSM content (78 items of content on various channels and platforms). The conceptual framework of this study is based on Bourdieu's field theory and Spiral of Silence Theory, exploring how self-censorship affects journalists' professional habitus, social capital, and agency. The results of this study show that, although Latvia is not involved in the nearby war, politician- and audience member-driven self-censorship affects PSM platforms' daily agenda, source selection, and editorial line, reducing the diversity and pluralism of PSM content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The platformization and entry into the international television market of large video-on-demand (VoD) service providers has had an impact on all agents in the sector, as well as on operating rules, consumption habits, and financing, production and distribution models. In the case of public media, innovation is conceived as a strategic driver and the only sustainable alternative for their survival, repositioning and renewal in order to be relevant for citizens. This research analyzes 15 European public broadcasting corporations from Germany (ARD), Austria (ORF), Belgium (VRT and RTBF), Denmark (DR), Spain (RTVE), Finland (Yle), France (France TV), Great Britain (BBC), the Netherlands (NPO), Ireland (RTÉ), Italy (RAI), Portugal (RTP), Sweden (SVT) and Switzerland (RTS). A total of 18 interviews were conducted with senior managers of these corporations and one EBU member to shed light on innovation priorities, key points and areas of optimization, which allows identifying the conceptual, strategic and operational lines that these media will follow in the next stage. It is concluded that these broadcasters focus their efforts on the transversal implementation of high technology, particularly AI, for the improvement of their production and distribution operational routines; on the settlement and improvement of their VOD platforms; on digital positioning and cybersecurity; on the creation of stable communities; on the optimization of the user experience (UX) and the attraction and search for relevance for a young audience (16-25) often distant from their performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study revisits the Buchanan-Wagner hypothesis in reference to the deficit-spending dynamics of Turkey in the period 1924 to 2008, during which the government was expanding along with the developing national economy and democracy. The empirical analysis of the hypothesis is based on the autoregressive distributed lag approach to cointegration, which is not only quite new in the literature on the Buchanan-Wagner hypothesis but also superior to other singleequation cointegration approaches. The prevailing empirics for the Buchanan-Wagner hypothesis reveal deficiencies in several respects, as they ignore the mixed orders of integration in regressors, the endogeneity of regressors, and the encompassing dynamic structure in the short- and long-runs. Within this context, the findings of this study imply the validity of the hypothesis for Turkey, providing empirical evidence on the premise that budget deficits financed by nontax sources are the main driving force behind the continuously increasing public spending in Turkey. This evidence is argued to be a reflection of the fact that the perceived tax price of public goods and services decreases with debt-financed budget deficits over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid expansion of cities, the construction of 15-minute communities has become an important way to improve the urban living environment and enhance the quality of life of residents. In this study, based on the perspective of a 15-minute community in Chengdu, the current situation of the spatial layout in the 12 main urban districts of 15,941 public service facility points is studied. Additionally, the matching relationship between the supply and demand of five major categories (19 subcategories) of public service facilities and the population is assessed by using the kernel density analysis method, the Gaussian two-step floating catchment area method, the hierarchical analysis method and the bivariate spatial autocorrelation. Finally, suggestions for the optimization of basic service facilities are made in the light of the current development situation in Chengdu. The results show that (1) there is a large spatial heterogeneity in the distribution and accessibility of public service facilities in the study area; (2) there is a mismatch between the supply and demand of public service facilities and the population in Chengdu; and (3) in order to further optimize the allocation of public service facilities, it is necessary to focus first on areas where demand exceeds supply. This study built a framework for assessing the current status of spatial distribution of public service facilities, which measures the 15-minute accessibility of basic public service facilities in a more comprehensive way and bridges the gap of previous single-type studies, which make it difficult to make comprehensive optimization recommendations directly. Meanwhile, the bivariate spatial autocorrelation reveals the areas of mismatch between supply and demand more accurately, and more clearly shows the areas that need to be focused on for optimization by policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the continuously evolving field of E-government, understanding the breadth and depth of academic research is crucial for advancing governmental digital transformation and policy development. This study employs visual bibliometric analysis, using the Web of Science database to map the evolution trajectory of E-government research from 2000 to 2023. By utilizing CiteSpace for a comprehensive examination of 4536 academic articles, this paper outlines the growth patterns and thematic evolution within the field. The development of the E-government field is delineated into four distinct phases: the budding period (2000–2003), the bottleneck period (2004–2014), the development period (2015–2018), and the growth period (2019–2023), which are each marked by unique thematic shifts and technological advancements. The research results reveal the transformation of research focus in different periods, from the initial focus on the technological means and the electronic transformation of government services, moving on to more complex issues such as E-government acceptance and government transparency and corruption, and ultimately to the current focus on innovation and smart cities. In addition, the paper also clarifies that the research boom that began in 2019 is driven by technological innovation opportunities, the improvement in infrastructure, and multidisciplinary research. By depicting these developmental stages and emerging trends, this study not only unveils past