Purpose The Smart City Program is the Indonesian government’s strategic initiative to promote digital transformation across society. However, its implementation at the local level remains suboptimal, primarily due to organizational and institutional readiness. This study examined the application of the organizational readiness model in local government to enhance the Program’s effectiveness.Design/methodology/approach This study employed an exploratory qualitative approach and was conducted in Malang City, East Java, Indonesia. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources, including observations, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), literature review, government papers, official reports, and policies relevant to smart city efforts.Findings This study found that organizational readiness was a prerequisite for digital transformation and innovation in city governance, including the Smart City Program. However, some aspects of organizational readiness, such as innovation, resource, and strategic readiness, as well as a participatory and collaborative mindset, were not fully met. The results suggest that greater organizational maturity could enhance the impacts of the Program.Originality/value The originality of this study lies in its comprehensive analysis of how organizational readiness can optimize smart city initiatives.
Purpose This paper aims to explore the unique digital banking regulatory landscape in Asia, shaped by tailored licensing frameworks designed to boost financial inclusion and address specific market demands, and to examine the role of technology in future regulatory frameworks. Design/methodology/approach The study employs a comparative analysis of key Asian jurisdictions, including Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, Pakistan, and Japan. It examines their regulatory requirements for digital-only banking operations, assesses market penetration, and details the operational status of licensed entities as of 2025. Findings The analysis highlights three critical implications of Asia’s distinctive regulatory approach: the profound technological dependencies of digital banks, the evolving dynamics in the relationship between consumers and banks, and the new paradigms of accountability required for technology-only banking operations. Originality/value This paper provides a timely and focused comparative insight into Asia’s pioneering digital banking licensing regimes and their market outcomes. It offers critical analysis for regulators, industry stakeholders, and researchers examining the region’s rapidly evolving financial ecosystem and its divergence from Western regulatory philosophies.
Purpose This study aims to assess the effectiveness of public policies implemented to prevent terrorism in the ten fast-growing countries. Design/methodology/approach The analysis utilizes annual data (2002-2021) from ten countries: Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, and Türkiye. It employs unit root tests to scrutinize whether the impacts of anti-terrorism policies are permanent or transient. Findings The terrorism variable is largely stationary in the ten fast-growing countries. Analyzing the CADF test results for the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) variable reveals distinct stationarity patterns across the panel. (1) In the constant-only model, the GTI variable is stationary at the 5% significance level for Indonesia, Mexico, and South Africa, and at the 10% significance level for China and Poland. The panel stationarity result as a whole is significant at the 1 percent significance level. (2) In the constant-and-trend model, Indonesia, Mexico, and Poland show stationarity at the 10% significance level, while the full panel result is stationary at the 5% significance level. These findings suggest that the impact of shocks from terrorist incidents is temporary which may indicate effective implementation of anti-terrorism policies in these high-growth countries. Originality/value The study addresses a literature gap by examining the stationarity of the terrorism variable. Its recommendations emphasize consistent policy implementation, enhanced international cooperation, and coordinated efforts.
Purpose - This study investigates the critical question of why the Iranian Parliament has not adopted and institutionalizing established mechanisms for public participation in its legislative process. Design/methodology/approach - Employing a qualitative inductive research design, this study conducted 23 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with key stakeholders directly involved in the legislative process. The data collected was subjected to a rigorous qualitative content analysis to identify emergent themes and patterns. Findings - The analysis uncovered a complex typology of legislative inaction, which can be categorized into five themes: (1) Calculated inaction, driven by a desire to preserve legislative power and the perception that lawmaking is too technically complex for public input; (2) Ideological inaction, stemming from a paternalistic governance ethos and a commitment to safeguarding revolutionary values from perceived deviation; (3) Imposed inaction, where external factors such as restrictive parliamentary regulations and influential media narratives enforce exclusivity; (4) Reluctant inaction, arising from systemic deficiencies including a lack of public demand, weak institutional incentives, and infrastructural constraints; and (5) Inadvertent inaction, sustained by cognitive biases, risk aversion, and unconscious institutional habits among legislators. Originality/value - This research proposes a comprehensive framework for understanding the phenomenon of legislative inaction in public participation. With Iran's unique political-ideological landscape, characterized by the principle of Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist), the study contributes to debates on participatory democracy and offers evidence-based insights for designing context-sensitive parliamentary reforms.
