The Influences of Perceived Managerial Discretion and Risk-Taking Behavior on Government Organizational Performance

Purpose: This study investigates pertinent factors in perceived managerial discretion (PMD) in association with risk-taking behavior (RTB) and organizational performance within government organizations. Design/methodology/approach: This study used a mix of qualitative methods—using focus group discussions (FGDs) to select key variables affecting PMD and to validate the research findings—and quantitative methods—using structural equation modeling (SEM) to test eight hypotheses developed from FGDs and from a literature review. Out of 340 questionnaires sent out to potential participants, 260 were returned and deemed valid for SEM analysis, reflecting a satisfactory response rate of 76%. Findings: A total of six factors affecting PMD were identified: quasi-legal constraint (QLC), powerful outside forces (POFs), inertial forces (IFs), powerful inside forces (PIFs), power base (PB), and political acumen (PA). The SEM analysis indicated that QLC, PIF, PB, and PA enhance PMD, while IF tends to inhibit PMD. Stronger PMD was associated with weaker RTB on the part of government-official decision makers, while greater RTB was associated with more positive organizational outcomes. These findings are partially consistent with prior findings, with some notable contradictions. Research implications/limitations: The primary limitation of this study was its limited external validity, as these findings can only be extended to organizations with similar characteristics of those of the government institution used as the case study. These findings must be used with care for different types of public organizations. Practical implications: These findings support taking the following steps: (1) review and remove equivocal regulations that could restrain PMD, (2) streamline bureaucracy, (3) establish regulations that allow more space for innovation and discretion, (4) delineate the tasks and responsibilities of decision makers, and (5) discourage abrupt policy changes, promoting proper scrutiny and notice.     

Proud to Be a Public Servant? An Analysis of the Work-Related Determinants of Professional Pride among Dutch Public Servants

ABSTRACT

A proud public servant is defined as someone who works honorably, conscientiously, and with dedication. Although professional pride has several positive effects on the performances of public servants, it is not instantly apparent which instruments help to stimulate pride. This study combines the Job Demands-Resources model and the High Performance Work Practices taxonomy to analyze the determinants of pride. The analysis of a large dataset of Dutch public servants shows that their professional pride can barely be influenced by High-Performance Work Practices but is in particular determined by the work environment and personal experiences related to the work.     

关于党的执政方式转型问题的探讨

加强党的执政能力建设,必须实现党的执政方式转型。经过几十年不懈探索,党的执政方式有了较大改进。但是,目前党的执政方式还处于转型初期,这是造成现实中一系列党建问题解决不好的重要原因之一。党的十六届四中全会《关于加强党的执政能力建设的决定》指出把党建设“成为科学执政、民主执政、依法执政的执政党,”这为党的执政方式转型指明了方向。     

最低工资政策约束下的劳动力转移分析和政策启示——基于托达罗模型的一个解释

文章基于托达罗模型,分析在最低工资标准上涨预期和最低工资地区级差约束下劳动力从农村到城市的转移和再转移行为,并从产业、城市化和人力资本投资等角度提出政策主张,以实现我国劳动力资源有序转移和有效配置。     

山羊痘病毒古浪株P32毒力蛋白的结构模拟与分析

以山羊痘病毒(GPV)古浪(Gulang)株的DNA为模板,采用PCR扩增目的基因p32,应用TM-pred软件预测其跨膜结构区域,通过Threading方法建立GPVGulang株P32蛋白的3D结构,并综合亲水性、可塑性、抗原指数以及表面可能性等参数预测其B细胞抗原表位。结果表明,p32在核苷酸水平上非常保守,19株GPVp32基因的整体变异率为0.22%。GPVGulang株P32结构蛋白的三维空间结构有不同的结构区域,共由14个α-螺旋、5个β折叠、35个转角和若干无规则卷曲构成。P32蛋白呈现较规则的空间构象,其中羧基末端第286～306位氨基酸区段为跨膜区域,11～19、21、47、66、123、154、155、183、185、225、230～232、235、238、239这些氨基酸在空间上共同形成的区域极有可能是抗原表位区域。     

Global economic resilience: Analyzing the diverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the US,Pakistan, and the world

The economic development of a state can be accurately characterized as the measurable changes in macroeconomic indicators that result in an increase in the overall production or output over a specific timeframe, in comparison to the previous period. Several key macroeconomic factors contribute to the advancement of economic growth. These factors include the industrial production, unemployment rate, business Confidence Index, government budget deficit, and the labor force participation rate. The study employed secondary data from January 2016 to August 2023, with a monthly frequency, to estimate the coefficients. The data encompassed the United States, Pakistan, and the rest of the world. The empirical findings indicate that there exists a negative relationship between equality and economic growth in the United States, Pakistan, and other countries worldwide. The findings demonstrate that the global pandemic has had a notable impact on the industrial production of the World, the United States, and Pakistan, with an initial increase followed by a gradual decline. The unemployment rates in the United States, Pakistan, and the rest of the world have experienced a substantial decline. Simultaneously, the rate of unemployment has witnessed a notable increase, resulting in significant and adverse effects on the respective economies. The decrease in the Business Confidence Index can be attributed to heightened levels of uncertainty, which in turn have had a detrimental impact on the gross domestic product of the United States, Pakistan, and other countries worldwide. The reduction in imports has resulted in a decrease in the government budget deficit, which has had a notable impact on the economy.     

高校本科生教育国际化模式探索

全球经济一体化,使得高等教育国际化成为教育发展的必然趋势。我国高等学校目前的国际化办学形式主要分为与国外高水平大学合作,本硕连读、联合办学等9种不同的形式。中国矿业大学在本科生教育国际化的进程中,基本形成了交互融合模式、“三明治”模式、链式对接模式、本硕连读模式、教学与学术渗透五种模式。在本科生教育国际化的实践过程中,总结出选择国外高水平大学进行合作,开展各种教育国际化模式等多种办学经验,对促进我国高校开展本科生教育国际化合作具有借鉴作用。     

Chronicling the Complexification of Negotiation Theory and Practice

The essay reviews the content of twenty-five years of Negotiation Journal , identifying themes and issues explored on its pages in the past, the current issues challenging the field's scholars and practitioners, and the issues likely to confront us in the future. It argues that while we in the field hoped for simple, elegant, and universal theories of negotiation and conflict resolution, the last twenty-five years have demonstrated the increasing complexification of negotiation theory and practice, from increased numbers of parties and issues, and dilemmas of intertemporal commitments, ethics, accountability, and relationships of private action to public responsibility.     

单因素·多因素·层次系统——中国犯罪原因研究层次30年之述评

改革开放30年以来,中国犯罪原因研究层次的总体发展脉络是:最早由单一因素研究开始,逐渐转入多种因素研究的阶段;多因素研究由平面的综合研究走向立体原因层次系统论的研究。从犯罪原因的单因素理论、犯罪原因的多因素理论到犯罪原因的层次系统论,概括地揭示了新中国犯罪原因论的发展史,说明了我们对犯罪原因的认识是逐步提高的,由浅入深,由片面走向全面。     

改革创新 扎实推进我院示范校建设

本文阐述了我院在示范校建设过程中以科学发展观为指导,转变观念,提高认识,围绕建设目标,抓住核心,突破难点,努力探索校企合作、工学结合人才培养模式的具体化路径,争取在师资队伍建设、课程体系与教学内容改革、学生顶岗实习等方面形成新的特色和亮点。