academic efforts but also forecasts future research directions, thereby providing valuable insights for researchers and policymakers aiming to understand and implement effective E-government strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering that crisis situations highlight the weak parts of a system, in our research we chose to analyse public administration management in Romania in what concerns digitization with regards to the Covid-19 pandemic period and to suggest several efficient models to improve it. At the same time we took into consideration the barriers of the digitization process and we analyzed the implementation priorities so that we aimed at recommending also other digital instruments that follow personal data protection of both Romanian and foreign citizens and also promote the accessibility to these electronic means of interaction between state and citizen. The paper will take into consideration how current technology was implemented by Romanian authorities in regards to helping citizens access public services and also what future technology can achieve. Furthermore, we conclude that Romania has achieved a certain level of digitization, yet it is not accessible yet to its citizens and it has not provided an easy to access governmental cloud system. We also consider that the public administration can offer more training to both public servants and citizens on how digital public services can be accessed and if the connection is secured. Digital literacy has to be implemented from an early stage in the life of a citizen and as such we consider that investments in education have to be reached beforehand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is a developing country. The Indian government has adopted Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to provide the benefits of several schemes and different services to the public. The purpose of using ICT is to render several benefits and services effectively and quickly. In India, all the state governments are more concerned about the same. The government can easily reach out to the people with the use of e-Governance and ICT. The main purpose behind the implementation of e-governance is to provide transparent, quick, interactive, and effective services through governance to the common man at all levels. Therefore, India has implemented a National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) to accelerate the delivery of different government services to Indian residents at their neighboring or convenient places. Hence, under the NeGP an important decision was made by the government to start telecenters commonly known as Common Service Centers (CSC) in India to be established in PPP Mode (Public-Private Partnership mode). The Common Service Centers are run by local entrepreneurs with the support of the government named Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLE). The key aim of this study is to find out the different factors that motivate rural entrepreneurs to start CSCs. This study will assist the government as well as non-government agencies to motivate the youth of the village and women to start the telecentres to provide government services and successful e-governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The essence of the use of modern information technologies in the activities of administrative service centers is covered in the scientific article. It is established that the use of modern information technology in the provision of administrative municipal services is characterized not only by the quantity and quality of information posted on websites, but also by ensuring the operation of certain electronic services: the ability to receive advice by e-mail or op-1ipe download forms and samples of applications and other documents required to receive the service; make a preliminary appointment through the site; the possibility of service through a «personal account», for example: to send scanned copies of documents for the service for their preliminary verification by the responsible employees of the CNAP or the subject of the service for their compliance with the law; check the status of the procedure for providing the service at the request of the client; send an application with documents and receive the result of the service (in some possible cases, taking into account the rules of applicable law); to take part in op-1ipe survey on the quality of service; the ability to monitor the situation in the CNAP through WEB-cameras; the ability to obtain statistical information, for example, to learn about the periods of greatest or least busy CNAP; view the history of the progress of the queue; get acquainted with the most popular administrative services, etc. Therefore, the issue of providing administrative services via the Internet, as it was mentioned earlier, is not solved comprehensively in Ukraine, but on a point-by-point basis at the initiative of the heads of individual Central Administrative Courts or city councils. And the creation of a single nationwide integrated resource for electronic services has not yet taken place. In part, volunteers are trying to correct this gap by creating, as part of the fight against corruption, the public services portal iGov, known in Ukraine, through which you can send an application together with scanned copies of the necessary documents and, at a specified time, apply to the relevant body, including the relevant village, settlement, of the city council upon receiving the result of the service. The list of services that can be obtained through this portal is quite large, but it depends on the region in which the service is ordered and on the list of service providers with whom an agreement was reached on interaction in the specified area. The portal can help to reduce the number of visits by citizens to authorities to obtain services and the terms of their provision, but it will still not be able to fully perform the functions provided for the Unified State Portal of Administrative Services, the creation of which is provided for by the Law of Ukraine «On Administrative Services». [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart cities are becoming increasingly popular today due to various digital technologies in their infrastructure. One of the most critical challenges in the proper implementation and establishment of these cities is the violation of the security and privacy of users, which leads to citizens' distrust and pessimism about smart city services. Many factors can affect the protection of users' privacy. Identifying these factors helps developers understand what dimensions and aspects affect users' privacy, through which they can provide appropriate solutions to protect the privacy of the user. Therefore, this study identifies and evaluates these dimensions. The