Purpose The COVID‑19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of work‑from‑home (WFH) arrangements in Hong Kong to minimise the risk of cross-infections, reshaping a work culture previously dominated by office‑based routines. This study examines how organisational trust influences employees’ WFH experience, specifically job effectiveness and well‑being, and how these factors subsequently affect engagement and job satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach An instrument was developed to measure the constructs relevant to this study. Following an expert review and pilot testing, the instrument was administered in a formal online survey with 455 valid responses. Structural equation modelling (SEM) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were utilised to evaluate the reliability, validity, and causal relationships among constructs. Findings The research reveals that organisational trust, which encompasses trust in the supervisor and trust in the institution, significantly affects employee engagement both directly and indirectly. The indirect effect is mediated solely through employee well-being. Specifically, trust in a supervisor has a stronger influence on employee well-being, while trust in institution more strongly predicts engagement. Employee engagement directly enhances job satisfaction for all workers. Originality/value The study addresses a gap in understanding remote work in Hong Kong. It contributes to theory by linking organisational trust with WFH experiences, employee engagement, and satisfaction. Furthermore, the study introduces validated instruments for assessing trust and WFH readiness for future research and practice.
Purpose This study examines how Finnish governance networks enhance resilience in the face of digital transformation and hybrid threats. Specifically, it explores how multi-level governance, institutional coordination, and public–private collaboration shape digital resilience, hybrid threat management, and economic security by fostering adaptive and proactive resilience strategies. Design/methodology/approach The study employs a qualitative research design based on 36 thematic interviews with public-sector actors, nongovernmental organisations, and small and medium-sized enterprises involved in trade and economic governance. Using a governance resilience framework, it examines how networked governance structures adapt to digital and geopolitical disruptions. Findings Governance resilience rests on institutional coordination, regulatory adaptability, and strategic foresight. Additionally, effective digital transformation depends on the alignment of governance structures across multiple levels, from global to regional. Hybrid threats and economic dependencies require proactive risk management, including scenario planning, resilience audits, and foresight practices. Public–private collaboration emerges as a critical mechanism when institutionalised — through structured dialogue, shared data practices, and joint investment — rather than short-term or ad hoc initiatives. Originality/value This study refines governance resilience research by demonstrating how digital sovereignty, hybrid threat mitigation, and regulatory coordination interact within a multi-level economic governance framework. It highlights the significance of institutionalised collaboration and anticipatory policymaking in ensuring long-term resilience. The findings provide policymakers and governance actors with actionable insights to strengthen digital resilience in an era of geopolitical and technological volatility.
Propose The study investigates the effect of ethical leadership on administrative corruption, focusing on the mediating role of job satisfaction in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach Survey data was collected from 402 public employees in the local government of the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Pakistan. Hypotheses were tested using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM) in SPSS and AMOS23. Findings The findings demonstrated adequate model fitness, indicating that job satisfaction acts as a critical mediator between ethical leadership and the reduction of corruption among public employees. Ethical leadership fosters job satisfaction by enhancing employees’ intrinsic satisfaction in serving the public, thereby reducing their inclination to engage in corruption. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature on ethical leadership in public administration by examining how public managers’ ethical leadership shapes subordinates’ job satisfaction and mitigates workplace corruption in the public sector of a developing Muslim country in South Asia.
Purpose This study proposes a problem-solving framework grounded in Total Quality Management (TQM) to enhance preparedness for future pandemics. By comparing COVID-19 responses in Japan, United States, Taiwan, and India, it examines how TQM principles can strengthen adaptive governance and public health resilience.Design/methodology/approach A comparative analysis of infection trajectories, policies, and behavioral responses was conducted across four countries/regions with different governance structures. TQM principles, particularly process integration and preventive design, were applied to explain variations in infection and mortality rates, and to systematize quality elements and risk governance frameworks in daily social processes.Findings Timely, science-aligned leadership, and structured social processes were essential for effective pandemic response. Taiwan’s early cross-sectoral coordination fostered trust and compliance. In Japan, bureaucratic decision-making delayed timely actions, while in United States, fragmented federal-state leadership hindered policy consistency. India’s socio-economic constraints limited process control. These cross-national contrasts demonstrate that institutional maturity, advanced healthcare infrastructure, and abundant public resources alone do not guarantee effective crisis management. Rather, TQM principles – science-based leadership, process assurance, digital risk communication, and protection of high-risk populations – are key to ensuring coherent governance and behavioral compliance under uncertainty.Originality/value This paper reconceptualizes pandemic preparedness as a quality assurance challenge. By integrating TQM with digital governance and risk stratification, it presents a structured, feedback-driven model for minimizing risk, promoting equity, and reinforcing resilience in public health systems.
