3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item Executive agencies and the public decision-making process: a case study of Kampala Capital City Authority(2017) Kitamirike, EmmanuelThe study examined the legal framework establishing Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) as well as actor interactions within the agency policy process, with an ultimate aim of ascertaining the extent of public decision-making. The study was structured around three main components: an in-depth investigation of the literature on agencification; an application of the institutionalism theoretical framework; and an applied case study approach to examine the extent and context of policy decision making within KCCA. The major finding and indeed central argument is that despite the creation of a central policy-making role enshrined in the law establishing KCCA, the policy outcomes are not influenced by the elected leaders but rather by the central government and as such, there is limited public decision-making. This study has empirically shown that the creation of a matrix agency structure with multiple reporting and accountability centres was a symbolic move intended to dupe elected leaders with superficial status and authority, but in essence, without any real powers to demand policy changes, let alone, be able to sanction bureaucrats for their actions or inaction. The study further affirms that bureaucrats managing KCCA affairs, to a great extent, not only play a policy implementation function, but also disproportionately influence the shape of policy as a consequence of the discretionary powers bestowed upon them by the KCC Act (2010). The paper concludes by highlighting that agencification as one of the new public management (NPM) approaches has increased institutional and policy complexities that alienate citizens and citizen groups from the decision-making process. This reality challenges the existing literature on agencification and New Public Management which claims that once we structurally disaggregate and create semi-independent agencies, then we see bureaucrats who are more accountable to citizens.Item The role of personality in the relationship between feeling bored and decision-making competence: a study of managers in the retail industry(2016) Du Preez, MagdaDespite the increased work on emotions in organizations, there is a lack of research on the impact of feeling bored in managerial decision-making contexts. Feeling bored was defined, and an expansion to the Hybrid Process Decision-Making Model was proposed. Using this revised definition of feeling bored and the Expanded Decision-Making Process Model, an empirical study with retail middle managers was conducted to examine the relationships between feeling bored and decision-making competence and the role of personality. Results found that feeling bored has a significant negative association with middle managers’ confidence levels, risk perception and decision rules. Results confirmed that personality plays a moderating role in the relationship between feeling bored and decision-making competence. Most notably, the personality trait learning neutralizes the negative effects of feeling bored on decision-making competence, whereas the personality trait sociability has a varied effect depending on which end of the valence/arousal continuum feeling bored is experienced. Limitations to the study, and practical implications for retail organizations, middle managers and for future research, are outlined