authors proposed a novel methodology for identifying factors influencing user privacy in smart cities using the meta-synthesis method and the fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL). As a result of the meta-synthesis application, the authors identified seven dimensions of interest, specifically, Awareness and understanding, Trust, Self-control and personalization, Transparency, Reference standards frameworks and rules, Data management, and Security requirements. Moreover, using the DEMATEL technique and expert-based reviews, those seven dimensions were classified as cause and effect. As a result, the authors discovered that security requirements (D7) are the only cause dimension. As effect dimensions, "awareness and understanding (D1)," "data management (D6)," "trust (D2)," "frameworks and standards (D5)," "personalization and self-control (D3)," and "transparency (D4)" have been identified. Furthermore, the authors discovered that transparency is the most effective dimension in terms of affecting user privacy in smart cities. These findings may serve as guidelines for implementing the smart cities initiatives and protecting users' privacy. This study also provides a discussion and insights for smart city developers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate Covid‐19 vaccination as a potential secondary public health benefit of case management for Medicaid beneficiaries with health and social needs. Data Sources and Study Setting: The CommunityConnect case management program for Medicaid beneficiaries is run by Contra Costa Health, a county safety net health system in California. Program enrollment data were merged with comprehensive county vaccination records. Study Design: Individuals with elevated risk of hospital and emergency department use were randomized each month to a case management intervention or usual care. Interdisciplinary case managers offered coaching, community referrals, healthcare connections, and other support based on enrollee interest and need. Using survival analysis with intent‐to‐treat assignment, we assessed rates of first‐dose Covid‐19 vaccination from December 2020 to September 2021. In exploratory sub‐analyses we also examined effect heterogeneity by gender, race/ethnicity, age, and primary language. Data Collection and Extraction Methods: Data were extracted from county and program records as of September 2021, totaling 12,866 interventions and 25,761 control enrollments. Principal Findings: Approximately 58% of enrollees were female and 41% were under age 35. Enrollees were 23% White, 12% Asian/Pacific Islander, 20% Black/African American, and 36% Hispanic/Latino, and 10% other/unknown. Approximately 35% of the intervention group engaged with their case manager. Approximately 56% of all intervention and control enrollees were vaccinated after 9 months of analysis time. Intervention enrollees had a higher vaccination rate compared to control enrollees (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–1.10). In sub‐analyses, the intervention was associated with stronger likelihood of vaccination among males and individuals under age 35. Conclusions: Case management infrastructure modestly improved Covid‐19 vaccine uptake in a population of Medicaid beneficiaries that over‐represents social groups with barriers to early Covid‐19 vaccination. Amidst mixed evidence on vaccination‐specific incentives, leveraging trusted case managers and existing case management programs may be a valuable prevention strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aims to enhance the post-training evaluation of the annual performance agreement (APA) training organized by the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC), the apex training institute for civil servants. Utilizing fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) and artificial neural network (ANN) techniques within Kirkpatrick's four-stage model framework, data were collected from a self-administered questionnaire survey of 71 in-service civil servants who participated in the APA training program. This study employs an asymmetric, non-linear model analyzed through a configurational approach and ANN to explore interrelationships among the four Kirkpatrick levels namely, reaction, learning, behavior, and results. Findings indicate that trainees were satisfied across all levels, identifying a non-linear relationship among these levels in post-training evaluation process. The research highlights that "learning skills" are most significant in the APA post-training evaluation, followed by behavior, results, and reaction. Theoretically, this research advances Kirkpatrick's model and adds to the literature on public service post-training evaluation. Practically, it recommends prioritizing strategies that address cognitive barriers to enhance training effectiveness. This study's innovative approach lies in its concurrent use of fsQCA and ANN methods to analyze the success or failure of APA-related trainees, offering alternative pathways to desired outcomes and contrasting traditional quantitative methods that provide a single solution. The findings have practical implications for public service training institutions and bureaucratic policymakers involved in capacity development, guiding the creation of more effective in-service training courses for public officials. The methodology and analysis can be applied in other contexts, allowing bureaucratic policymakers to replicate these findings in their learning institutes to identify unique configurations that lead to successful or unsuccessful training outcomes, adopt effective strategies, and avoid detrimental ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wars increase the importance of government functions, yet they also constrain their ability to fulfill these functions. In particular, wars hinder economic activity, thereby limiting governments' capacity to raise the revenues required to maintain stability and meet the heightened needs of citizens. Effective governance is therefore severely undermined in times of war. However, empirical research on how wars affect government procurement is limited. We address this gap by exploring procurement dynamics using over one million public purchases of goods and services in Ukraine between January 2021 and October 2022, corresponding to the Russian invasion of the country. We document a large fall in the total number of purchases since the invasion and an increase in the share of successfully completed procurements. This higher success rate comes at the cost of efficiency, with the government paying more to source their goods. This can be attributed to the decline in the share of government purchases via online auctions and the reduced competition. Thus, the prioritization of the quick acquisition of goods and services