Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influencing factors on citizen safety perception: systems and broken windows theories

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The paper puts forward a systems conception of the policies associated with public organizations of all types. Using this approach it sheds light on diverse matters of great theoretical and practical significance regarding what is known as the ‘System for Public Policies,’ such as their boundaries, external and internal relationships and their epistemological problems. Other important considerations include the states and forms of representation, external and internal properties, and aspects of a dynamic character. In this paper, the Broken Windows Theory is considered as a specific case of the Systems approach to the formulation and evaluation of public policies. This paper analyses whether factors considered under the Broken Windows Theory predict citizens’ concerns about public safety and policing. The empirical research consisted of a survey of residents in a Spanish city. Results reveal that the opinion of residents about the orderliness and cleanliness of their city affects the citizens’ concerns about safety; this is considered to confirm the Broken Windows Theory in the case of Spanish cities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ábalo, J., Varela, J., & Rial, A. (2006). El análisis de importancia-valoración aplicado a la gestión de servicios. Psicothema, 18(4), 730–737. Retrieved from http://www.psicothema.com/psicothema.asp?id=3301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Abalo, J., Varela, J., & Manzano, V. (2007). Importance values for importance–performance analysis: a formula for spreading out values derived from preference rankings. Journal of Business Research, 60, 115–121. doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2006.10.009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Almeida, A. M. M. D. (2010). From island mass tourism to rural tourism in Madeira: is there a place for a re-definition of islands image? Tékhne-Revista de Estudos Politécnicos, 14, 97–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andreasen, A. R. (1994). Social marketing: Its definition and domain. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing,13(1), 108--114.

  • Auping, W. L., Pruyt, E., & Kwakkel, J. H. (2015). Societal ageing in the Netherlands: a robust system dynamics approach. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 32(4), 485–501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belanche, D., Casaló, L. V., & Flavián, C. (2010). Providing online public services successfully: the role of confirmation of citizens’ expectations. International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, 7(2), 167–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bianchi, C. (2015). Enhancing joined-Up government and outcome-based performance management through system dynamics modelling to deal with wicked problems: the case of societal ageing. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 32(4), 502–505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boggess, L. N., & Maskaly, J. (2014). The spatial context of the disorder-crime relationship in a study of Reno neighborhoods. Social Science Research, 43, 1168–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouzas-Lorenzo, R. (2010). Public sector marketing, political science and the science of public administration: the evolution of a transdisciplinary dialogue. International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, 7(2), 113–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, S. A., & Heath, R. L. (2005). Issues management, systems, and rhetoric: exploring the distinction between ethical and legal guidelines at Enron. Journal of Public Affairs, 5(2), 84–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho, C., Brito, C., & Cabral, J. S. (2010). Towards a conceptual model for assessing the quality of public services. International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, 7(1), 69–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chahal, K., & Eldabi, T. (2011). Hybrid simulation and modes of governance in UK healthcare. Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, 5(2), 143–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chahal, K., Eldabi, T., & Young, T. (2013). A conceptual framework for hybrid system dynamics and discrete event simulation for healthcare. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 26(1/2), 50–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choudhury, K. (2014). The influence of customer-perceived service quality on customers’ behavioural intentions: a study of public and private sector banks, class and mass banking and consumer policy implications. International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, 11(1), 47–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daneke, G. A. (2005). The reluctant resurrection: New complexity methods and Old systems theories. International Journal of Public Administration, 28(1,2), 89–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dann, S. (2008). Adaptation and adoption of the American Marketing Association (2007) definition for social marketing. Social Marketing Quarterly,14(2), 92--100.

  • De Cillis, F., De Maggio, M. C., & Setola, R. (2015). Vulnerability assessment in RIS scenario through a synergic use of the CPTED methodology and the system dynamics approach. In railway infrastructure security (pp. 65–89). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, G., Pino, N. W., & Shirlow, P. (2013). Assessing the determinants of public confidence in the police: a case study of a post-conflict community in Northern Ireland. Criminology & criminal justice, 13(5), 552–576.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Engel, C., Beckenkamp, M., Glockner, A., Irlenbusch, B., Hennig-Schmidt, H., Kube, S., Kurschilgen, M., Morell, A., Nicklisch, A., Normann, H. T., & Towfigh, E. (2014). First impressions are more important than early intervention: qualifying broken windows theory in the lab. International Review of Law and Economics, 37, 126–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Featherston, C. R., & Doolan, M. (2013) Using System Dynamics to Inform Scenario Planning: A Case Study. The 31st International Conference of the System Dynamics Society, 1–10.

