bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Citizens' opinions about police discretion in criminal investigations
Authors: Cihan Abdullah , Wells William 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the correlates of citizens' perceptions about the appropriate amount of police discretion in criminal investigations.Design/methodology/approachUsing data collected from a random sample of 1,300 households in the USA, this study offers an estimate of citizens' opinions about the amount of discretion granted to police in conducting criminal investigations, and estimates correlations between several predictor variables, including prior victimization and worry about becoming the victim of a crime, and perceptions about police discretion.FindingsAbout half of the respondents feel police have the right amount of discretion in conducting criminal investigations. Several variables are correlated with these perceptions, including worry about crime, attitudes about minority civil rights, arrest experiences, and race.Research limitations/implicationsImportant police discretionary decisions, like making traffic stops and making arrests, have not been measured. The current study suffers from limitations in the way key concepts are measured. Future research can build on the analysis reported here and make important advancements.Practical implicationsFindings show that important segments of the population believe the police are granted “too much” or “too little” discretion. The results of holding these attitudes remain unknown, but it suggests police can consider ways of addressing differential support for this aspect of policing.Originality/valueAttitudes about police discretion have generally been omitted from research on opinions about the police. This study offers one attempt to integrate this significant aspect of policing into the existing body of research.
In‐service training of older law enforcement officers: an andragogical argument
Authors: Etter Gregg W. , Griffin Richard 
Published: May 2011

PurposeLaw enforcement officers enter police service usually sometime after their 21st birthday. They often remain in police service until they turn 65. To maintain their professional skills and re‐certify their licenses as law enforcement officers, they must complete in‐service training hours. The purpose of this study is to estimate the current number of law enforcement officers over 40 years old and to explore possible andragogical solutions to existing in‐service training methodologies.Design/methodology/approachThe Police Officer Standard and Training (POST) organizations were contacted in all 50 States in a telephone survey.FindingsPolice training requirements vary widely between States. There are a large number of older law enforcement officers that require in‐service training. This population might be better served using andragogical training techniques.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough this was a nationwide study, there were certain limitations that must be considered. Only State, county, and municipal law enforcement officers were included in this study. No federal law enforcement officers or agencies were included in this study.Originality/valueThe findings show the extent and amount of in‐service training that law enforcement agencies are required to provide their employees and will be of interest to those in that field.
The future of poverty and development in Africa
Authors: Ohiorhenuan John F.E. 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to examine how the conceptualization of development has evolved and how, given emerging global economic trends, this might affect the development industry in Africa. It explores the interplay of ideas and practice, identifies key global drivers and considers their significance for Africa over the next generation.Design/methodology/approachAdopting a historical approach, the paper chronicles the changes in the epistemological foundations of development thinking over 60 years of development theory and practice. It also explores how concurrent changes in the international context for development have influenced both the thinking on and management of development. The paper undertakes a scenario analysis in search of an African development narrative that is more appropriate to the challenge of African prosperity over the next 20‐30 years.FindingsIt is shown that the contemporary view of development represents an epistemological shift from a perspective defined by the actual experiences of successful developers, to one defined through the prism of some assumed universal norms. Focusing on a particular scenario of Africa as the “land of the future”, the paper suggests that Africa should reject its portrayal as “victim” in the international community, replace the poverty ideology with one of prosperity, and reject the condescension implicit in regarding Africa as a “special case” that requires continuing intervention. It stresses that the Africa of the future must be globally competitive.Practical implicationsTo address the challenge of African prosperity over the next 20‐30 years, an African development narrative generated endogenously and sustained by the energy of the continent's people, is required. Such a narrative requires that African leaders take full responsibility for Africa's destiny and actively develop a uniquely African story and embrace the African development project.Originality/valueThe study provides a historically based alternative perspective to the MDGs as a framework for considering the future of Africa over the next several decades.