forced governments to sacrifice cost-effectiveness. In summary, the war did not lower the successful purchasing of private goods and services, and transparency was not decreased. However, the trade-off of speed and transparency for greater costs may become increasingly problematic with the growing budget constraints resulting from the war. This article contributes to our understanding of the Ukrainian government choices during the early phase of the war. The results also highlight the importance of ensuring procurement efficiency and transparency when the war ends as reconstruction efforts will require substantial increases in government procurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autonomous on-demand services as part of public transport are discussed to improve public transport substantially. A household survey in Karlsruhe, Germany, was conducted among inhabitants of a residential area where a combined autonomous and on-demand minibus service with automation level 4 was offered. The study investigates the residents' appraisal of this service and reasons for using and not using it. Results indicate that people generally have a positive attitude towards it and are willing to use it in the future. Difficulties are found in travel speed, availability, and complexity of using such a new service. Favorable factors in the intention to use the service are having a mobility impairment, being open to other forms of new mobility, and not having a car in the household. In the future, to be successful, such services should improve travel times and reliability and address issues of their primary target group, such as the high complexity of accessing these services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the public library service evaluation domain through user-generated content on Google Maps, highlighting digital feedback's significant yet underexplored potential in understanding public library patronage across Taiwan's six major cities. Utilizing a mixed-methods research design, this study integrates Google Maps review content analysis with social network analysis to delineate public perceptions and identify areas for service enhancement in public libraries. It innovatively leverages personal experiences extracted from over 60,000 Google Maps reviews to evaluate public library services in cities such as Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. The research taps into the National Library of Taiwan's National Library Statistics System to provide a robust analysis of library performance and user satisfaction, offering a novel perspective by emphasizing user-centric feedback from Google Maps as a primary data source. This approach provides quantitative data on library usage and geographic distribution and enriches our understanding of the qualitative experiences of library users. In analyzing the keywords from Google Maps reviews of public libraries, we categorize and interpret these under the three core LibQUAL+ dimensions—Affect of Service, Information Control, and Library as Place. The findings expose variances in perceived service quality among the cities, with Kaohsiung and Taichung receiving the highest accolades for service satisfaction. Simultaneously, the study identifies potential areas for improvement, particularly in cities with lower satisfaction ratings like Taipei. This personalized feedback illustrates the intimate relationship between public libraries and their communities, offering invaluable insights for policymakers and library management to enhance service delivery and user experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study examines the dynamics of public service motivation (PSM), organizational commitment, and perceived innovative culture and their collective influence on innovative behavior in public organizations. It uniquely focuses on intrinsic motivational factors, extends the scope of motivational studies to the public sector, and highlights the crucial role of organizational culture in fostering innovation. Methods: A web-based survey was administered to 1,021 public servants in the central government of the Republic of Korea. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the relationships between the variables. Results: The SEM results confirmed positive correlations between PSM and both organizational commitment and innovative behavior. However, contrary to expectations, organizational commitment did not significantly predict innovative behavior. Additionally, no mediating effect of organizational commitment was observed. Notably, perceived innovative culture was found to moderate the relationship between PSM and organizational commitment, and between organizational commitment and innovative behavior, particularly in environments with a strong innovation focus. Discussion: These findings underscore the significance of PSM in spurring innovative behavior in the public sector, broadening our understanding of intrinsic motivation. This study also accentuates the influence of organizational culture on these dynamics. In practical terms, this suggests the importance of nurturing individuals with high PSM and fostering an environment that balances perceived innovative culture. While contributing to the fields of organizational psychology and public administration, this study has certain limitations and indicates the need for further research in various contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Global South, encompassing more than 80% of the world population, heavily relies on informal paratransit services with ad-hoc routes. Yet, it remains unclear how efficiently such informal public transport services organize and operate. Here, we analyze and compare the structural efficiency of more than 7000 formal and informal bus service routes in 36 cities across 22 countries globally. Intriguingly, informal transport self-organizes in ways at or above efficiency levels of centralized services. They exhibit fewer detours, more uniform paths, and comparable interconnectivities, all while remaining profitable without the major subsidies common in the Global North. These insights challenge the global perception of informal transport as an inferior alternative to centrally organized services. More generally, analyzing large-scale microscopic transport data and condensing them into informative macroscopic observables may qualitatively improve system understanding and reveal specific options to create more accessible, efficient, and sustainable public transport solutions. Informal transportation services constitute the primary form of public transport in the Global South. Here, the authors analyze the structure of route networks in cities across the globe, showing how informal routes self-organize into consistent line services that often outperform centralized services