  • Fisher, G. H. (1966). The analytical bases of systems analysis. Santa Monica: RAND Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forrester, J. W. (1968). Industrial dynamics-after the first decade. Management Science, Theory Series, 14(7), 398–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galan-Ladero, M. M., Galera-Casquet, C., & Wymer, W. (2013). Attitudes towards cause-related marketing: determinants of satisfaction and loyalty. International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, 10(3), 253–269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gil, A., Benigno, R., Matsuura, M., Monzon, C. M., & Samothrakis, I. (2005). The use of system dynamics analysis and modeling techniques to explore policy levers in the fight against middle eastern terrorist groups. CA: Naval Postgradute School Monterey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Godet, M. (1991). Prospectiva y Planificación Estratégica. S.G. Editores S.A. Barcelona España.

  • Herian, M. N. and Tomkins, A. J. (2010). Citizen Satisfaction Survey Data: A Mode Comparison of the Derived-Importance Performance Approach. The American Review of Public Administration XX(X): 1–21. doi: 10.1177/0275074010393271

  • Jackson, M. C. (2006). Creative holism: a critical systems approach to complex problem situations. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 23(5), 647–657.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelling, G. L., & Coles, C. M. (1996). Fixing broken windows: Restoring order and reducing crime in Our communities. New York: Touchstone Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelling, G. L., & Wilson, J. Q. (1982). Broken windows. The police and neighborhood safety. The Atlantic, 127, 29–38 (http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/198203/broken-windows).

  • Kelly, J. M., & Swindell, D. (2002a). Service quality variation across urban space: first steps toward a model of citizen satisfaction. Journal of Urban Affairs, 24(3), 271–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, J. M., & Swindell, D. (2002b). A multiple-indicator approach to municipal service evaluation: correlating performance measurement and citizen satisfaction across jurisdictions. Public Administration Review, 62(5), 612–613.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klijn, E. (1998). Policy Networks: An Overview. In W. J. M. Kickert & J. F. Koppenjan (Eds.), Managing Complex Networks. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klijn, E. H. (2001). Rules as institutional context for decision making in networks the approach to postwar housing districts in two cities. Administration & Society, 33(2), 133–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotler, P., & Roberto, E. L. (1989). Social marketing. Strategies for changing public behavior. New York: The Free Press.

  • Lecy, J. D., Mergel, I. A., & Schmitz, H. P. (2014). Networks in public administration: current scholarship in review. Public Management Review, 16(5), 644–665.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leweling, T., & Sieber, O. (2007). Using systems dynamics to explore effects of counterterrorism policy. In System Sciences, 2007. HICSS 2007. 40th Annual Hawaii International Conference on (pp. 198–198). IEEE.

  • Lopes, S. D. F., & Maia, S. C. F. (2012). Applying importance-performance analysis to the management of health care services. China-USA Business Review, 11(2), 275–282. Retrieved from http://www.davidpublishing.com/davidpublishing/Upfile/2/21/2012/2012022183915705.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Madhavan, H., & Rastogi, R. (2013). Social and psychological factors influencing destination preferences of domestic tourists in India. Leisure Studies, 32(2), 207–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madnick, S., & Siegel, M. (2008). A system dynamics (SD) approach to modeling and understanding terrorist networks. D&B DUNS Number 00-142-5594 Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE).