Africa 2010‐2020: poverty reduction beyond the global crisis
Authors: Ballantyne Joe , Curry Andrew , Sumner Andy 
Published: May 2011

PurposeWhat are the implications of the global financial crisis and its aftermath, regionally and globally, for Africa taking a 5‐15 year view? The purpose of this paper is to outline a set of four post‐crisis global economic scenarios to 2020, and will consider their impacts across a range of low income countries.Design/methodology/approachThe scenarios were developed using a version of the morphological scenarios approach, Field anomaly relaxation (FAR). This approach creates a backdrop of internally consistent futures for policy formation and decision making through identifying and analysing the most significant drivers of change within the global financial and political system. This was then linked to a modelling approach to identify country impacts. The work was developed and tested with stakeholders in the United Kingdom and Kenya.FindingsScenarios are plausible, coherent, multiple views of the future, which enable policy‐makers and managers to evaluate strategy or policy choices under conditions of uncertainty. The work creates a structured approach to reviewing outcomes for growth, poverty reduction and the Millennium Development Goals for different types of developing economies, against the background of the financial crisis.Research limitations/implicationsThe work was conducted for a public sector client in the United Kingdom, with a limited budget and a limited timescale.Practical implicationsThe combination of scenarios and modelling, applied to the field of development, enables greater clarity about the choices presently facing developing African nations. In particular, the economic typology used shows that for the majority of African countries, strategies which improve resilience in the face of rising energy costs and possible food shortages will also generate economic opportunities.Originality/valueInnovatively, the scenarios were tightly connected to a “soft” model which identifies possible pathways, causal linkages and transmission variables between the scenarios and associated levels of economic growth and poverty reduction via key economic variables. This permits more granular interpretation of the scenario outcomes than conventional scenario analysis techniques.
The fall of the Wall, the rise of the BRICs and the new Scramble for Africa
Authors: Kahn Michael 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to construct a possible future scenario for South Africa in Africa using the backcast approach.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology followed is to present a brief political and economic history of African colonization and de‐colonization, globalisation and the rise of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICs). Strengths and weaknesses are discussed and used to sketch a desired future scenario from which the backcast is constructed.FindingsIt is suggested that the optimal future is one involving SADC‐MERCOSUR alliance with South Africa and Brazil as the respective leadersResearch limitations/implicationsA study of this kind is necessarily speculative.Practical implicationsThe paper alerts policy makers to the threats and opportunities inherent in south‐south dialogue.Social implicationsThe prospect of collaboration holds promise of social upliftment in the region.Originality/valueThe arguments are original to the author.
Sub‐Saharan Africa's future is not a given
Authors: Spies Philip H. 
Published: May 2011

PurposeGiven current dystopian perspectives on Africa's future, the purpose of this paper is to emphasise the need for recreative futures studies when designing development programmes for Sub‐Saharan Africa.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on social systems thinking, causal layered analysis and integral futures, and contrasts the interpretative and transformative approaches to futures research.FindingsSub‐Saharan Africa reached a crossroad in its development. There are powerful forces that are pushing it back towards a low‐level equilibrium trap – making it easy to imagine a dystopian future as the most plausible one for the region. However, there are also a number of hopeful signs that suggest that committed interventions could turn the tide towards its sustainable development. Such interventions will have to dig deep into the collective consciousness of people and require systemic, multi‐faceted programmes for success.Originality/valueThis paper should be of interest to development planners who are searching for programme options outside of what is considered normal for development planning.
Africa 2060: what could be driving the good news from Africa?
Authors: Gatune Julius , Najam Adil 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to better understand the good news coming from Africa and reflect on ideas discussed at the “Africa 2060: Good News from Africa” conference in April 2010 organized by Boston University's Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer‐Range Future.Design/methodology/approachAfrica's performance over the last 50 years has been akin to a roller coaster ride of good news followed by bad news, with the bad news dominating. However since the dawn of the millennium Africa's outlook has increasingly become optimistic. As one looks at Africa's future, several questions emerge: which of these gains can be consolidated? Which of the positive trends will be sustained? Has this recent period of global attention provided the continent with a real institutional scaffolding on which a positive future can be built? And what needs to be done to ensure that the dangers of chronic poverty, conflict, and institutional collapse that still lurk in the shadows will be contained long enough that they eventually disappear?FindingsThe authors base their observations on the intense discussions during the conference by practitioners and experts and an engaged and informed audience, plus a broader reading of the literature, including that which was presented at the conference. These observations reflect a locus of expert and informed opinion and provide a window into the priorities that are engaging the imaginations of those thinking deep and hard about Africa's future. The authors distill seven key drivers that are of particular importance in shaping Africa's longer‐range future. Of course, all of these can operate in either a positive or a negative direction. It is the decisions that will be made by African and international policy‐makers, businesses, civic organizations, and citizens today that will determine which direction Africa will be “driven” towards tomorrow.Originality/valueThere are a number of exciting opportunities that await Africa in its future, but many of these also come with potential hurdles and pitfalls. Innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, knowledge, and globalization are among the areas that have generated significant good news to record from Africa. But within each of these areas there is also the potential and reality of bad news. The choice now lies with African citizens, decision makers and societies as to whether they are able to make the type of decisions that will control the negative tendencies of these drivers and accelerate the positive tendencies.