in the Global North, exhibiting fewer detours and comparable interconnectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite previous studies on public service motivation among public sector employees, the empirical analysis of the influential contextual conditions that moderate public service motivation's impact on employees' work attitudes remains inadequate. Given these limitations, this study examines public service motivation's effects on public employees' organizational commitment and investigates how Herzberg's hygiene and motivation factors moderate the relationship between these aspects in the context of South Korea's central government. For this, we used the data of 1021 public employees from the Differences in the Values of Different Generations of Public Officials and Organizational Innovation Survey, which the Korea Institute of Public Administration had conducted in 2022. We analyzed the data through hierarchical multiple regression analyses, and the results indicated that public service motivation exerts a positive effect on organizational commitment. Specifically, hygiene factors weaken the positive relationship between public service motivation and organizational commitment, while motivation factors have a moderating effect that strengthens said relationship. These findings suggest that, in order to enhance organizational commitment among motivated public employees, human resource management practices should prioritize motivational factors that can enhance job content, meaning, and autonomy instead of solely focusing on providing monetary incentives or improving external conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste is increasing worldwide, causing many adverse impacts to the environment, human health, as well as the global climate. The increasing global waste generation trend is also reflected in North Macedonia, including Tetovo, where lower sustainable waste management practices pose an ongoing challenge. This research offers a comprehensive examination of the city of Tetovo's waste management practices, focusing on its residents' awareness levels and the undertaken strategies for sustainability. Building on existing research and new insights (especially those generated through the survey with Tetovo's citizens), it explores the historical evolution of waste management in Tetovo, highlighting past challenges and initiatives. With a focus on 'Municipal Public Services Co. (JPK) Tetova', the study navigates legislative hurdles, regional constraints, and potential for intermunicipal collaboration. Furthermore, it extracts Tetovo's community behaviors and awareness level through a conducted survey with citizens, which's insights reveal a significant gap between awareness and active citizen participation, underscoring the need for actionable recommendations. Drawing upon theoretical frameworks like Waste Management Theory (WMT) and the "Zero Waste" concepts, this research explores opportunities for enhancing sustainability in Tetovo's waste management approach. Additionally, it discusses the implications of waste management on climate change, emphasizing the need for alignment with international standards to mitigate environmental impacts. Based on the literature review findings and survey data, the research proposes practical steps for improving waste management practices in Tetovo. These include collaborative initiatives, awareness-raising campaigns, educational programs, and measures for incentivizing compliance, all centered around a citizen-centric approach. By implementing these recommendations, Tetovo can progress towards a more efficient, environmentally conscious waste management system, benefiting present and future generations. Furthermore, stakeholders are encouraged to leverage the insights from this study to collaboratively implement effective strategies for fostering sustainable waste management practices, thereby empowering citizens to contribute actively to environmental conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shortage of public service workers in northern Indigenous communities presents a twofold problem: how to rapidly hire professionals, often nonindigenous people from the South, and how to ensure that their integration overcomes systemic racism. This paper examines mechanisms that could provide better relationships between nonindigenous people from the South and Innu and Naskapi communities of Quebec's North Shore, especially in the workplace. Interviews were conducted with key figures in the education, health, and social services sectors to shed light on the dynamics of awareness, formation, integration, and retention at the individual, workplace, community, territory, and regional levels. The results highlight the importance of the processes of openness to the northern and Indigenous realities (northernization and indigenization) as an overall way of improving intercultural relationships in Indigenous working places. Messages clés: La pénurie de main‐d'œuvre en éducation, santé et services sociaux dans les communautés autochtones du Nord est criante et mène à l'embauche de professionnel·le·s provenant du Sud.La recherche soulève les besoins en matière de sensibilisation, d'intégration et d'intériorisation des réalités autochtones et nordiques, qui passent par l'autochtonisation et l'anordissement des professionnel·le·s.Les résultats énoncent qu'afin de créer un meilleur espace de rencontre interculturel, des mécanismes d'intégration des professionnel·le·s doivent être simultanément entrepris aux échelles individuelle, professionnelle, communautaire, territoriale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive research indicates that enhancing employee satisfaction and motivation leads to improved organizational performance. Given the crucial role public managers play in delivering quality public services, ensuring their satisfaction becomes paramount. This study, based on survey data from approximately half a million U.S. federal government employees, explores the factors influencing public managers' job satisfaction and investigates whether managerial positions moderate these effects. The findings reveal that overall job satisfaction is positively impacted by satisfaction with both intrinsic and extrinsic job aspects, irrespective of managerial status. However, the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on overall job satisfaction undergoes significant changes when a public employee assumes a managerial position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subunits within a city provide different levels of public services to discrete areas. In theory, these subunits, which typically combine public and private characteristics, enhance preference satisfaction and opportunities for democratic participation in city governance. But they also