We agree to disagree: the relation between city councilors’ demographic characteristics, political role-play and strategic consensus.

New Public Management has become a dominant paradigm within the public sector. Pivotal within this movement is the adoption of private sector practices by public organizations with the aim of improving their effectiveness (Goldfinch et al., 2010). One of those core practices is strategic planning (SP) (Ugboro et al., 2011), which Bryson (2010, S256) defines as 'a deliberative, disciplined effort to produce fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide what an organization is, what it does, and why it does it'. Despite the recognition that a systematic approach to strategy development is beneficial (Poister et al., 2013) and the fact that SP has become nearly ubiquitous among public organizations (Bovaird, 2008), the relevance of SP is still criticized (Ugboro, et al., 2011). One reason could be that previous research, largely, overlooked the fact that SP, as a process, involves complex assemblies of human actors (Bryson, et al., 2010). Consequently, research should focus more on the 'practice of strategy' (Bryson, 2010). Shifting attention towards micro-activities of SP and their relationship with planning outcomes (Wolf, et al.,2013) will shed light on the effectiveness of SP in public organizations. Because Bryson, et al. (2010) indicated that the essence of SP is the development of a shared set of fundamental decisions about the pivotal goals that guide an organization's strategies and actions, strategic consensus (SC) is viewed as an important proximate outcome, mediating the relationship between SP and performance (Walter et al., 2013). In essence, SC centers on 'the extent to which intra-organizational perceptions converge on shared understandings of strategic priorities' and is deemed a prerequisite for successful strategy implementation (Rapert et al., 2002, 301) because it minimizes the detrimental effects of the pursuit of divergent goals (Tarakci et al., 2014). The underlying proposition this is that 'a higher degree of SC is associated with improved coordination/cooperation in the implementation of strategy, and hence, with organizational performance' (Kellermans, et al., 2011, 719). Despite the theoretical importance of SC for strategy implementation effectiveness, empirical insights on the content (e.g. specific strategic priorities), the degree (i.e. level of SC), and the locus of strategic consensus within public organizations is, to a large extent, missing (Desmidt et al., 2016). Given the lack of insights on the subject, we examine the degree, content and locus of strategic consensus amongst and between groups of Flemish municipal councilors as well as the influencing group characteristics. The research setting comprises the councillors of 308 Flemish municipalities. Within-group and between-group SC is calculated using z-scores. The proposed research addresses the call for deeper knowledge on public SP's effectiveness (Bryson et al., 2010) and has two distinct contributions: (a) we, theoretically, elucidate the importance of SC within and between (groups of) decision makers, and (b) we measure the degree of SC while analyzing the group determinants defining the levels of SC in a public context.

http://ift.tt/2eLrkPM

Het papieren schild: over de beschermingswaarde van het EU-VS-privacyschild tegen niet-noodzakelijke of disproportionele datacollectie door de VS-inlichtingen- en politiediensten

http://ift.tt/2ffkdC3

Synthesis methods for thermochromically active VO2 nanoparticles

In recent years, the need for smart window materials that lower the energy consumption for heating, venting and air-conditioning of buildings has grown immensely. These smart materials undergo a reversible change in physical properties depending on various conditions. A material that fits this description is vanadium dioxide, a thermochromic material that changes from a monoclinic to a rutile phase when heated above a critical temperature. This metal-insulator transition (MIT) leads to the absorption of infrared radiation. By absorbing this, a lower amount of heating-up occurs inside buildings and less cooling is needed. During this work, the main focus is the development of novel and easy methods to synthesize thermochromically active vanadium dioxide nanoparticles. Solvothermal and microwave syntheses were performed and optimized. The influence of various reaction parameters on the morphology, crystal structure and thermochromic properties of the nanosized materials was studied.

http://ift.tt/2eLkF8C

Patterns of US air transport across the economic unevenness of 2003-2013

http://ift.tt/2ffojKk

Waste pickers in the informal economy of the global south: included or excluded?

Purpose: This article aims to provide insights into the role and practices of informal waste pickers and the implications for waste management policy in urban contexts of the Global South. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative case study was used, including interviews, observations and document analyses. We compared informal waste management in two cities of the Global South: Accra (Ghana) and Porto Alegre (Brazil). Findings: The analysis points out that informal waste pickers play a crucial role in the implementation of waste policies in both cities, despite differing economic, social and institutional contexts. The study of the waste management system also points to multiple connections between informal and formal parts of the economy. Although the informal waste pickers are integral to the waste management system, their economically disadvantaged position excludes them from the formal labour market. Faced with these challenges, they develop creative solutions to guarantee their livelihood and gain collective voice. Research limitations: The comparison of two case studies, conducted about the same social phenomenon in two different economic, institutional and social contexts, has limited generalizability but is theoretically and practically important. Practical implications: The findings are relevant to policy-makers who deal with urban waste management and for organizations who develop support actions for informal workers. Originality/value: We draw on a comparison of qualitative case studies to explore the multidimensionality of the waste picker's phenomenon. This article sparks discussion among scholars and experts who study the informal economy from different perspectives, in this case bridging insights from sociology and victimology

http://ift.tt/2f71n0N

Noot onder EHRM Matczynski v. Polen, 15 december 2015

http://ift.tt/2dJPVCn

Keeping the horn on the rhino

Since 2007, rhinoceros poaching in South Africa has been increasing, now averaging three rhinos per day. Protecting the remaining rhinos requires both a better understanding of the crime of rhino poaching and of anti-poaching strategies. Through a theoretical triangulation of routine activity (Cohen & Felson, 1979), rational choice (Cornish & Clarke, 1986), and situational crime prevention theories (Clarke, 1997), we aim to better understand the crime of rhino poaching and analyze whether and how situational prevention measures can alter the cost-benefit equation of potential offenders. We also pay attention to how the sociopolitical and economic context affects rhino poaching and its governance. This chapter presents the results of research relating to the rhino conservation model of the Balule Nature Reserve in South Africa. Our study is based on participatory observation in their anti-poaching program, as well as interviews with stakeholders and partners of the program. We examine the Balule Rhino Conservation Model's organizational design and the counter-measures currently employed. This allows us to assess strengths and weaknesses of the model and provide recommendations for improvement, both for this case and for other anti-poaching contexts.

http://ift.tt/2f71OrG