Is e‐government providing the promised returns?
Authors: Srivastava Shirish C. 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this viewpoint is to provide a framework for future research on e‐government impact.Design/methodology/approachUsing a concise review of major e‐government studies, we present a value framework for assessing the impact of e‐government. Specifically, we integrate the two stakeholder perspectives on e‐government namely the “government” and the “citizen” and identify areas where e‐government can provide returns.FindingsThe model delineates three government and five citizen areas where e‐government may create an impact. The three government areas are policy making, program administration, and compliance. The five citizen areas are financial, political, social, ideological, and stewardship. The impact in these areas is created because of two major value‐generating mechanisms: enhancements in efficiency and enhancements in effectiveness. Further, the impact is created at different levels of analyses: local, state, and central governments.Originality/valueThis viewpoint provides a timely discussion on returns from e‐government and provides a value framework for assessing these returns. It also provides several suggestions for future research in this area. This viewpoint is a call for systematic future research on the impact of e‐government.
A critical survey of selected government interoperability frameworks
Authors: Ray Dibakar , Gulla Umesh , Dash Shefali S. , Gupta M.P. 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present such an analytical framework for analyzing Government Interoperability Frameworks (GIFs) and to do a comparative analysis of a set of GIFs using the analytical framework. Based on the comparative analysis, the paper presents a set of recommendations useful for new GIF initiatives.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on literature and personal knowledge and experience, an analytical framework is proposed for qualitative comparison of GIFs. The analytical framework is based on three core areas of interoperability frameworks – context, content, and process. A total of 21 GIFs are analyzed and evaluated against the framework. The primary sources of information for the study are the interoperability framework documents. In some cases, published articles, brochures, etc. are used as additional sources of information.FindingsThe comparative analysis shows that the analytical framework adequately covers all the features of the GIFs. Comparative analysis also shows that most of the GIFs concentrate mainly on technical and syntactical aspects only. Organizational and semantic issues are covered only by a handful of GIFs. At the policy level, most common interoperability policies are found to be: the universal adoption of common specifications used on the internet and world wide web, use of XML for data integration and data management, and use of open standards for all public sector information systems. Regarding management of GIF, it is found that German, Greek and New Zealand GIFs document the process of standards life cycle management in a much better way, whereas UK e‐GIFs' coverage of management and compliance mechanism of GIF is excellent. Overall, it is found that the UK e‐GIF is one of the most mature and exhaustive on all counts. German – Standards und Architekturen f¨r eGovernment‐Anwendungen on the other hand is found to be a unique effort. It incorporates features of both an enterprise architecture and those of an interoperability framework.Originality/valueThe contribution of the study is substantial for academia and practitioners. For academics, this framework can be used in future research as a tool to benchmark and grade GIFs. The practitioners, on the other hand, can use the study, to identify various essential features of a GIF which can be very useful for new GIF initiatives. The six‐layered e‐government technical architecture discussed here can be used to check the current status of technical interoperability in an organization and to identify gaps in the technology coverage.