raise issues concerning their ability to serve the interests of their constituents and of the city that hosts them. This Feature addresses the extent to which those who manage subunits are likely to exhibit fidelity to their constituents and the city. Investigation of managers' incentives leads to a distinction among subunits, largely based on their function. Private-based subunits that serve purely economic interests are likely to be faithful to their constituents but demonstrate less fidelity to the city. Subunits that serve broad community needs are likely to demonstrate less fidelity to their constituents' service needs but more fidelity to the city; however, conflict with the city is more likely where these community-based subunits seek to exercise political authority. Since community-based subunits seek to raise services for their constituents to the level enjoyed elsewhere in the city, any conflict with the city implicates its obligation to provide all residents equal services on a nondiscriminatory basis. The ability of subunits to help the city perform that obligation entails a need for the city's deference to community demands for those services that the city fails to provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maritime connections are vital to success of islands. Estonia has 19 permanently habited islands with at least five inhabitants. 16 of those are considered as small islands with an area below 100 km2. Their sea connections are secured (i.e. organized, financed) by the government or municipality. These small islands are very diverse - in terms of population, economic activity, infrastructure capacity and needs, etc. In this study, we have analyzed ten connections to seven Estonian small islands based on seven criteria. The criteria are as follows: passenger and vehicle volumes, frequency, reliability, speed and time, vessel suitability, harbours and transport access to the harbours from the landside. Thereafter, we have classified the connections to islands to four levels: (i) daily, (ii) scheduled, (iii) invitation-only and (iv) tourism. Finally, we raised several actions to improve the connections based on the defined service levels. This article addresses the problem of small island communities, the criteria that influence service, proposes service levels and scenarios and the tools for decision-makers to better organise the connections to island communities and to serve local residents and business as well as tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the direct and indirect influences of behavioral quality, social support, perceived system, emotional perception, and public expectation on user favorability regarding government chatbots in both government service and policy consultation contexts. The findings reveal that while behavioral quality, social support, and perceived system directly affect user favorability in both scenarios, public expectation uniquely impacts user favorability in policy consultation settings, but not in government service scenarios. Furthermore, the analysis indicates that social support, emotional perception, and public expectation all indirectly influence user favorability through their mediating effect on behavioral quality in both contexts. Notably, the significant distinction between the two scenarios is the presence of an indirect impact of perceived system on user favorability within policy consultation scenarios, which is absent in government service scenarios. This study sheds light on the intricate interplay of factors shaping user favorability with government chatbots, and provides valuable insights for improving user experiences and user favorability in different governmental service contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem services are fundamental for the sustainable management of urban environments, particularly in mining cities confronting unique socio-environmental complexities. This study explores the intricate interactions among ecosystem services in a representative mining city, focusing on the impact of mining activities. A novel approach is employed to introduce a comprehensive framework for scenario-based analysis of ecosystem services. Land use and ecosystem service values for 2050 were predicted under the following three scenarios: natural development, ecological protection, and farmland protection. Through the evaluation of four key ecosystem services, namely water yield, habitat quality, carbon storage, and soil conservation, ecosystem service bundles were identified, and the trade-offs and synergies among these bundles were explored. Moreover, ecosystem service bundles in the mining areas were analyzed compared to the region at large, underscoring how the mining of various mineral types distinctly influenced ecosystem services. The results showed a persistent decline in total ecosystem service values of the whole region during 2000–2020 due to the diminishing forest cover and the enlargement of farmland and impervious surfaces. Mining areas exhibited significant impacts, with the soil erosion bundle predominating. However, the soil erosion bundle significantly reduced in the granite, copper, and nickel mining areas. By 2050, total ecosystem service values are projected to slowly rise, except under the farmland protection scenario. The entire region is expected to be mostly occupied by the ecological vulnerability bundle. But the ecosystem vulnerability bundle of mining areas is projected to decrease, especially under the ecological protection scenario, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts. These changes will enhance the synergies between soil conservation and other ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates inter-island accessibility in the Azores Islands (Portugal), a region marked by unique territorial fragmentation and significant distances between islands. Recognizing the pivotal role of sea and air transport in fostering the socioeconomic development of the archipelago by enhancing resident mobility and attracting tourism, we address the challenges posed by the region's low demographic and economic influence and the pronounced imbalances among islands. The methodological approach involves the examination of various accessibility parameters, with a specific focus on hourly operations identified as presenting the most unfavorable ratios of time availability in the destinations. We analyze inter-island sea and air schedules during the winter season, emphasizing their relevance for residents engaged in travel for business, health, administration, and related purposes. We have mainly analyzed the air schedules since it was possible to make the round trip on the same day on only two maritime routes, although these have also been considered. Regarding the study outcomes, they reveal that despite