Purpose This study applies the policy capacity framework (PCF) to evaluate the success or failure of the implementation of Aotearoa | New Zealand's primary health care (PHC) policy. It identifies which 'valued policy objectives' (VPOs) within the policy subsystem have progressed or stagnated, through identifying the key capacity profiles associated with these objectives.Design/methodology/approach The research draws on interviews with 55 key informants in the PHC sector to gather perspectives on the progress of VPOs between 2010 and 2020. The analysis adapted the PCF, which distinguishes between macro and meso- (district) level capacities.Findings The study identifies two capacity configurations: (1) meso-level political and operational capacity were crucial for advancing sector-led PHC objectives, and (2) macro-level operational capacity was essential for addressing system-driven issues such as reducing inequities, access barriers, and accountability. Analytical capacity factors received less emphasis as drivers of progress.Originality/value Two key priorities in New Zealand's PHC policy are the fostering of operational capacity at the national level, and collaborative political and operational capacity at the meso-level. More broadly, the analysis shows how the PCF can be used as a diagnostic tool for evaluating policy capacity strengths and weaknesses within a specific policy domain.
Purpose This paper investigates the interplay between policy capacity dimensions and state-society co-production during crises. Through analysis of Hong Kong and Singapore's COVID-19 management, it examines how variations in policy capacity configurations, particularly political and integration capacities, shaped societal engagement. Design/methodology/approach A comparative case study methodology analyzes Hong Kong and Singapore's pandemic responses (2020-2022). This study uses secondary qualitative data, including government documents, academic research, news archives, and public health statistics, to compare policies and state-society interactions. Findings Both city-states possessed strong analytical and operational capacities, but outcomes differed based on political and integration capacities. Singapore leveraged high public trust and effective coordination for state-directed, high-compliance co-production (e.g., vaccination, contact tracing). Hong Kong, facing a trust deficit and coordination challenges, experienced fragmented co-production with mandated compliance alongside autonomous civil society action. Political and integration capacities critically determine the state's ability to mobilize society and the resulting co-production modes. A reciprocal relationship exists between state actions, trust, and cooperation, influencing outcomes via feedback loops. Originality/value This study offers a nuanced analysis beyond state strength, showing how specific capacity dimensions (political/analytical/operational) shape crisis governance and co-production. It illuminates mechanisms linking capacity configurations to co-production forms and highlights the crucial roles of trust and policy coherence, providing insights for understanding crisis management and building resilient state-society relations.
PurposeThis paper addresses a missing element in Wu et al.'s (2015) ninefold policy capacity framework: the 'capacity for what' question. Specifically, it explores the objectives toward which policy capacities are directed, focusing on how government capabilities and competencies can be utilized to either create or destroy public value.Design/methodology/approachThrough a literature review, the paper establishes the connections between public value and policy capacity. An illustrative case of value destruction, specifically, the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) experience during the early second term of the Trump administration, is used to demonstrate how policy capacity can be deployed to dismantle as well as create public value.FindingsThe paper finds that outcome achievement, trust, service delivery quality, and efficiency were all negatively impacted by DOGE's four key activities: de-regulation, workforce reduction, program cuts, and cutting advisory committees. These activities required policy capacities to exist and be deployed in the same way as is done with public value creation.Originality/valuePublic value creation - integrating substantive value, legitimacy, and operational feasibility - provides a valuable framework for reshaping policies, but it can also lead to value destruction. This perspective prompts a critical examination of the objectives behind administrative actions and encourages analysts and commentators to avoid assuming that high government capacity is always advantageous.
Purpose This paper examines the concept of “regional policy capacity” in multilevel governance. Two questions are addressed: First, what conditions allowed the institutionalization of regional governance in a constitutional order that lacks institutionalized mechanisms of coordination? Second, under which conditions do such governance arrangements build regional policy capacity?Design/methodology/approach The paper draws on qualitative analysis of two critical cases of regional environmental governance in Sao Paulo, Brazil: the Intermunicipal Consortium of the ABC region, and the Piracicaba-Capivari-Jundiaí River Basin Committee (CBH-PCJ).Findings The cases demonstrate that regional governance is a prerequisite for managing subnational problems that cross municipal boundaries. It can be successfully implemented through both bottom-up and top-down initiatives. Under conditions of limited statehood, the effectiveness of these capacities depends on a robust institutional design, binding collective objectives, and the ability to mobilize capacities across different institutional levels for regional problem-solving.Originality/value The paper advances the concept of regional policy capacity, addressing a gap in the literature and enriching the policy capacity framework for understanding the conditions for effective regional decision-making.
