http://hdl.handle.net/1893/235 Electronic copies of Retail Studies journal articles. 2026-10-07T09:52:23Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38372 Title: The relationship of scaling and democracy in third sector organizations Author(s): Child, John; Narooz, Rose; Ramadan, Nora Abstract: The scaling of Third Sector Organizations [TSOs] in terms of the number of beneficiaries they serve and/or the range and quality of contributions they offer, is generally assumed to be a desirable aim. At the same time, many TSOs are embedded in local communities and have the potential to act as a community voice thus contributing to the process of bottom-up democracy. The present paper aims to offer a systematic analysis of the relation between the scaling of TSOs and their potential democratic role both internally in articulating a community voice and externally in securing resources and support for their mission. It analyses inter-relationships between TSOs’ routes to scale and their democratic processes, including positive effects of democracy on scaling, and identifies TSO organization and legitimacy as intervening factors. This leads to new theoretical insights that suggest avenues for future research and inform policy guidelines. 2026-07-29T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38369 Title: A History of the Early Years of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Edinburgh Author(s): Williams, Christopher KI; Galanos, Vassilis; Yang, Xiao Abstract: This article describes the early years of artificial intelligence (AI) at the University of Edinburgh, roughly from the early 1960s to the mid-1980s. It covers the key founders and various administrative structures, research highlights and teaching developments from this period, notable women in early AI research, and discusses the national and international connections of the work carried out at Edinburgh. Motivated by a scarcity of historical documentation on this pivotal period, we employ a methodological blend of archival research and recent oral histories to draw a detailed picture. The study highlights the contributions of key figures such as Donald Michie and Christopher Longuet-Higgins, whose interdisciplinary work established Edinburgh as a European hub for AI research. Despite challenges like the “AI winter”, sparked by the Lighthill Report, Edinburgh fostered advances in many areas of AI. The analysis also explores early ethical considerations in AI development, reflecting on technological neutrality and the anticipation of AI’s societal impact. This historical account not only clarifies Edinburgh’s critical role in AI’s evolution but also offers enduring lessons on interdisciplinary collaboration and ethical responsibility, relevant for the continued advancement of AI technologies today. 2026-08-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38326 Title: Debate: The fiscal and political tensions of sustaining a devolved public sector workforce Author(s): Montgomery, Tom Abstract: Introduction One aspect of devolution in the UK, often overlooked, is the power to create and sustain a workforce that delivers public services. In Scotland, this task is infused with an added layer of political importance. While much has been discussed, debated and critiqued around a ‘Scottish approach’ to policy-making (Cairney et al., Citation2016; Sinclair, Citation2024), the focus is often on wider debates around fiscal responsibility and tax-raising powers (McIntyre et al., Citation2023) rather than those more everyday implications of workforce planning. Nevertheless, in the aftermath of the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, it is entirely possible that the future of the devolved public sector workforce may move centre stage. 2026-08-04T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38321 Title: A value-chain perspective of artificial intelligence in public services Author(s): Löfgren, Karl; Webster, C William R Abstract: The advent of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), popularized through ChatGPT and other similar platforms, has in recent years become a focal point for governments’ ambitions to enhance the quality of public services and policy. Whilst governments have been using technological systems and platform for decades, such as big data analytics and automated decision-making, recent developments in generative AI, and its perceived capability of simulating human thought, is accompanied by both opportunity and risk. AI is not only significant for the future delivery public services, it also constitutes a challenge to how we define and prioritize public value. This article uses a ‘value-chain approach’ to explore and summarize the immediate experiences of the use of AI in public service contexts, and highlights some of the hurdles and challenges associated with the adoption of this technology. While value-chain approaches are traditionally associated with identifying sequences in a (commercial) production (manufacturing) process - as an analytical tool to realize desired outcomes - recent literature has successfully applied this approach to public service contexts, including in relation to digital service delivery and public policymaking. This article provides an opportunity to reflect on some of the promises and pitfalls associated with this technology, as well as presenting some elements for better diagnostic tools used for forecasting and evaluating digital platforms and systems utilizing generative AI in a more systematic manner. This includes value issues associated with data quality, intellectual property, surveillance, privacy, and transparency. The article also highlights issues around trade-offs between different values, and in doing so, argues that assessing the interlinked relationship between values and digital services are key to understanding the future nature of public service delivery. 2026-07-22T00:00:00Z