positive efforts to implement air public service obligations (PSO), which mandate specific frequencies, seat allocations, and rate caps, among other examples, the limited attention given to adapting operating hours based on demand undermines the effectiveness of these measures. Contextually, this lack of adjustment results in substantial inconvenience for travelers, particularly those engaged in round-trip operations on the same day, a common scenario in inter-island mobility. In more than 70% of the operational routes, suitable travel times at the destination are significantly compromised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of a comparative analysis of market risks (re)distribution between labour and management in public‐service outsourcing in Italy and Denmark, this article examines different cross‐national patterns of social solidarity in similar encompassing and co‐operative employment relations regimes. It seeks to explain why similar inclusive and collaborative systems of public‐sector employment relations are not functionally equivalent in preventing labour inequalities under market‐making pressure, as predicted by the extant literature. The analysis demonstrates that variation between the countries considered was due to three interrelated factors which mutually reinforced each other in either virtuous (Denmark) or (semi)vicious (Italy) circles: (i) the availability of legislative loopholes; (ii) the cross‐sectoral (public/private) organizational structure and strategy of trade unions and (iii) employers' outward/inward orientation. The findings confirm the capacity of cross‐sectoral public/private dynamics to either build or erode solidarity in inclusive systems, and they highlight the importance of incorporating the strategic agency exerted by unions and public employers as a crucial determinant of the granular differences emerging between similar models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Local Media for Democracy (LM4D) project is the first project that explores news deserts in Europe comprehensively. Its final report highlighted challenges and opportunities for local and community media and identified the level of risk of news deserts in the 27 European Union (EU) Member States. As a pilot project, however, its results are still preliminary and open to evaluation, and, thus, they require further discussion and corroboration. Drawing from these results, and applying a multidisciplinary approach, we extrapolated research directions for the study of news deserts in the EU. By cross-analyzing data from the LM4D dataset with other datasets, we provide a preliminary analysis of three promising lines of research: (1) the relationship between public service media quality and news deserts, (2) news deserts and the spread of disinformation, and (3) social media usage and news desertification. We conclude by pointing out the limitations of this preliminary analysis and opportunities for further research on news deserts in the EU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological innovation is transforming local public media. New tools, applications, and platforms are allowing it to improve its reach, the quality of the content it broadcasts, and its interaction with audiences. We set out to determine the main lines of action in the technological innovations adopted by Spanish regional public service media. We conducted a qualitative study based on corporate documentary analysis and in-depth interviews with the heads of the innovation and technological support areas of the four regional corporations with the largest budgets: Corporación de Radio y Televisión de Galicia (CRTVG), Euskal Irrati Telebista-Radio (EiTB), Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals (CCMA), and Radio y Televisión de Andalucía (RTVA). The results showed that, without neglecting their social commitment, technological innovation was one of the main axes in the strategic plans of the organisations studied. The use of new technologies in their adaptation to the current audiovisual ecosystem represents changes in creation, distribution, and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public service media Radio Televisión Española (RTVE) conducted a proof-of-concept study to automatically generate reports on the results of the local elections of 28 May 2023 in Spanish communities with fewer than 1000 inhabitants. This study describes the creation, testing and application of the methodological tool used to evaluate the quality of the reports generated using artificial intelligence in order to optimize the algorithm. The application of the proposed datasheet provided a systematic analysis, and the iterative use of the tool made it possible to gradually improve the results produced by the system until a suitable threshold was reached for publication. The study also showed that, despite the ability of AI systems to automatically generate a large volume of information, both human labour and the reliability of the data that feed the system are essential to ensure journalistic quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public service media (PSM) are grappling with structural shifts in the audio-visual sector, notably the shift of audiences towards over-the-top (OTT) or subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services. They have also heavily invested in online platforms, adapting their policies to engage digital users on their video-on-demand (VOD) platforms. This paper assesses PSM policies in Britain, Denmark, and Greece, examining initiatives regarding adaptation to the digital era. It explores whether they implement new strategies to expand their digital reach. Data from policy documents and interviews with BBC, DR, and ERT leading executives inform the analysis. Findings showed varied responses among PSM organisations, influenced by market dynamics and the evolution of broadcasting traditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