Hybrid simulation and modes of governance in UK healthcare
Authors: Chahal Kirandeep , Eldabi Tillal 
Published: May 2011

PurposeHealthcare organisations exhibit detail and dynamic complexity. It has been argued that discrete event simulation (DES) is ideal for problems exhibiting detail complexity and system dynamics (SD) lends itself naturally to comprehend dynamic complexity. Appreciating the complexity of healthcare, this paper proposes the use of hybrid simulation wherein both SD and DES are integrated symbiotically. The paper further aims to describe how different forms of hybrid simulation can be applied to different modes of governance in UK healthcare.Design/methodology/approachIn order to find different ways that hybrid simulation can be effectively applied to different problem contexts, a literature review has been conducted to find existing hybrid studies. A meta‐review of literature on different modes of governance in UK healthcare has also been conducted.FindingsIt has been induced from the literature review that hybrid simulation can be used in three different formats: hierarchical format, process‐environment format, and integrated format. Literature on different modes of governance in UK healthcare further points out that there are three modes of governance in UK healthcare: top‐down performance hierarchical mode, network partnership mode, and quasi‐market mode.Research limitations/implicationsIt is believed that hybrid simulation will aid in forming a synergy between strategic and operational management. One of the limitations of this paper is that it does not provide any guidance with respect to technical automation of integration between SD and DES.Originality/valueThis paper proposes the use of hybrid simulation for complex healthcare problems and the way it can contribute towards effective decision making within different modes of governance.
Citizen interaction and e‐government
Authors: Reddick Christopher G. 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to examine citizen interaction with e‐government using three e‐participation models. The two major research questions of this paper are: what is the current level of e‐participation in the USA?; and what factors explain why citizens participate in online government?Design/methodology/approachSurvey evidence of citizens in the USA and their use of e‐participation is examined using quantitative methods.FindingsCitizens were most likely to use e‐participation for management activities. Citizens were much less likely to use the internet for more advanced consultative and participatory activities. Using regression analysis, factors such as demand by citizens for e‐government, the digital divide, and political factors influenced the level of e‐participation.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of this study imply that governments should do more to stimulate demand for e‐government, address issues of the digital divide, and provide for more open and transparent government. A limitation of this study is its focus on e‐participation through a survey instrument, which does not consider all possible forms of e‐participation.Practical implicationsFor e‐participation to blossom, governments should do more to promote citizens' demand for e‐government, bridge the digital divide, and promote more open and transparent government.Originality/valueExisting research on e‐participation has focused on theory building and case studies; this paper provides empirical evidence, through a survey, of the level of e‐participation and factors that promote e‐participation.
Transforming the practice of student teachers in the UAE through action research
Authors: Littlewood Suzanne 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the outcomes of a final year action research project as part of an initial teacher education (ITE) programme in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Design/methodology/approachThe approach taken was to examine the responses of graduate and student teachers to interviews and written prompts within a framework of theoretical benefits of action research and reflective practice: linking theory to practice, transforming teaching strategies; transforming student learning outcomes; developing professionalism and lifelong learning; and raising the status of teachers through empowerment.FindingsIt was found that students referred to all of these outcomes in their responses, suggesting that classroom‐based action research is a valuable component of an ITE programme in the UAE.Research limitations/implicationsThis is a small‐scale study, but the results suggest that further examination of systematic reflective practice in the form of action research would be useful for teacher educators, especially those working in education systems undergoing reform.Originality/valueEmpirical research into effective teacher education practices in the UAE is limited. This paper will, therefore, be of interest to teacher educators considering action research as a component of ITE programmes and also in terms of considering tasks to promote reflective practice.
Socio‐cultural theory and its place in the development of the teacher education program at the Higher Colleges of Technology
Authors: Bashir‐Ali Khadar 
Published: May 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the meanings and implications of communities of practice; to discuss how socio‐cultural theories and social learning improve pre‐service teachers' understanding of their profession; and to begin a dialogue on how teachers in training can benefit from having a community of practitioners guiding them. The aim here is also to provide a critical re‐evaluation of the state of teacher training in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by looking particularly at social and experiential learning.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, the author reports on a one‐year study case study designed to inform how communities of practice can shape the professional formation of pre‐service teachers enrolled in a teacher training program in the UAE.FindingsResults indicated that the process of establishing communities of practice around the teachers improves their professional development, however, the danger of emulating poor pedagogical practices modeled by mentor teachers was also found to be a factor for these novice teachers.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was confined to the Higher Colleges of Technology in the UAE. The findings of this study need to be confirmed in a wider context.Originality/valueThe study draws attention to the relevance of the community of practice concept and socio‐cultural theory to teacher education.