PurposeThree-shift work is essential for providing 24-hour nursing care. Driven largely by high turnover rates, increasing payment reward has been proposed as potential motivator for nurses. Based on the job demands-resources model (JD-R model), this paper investigates whether three-shift work increases nurses' turnover intention, and if payment reward moderates this relationship.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from a 2022 survey of nurses at a large hospital in South Korea. An ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model was used to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe results indicate that nurses working three shifts report a higher intention to leave their jobs. However, payment reward does not significantly moderate the relationship between three-shift work and turnover intention. This suggests that financial compensation alone is not sufficient for retaining nurses who work three-shift rotations. While three-shift nurses are essential for continuous medical services, they are vulnerable to physical, mental, and social problems caused by their work schedules.Originality/valueAlthough additional financial incentives are often suggested to mitigate these issues, this article concludes that other programs beyond payment reward have to be considered to motivate and retain three-shift nurses.
PurposeThis paper explores people's responses and perception of information supplied by actors across various societal sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, Germany, and the United States.Design/methodology/approachDescriptive and regression analyses were conducted using survey data covering 1,572 individuals in the three countries.FindingsThere are three key findings. First, information published by governments is considered highly reliable, while the perception of fairness was evaluated as second lowest after news media. Conversely, the perceived fairness of information provided by healthcare professionals is ranked relatively high. Information reliability from family/friends is almost as high as information disseminated by government and healthcare professionals, and the perceived fairness is the highest. Second, people transmit information from family/friends to others as actively as information given by governments and news media. Government information influences daily life the most, although the impact of information provided by news media and family/friends is also significant. Third, people tend to obtain information mainly from family/friends, news media, and government. However, the contact time for collecting information through social media is relatively low.Originality/valueThe study examines individual differences in information perception and attitude and analyses the association with individual characteristics to identify important factors.
Purpose Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are essential to city administration, improving quality of life, promoting sustainability, and fostering innovation. The success of smart city projects depends on citizens’ acceptance. This study evaluates the factors influencing citizens’ acceptance of smart city services in India. Design/methodology/approach Based on the literature review, a framework was developed that integrates theories from Technology Acceptance Model, Theory of Reasoned Action, Social Cognitive Theory, and Trust, with six variables: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, self-efficacy, attitude, trust in e-government, and behavioural intention. A survey was conducted with 407 respondents in Kerala, India. Findings This study found that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and self-efficacy positively impact citizens’ attitudes toward smart city services, which in turn strongly influence their intention to use these services. Attitude plays a key role in the acceptance process by connecting these factors. While trust in e-government directly affects acceptance, its influence on attitude is weaker. Indian citizens tend to focus more on the ease of use and self-efficacy over trust, suggesting that increasing awareness and providing training could be more effective in encouraging acceptance. Originality/value This study employs structural equation modelling to explore the factors influencing citizens’ acceptance of smart city services, addressing the underexplored area of smart public services in a developing country.
PurposeThis paper examines the implementation challenges of female primary education in Bangladesh, its impact on local cultural and socio-economic dynamics, stakeholder involvement to promote inclusivity, and policy alignment with national and international gender equality goals.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative approach was adopted, including a literature review, content analysis, in-depth interviews, and expert opinions to analyze the quality of education for females. Six interviews were conducted with policy administrators, academics, and private sector representatives.FindingsThe findings reveal that girls face more barriers in accessing and continuing primary education, as reflected in higher dropout rates and limited academic progression - factors that perpetuate social and gender inequality. Curriculum gaps, shortfalls in evaluation, urban-rural enrollment discrepancies, different teaching methods, the lack of a unified national education structure, inadequate teacher training, and environmental variables diverting resources exacerbate the challenges. The narrow focus on literacy overlooks prior failures to address the needs of disadvantaged people. Inflated statistics have obscured the reality, as bureaucrats tend to rely on favorable reports to evade criticism.Originality/valueThe focus on using local resources, donor assistance, and financial incentives for school-going girls provide a limited perspective on gender representation in primary education in Bangladesh. Investigating the implementation of free female primary education will help explore stakeholders' input, education quality, and gender-related social changes in greater depth.
PurposeThis paper aims to analyze how key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health (MOH), hospitals, universities, health polytechnics, and health industries, influence the adoption of the Robotic Telesurgery Project in Indonesia.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative approach was used to explore stakeholder roles, utilizing stakeholder theory and the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework. Interviews were conducted with 18 participants from relevant institutions and were analyzed thematically using NVivo.FindingsThe study identified four types of stakeholders based on their power and interest: Key Players, Keep Informed, Keep Satisfied, and Minimal Effort. Stakeholders influenced the adoption of robotic telesurgery through three mechanisms: technological, organizational, and environmental. These mechanisms include the technology’s advantages, trust, communication, infrastructure readiness, regulatory support, and alignment of interests.Originality/valueThis study is pioneering in examining how different types of stakeholders contribute to the adoption of robotic telesurgery in a developing country. The findings provide practical insights into managing stakeholder collaboration for the effective implementation of advanced health technologies.