State-owned enterprises (SOEs) are present in key sectors of economies around the world. While they can provide an important public service, there is widespread concern that their activities and financial performance are hindered by corruption. In the meantime, cross-country analysis on the cost of corruption for SOEs remains scarce. We present new cross-country evidence on how corruption affects SOE performance using firm level data. We find that SOEs perform as well as private firms in core sectors when corruption is low but are significantly less efficient when corruption is high. We also show that, in turn, improvements in fiscal transparency and specific SOE governance reforms have the potential to improve SOE performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents findings and recommendations to improve wastewater treatment service policy outreach and infrastructure development strategies, aiming to garner better public support and prevent social rejection. Focusing on Bandung City's municipal wastewater management, the study surveyed 400 households to assess community perceptions regarding the expansion of wastewater services and the construction of Fecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs) by 2032, as outlined in the 2011 Wastewater Management Masterplan. The survey, conducted through face-to-face interviews with household decision-makers, employed a structured questionnaire. Significant correlations were found between various factors and public perceptions of the wastewater treatment service in Bandung City, with positive perception strongly linked to infrastructure support. The study highlights the importance of targeted educational efforts to enhance positive perceptions and support for wastewater treatment infrastructure, emphasizing maintenance awareness and engagement. Additionally, door-to-door socialization emerges as the preferred engagement method, highlighting the necessity for tailored approaches to enhance community involvement in wastewater management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into an investigation of urban public outdoor spaces (POSs) from a health-oriented perspective, recognizing varied health needs encompassing physical, psychological, social, and environmental aspects. In this study, POSs of two typical government service centers (GSCs) were analyzed based on their structure, user demographics, and user satisfaction, revealing several problems with the current GSC POS designs. To address these problems, principles for GSC POS design were proposed for natural, playing, and social spaces and applied to redesign the Wuchang GSC. Firstly, through on-site surveys, questionnaire surveys, and data analysis, the existing problems in promoting residents' health in the GSC POSs were revealed, such as the insufficient greening of natural spaces, lack of interest in playing spaces, and unreasonable design of the scale of social spaces. Based on the above analysis, a health design optimization principle based on Maslow's theory is proposed. Firstly, improvement solutions were proposed and implemented for green spaces, such as using more diversified natural elements, zone differentiation, and landscape improvements to promote the health of users. Secondly, the leisure and sports needs of different age groups can be met simultaneously by diversifying the layout and functional settings of playing spaces. Finally, public spaces suitable for social interaction were redesigned to promote the psychological health of citizens in social activities by optimizing the scale of communication spaces. The proposed design optimization strategies for GSCs not only provide theoretical support for the healthy design of POSs but also provide useful references for the healthy development of urban public spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Permissioned blockchains are widely used in scenarios such as digital assets, supply chains, government services, and Web 3.0, but their development is hindered by low throughput and scalability. Blockchain sharding addresses these issues by dividing the ledger into disjoint shards that can be processed concurrently. However, since cross-shard transactions require the collaboration of multiple shards, blockchain sharding needs a commit protocol to ensure the atomicity of executing these transactions, significantly impacting system performance. To this end, by exploiting the characteristics of deterministic ordering, we propose a cross-shard transaction processing protocol called cross-reserve, which eliminates this costly cross-shard coordination while providing the same consistency and atomicity guarantee. Based on the ordering-free execute–validate (EV) architecture, we implemented a blockchain prototype called NeuChain+, which further reduces the cross-shard transaction processing overhead using the pipelined read sets transmission. Experimental results show that NeuChain+ is scalable and outperforms state-of-the-art blockchain systems with 1.7 – 75.3 × throughput under the SmallBank workload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowing the functions of buildings is valuable in urban planning and management. For example, it can be used for the assessment of urban planning implementation and the fine-tuning of community governance. At large scales, determining building functions can be time-consuming and laborious. While point of interest (POI) data can be used to identify urban building functions, it is prone to missing values. The present study proposes combining POIs with the spatial relationships between geographic entities and geographic information systems (GIS) to improve the accuracy of urban building function identification. First, the POIs are reclassified according to building functions. Second, the spatial relationships among road networks, buildings and POIs are analysed, and the frequency density ratios of POI types are calculated to identify the functions of buildings that contain POIs. Finally, buildings that do not contain POIs are identified by calculating the spatial similarity between unrecognised buildings and recognised buildings within the same road network mesh. The method can identify buildings with singular residential, commercial, office, and public services functions, as well as seven mixed functions, with an accuracy, recall, and F1 value of 90.28%, 97.52%, and 93.76%, respectively. Public service buildings and residential buildings have the highest identification precision, while the identification precision of mixed commercial and public service buildings and mixed residential and public service buildings are the lowest. An experiment demonstrates the effectiveness of the method. The results indicate that the spatial relationships between entities can compensate for missing POI data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a crowdsourcing IT platform and working model intended to support knowledge management processes and systems change to help public service organizations fulfill their purpose and perform their tasks in a rapidly changing environment. The tool brings together tacit and explicit knowledge regarding organizational processes in one database and provides an AI-assisted platform for knowledge processing. Additionally, it allows for disseminating refined data to grassroots-level actors, enables the implementation of initiatives, and monitors their effectiveness. By utilizing crowdsourcing, the tool leverages the collective intelligence of actors across organizational boundaries, thereby promoting collective, knowledge-based learning and organizational self-renewal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]