  • Martilla, J., & James, J. C. (1977). Importance-performance analysis. Journal of Marketing, 41(1), 77–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matei, L., & Matei, A. (2011). Integrated approach of the citizen’s role in relation to the public services. International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, 8(1), 11–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meek, J. W., & Newell, W. H. (2005). Complexity, interdisciplinarity and public administration: implications for integrating communities. Public Administration Quarterly Randallstown: Fall., 29(3), 321–349.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michener, J. (2013). Neighborhood disorder and local participation: examining the political relevance of “broken windows”. Political Behavior, 35(4), 777–806.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miranda, F. J., Chamorri, A., Murillo, L. R., & Vega, J. (2010). An importance-performance analysis of primary health care services: managers vs. Patients perceptions. Journal of Service Science and Management, 3(2), 227–234. doi:10.4236/jssm.2010.32028.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Optner, S. L. (1968). L’analyse des systèmes et les problèmes de gestion. Paris: Traduit par V. Renard.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ortigueira-Bouzada, M. (1992). Imaxe e prosperidade urbana (Urban image and prosperity). Revista Galega de Economía, 1(2), 17–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ortigueira-Bouzada, M. (1998). El futuro en la tarea de gobernar una entidad local: la responsabilidad histórica VI Xornadas Galegas sobre Economía das Corporacions Localis (pp. 327–444). Santiago: Xunta de Galicia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ortigueira-Sánchez, L. C., & Gómez-Selemeneva, D. (2012). Innovation in tourist management through critical success factors: a fuzzy Map In soft computing in management and business economics (pp. 361–373). Berlin Heidelberg: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-30451-4_25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ortigueira-Sánchez, L. C., Ortigueira-Bouzada, M., & Gómez-Selemeneva, D. (2015). Derived importance-performance analysis and diagonal model in a Spanish municipality. International Review of Administrative Sciences, 0020852315585510. 10.1177/0020852315585510

  • Osborne, D., & Gaebler, T. (1992). Reinventing government. Reading: Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pesonen, J., & Komppula, R. (2010). Rural wellbeing tourism: motivations and expectations. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 17(01), 150–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pitner, R. O., Yu, M., & Brown, E. (2012). Making neighborhoods safer: examining predictors of residents’ concerns about neighborhood safety. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 32(1), 43–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quade, E. S. (1963). Military systems analysis, memorandum RM-3452-PR. Santa Monica: The RAND Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez, P. G., Burguete, J. L. V., Vaughan, R., & Edwards, J. (2009). Quality dimensions in the public sector: municipal services and citizens’ perception. International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, 6(1), 75–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, C. E., & Mirowsky, J. (1999). Disorder and decay: the concept and measurement of perceived neighborhood disorder. Urban Affairs Review, 34(3), 412–432.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rukus, J., & Warner, M. E. (2013). Crime rates and collective efficacy: the role of family friendly planning. Cities, 31, 37–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skelcher, C., Klijn, E. H., Kübler, D., Sørensen, E., & Sullivan, H. (2011). Explaining the democratic anchorage of governance networks: evidence from four European countries. Administrative Theory & Praxis, 33(1), 7–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slocum, L. A., Rengifo, A. F., Choi, T., & Herrmann, C. R. (2013). The elusive relationship between community organizations and crime: an assessment across disadvantaged areas of the south Bronx. Criminology, 51(1), 167–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steenbeek, W., Volker, B., Flap, H., & van Oort, F. (2012). Local businesses as attractors or preventers of neighborhood disorder. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 49(2), 213–248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, J., & Ayres, R. (2001). Systems theory and policy practice: an exploration. Policy Sciences, 34(1), 79–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Streimikiene, D., & Bilan, Y. (2015). Review of rural tourism development theories. Transformations in Business & Economics, 14(2), 35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsephe, N. P., & Obono, S. E. (2013, January). A Theoretical Framework for Rural Tourism Motivation Factors. In Proceedings of World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology (No. 73, p. 1001). World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology (WASET).

  • Upton, J., & Mansell, C. (2011). Building cohesion and trust in London—a social marketing approach. International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, 8(1), 57–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Buuren, A., & Klijn, E. H. (2006). Trajectories of institutional design in policy networks: European interventions in the Dutch fishery network as an example. International Review of Administrative Sciences, 72(3), 395–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Ryzin, G. G., & Immerwahr, S. (2004). Derived importance-performance analysis of citizen survey data. Public Performance and Management Review, 27(4), 144–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Ryzin, G. G., & Immerwahr, S. (2007). Importance-performance analysis of citizen satisfaction surveys. Public Administration, 85(1), 215–226. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9299.2007.00641.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • von Bertalanffy, L. (1968). General system theory: Foundations, development, applications. New York: Braziller.

    Google Scholar 

  • von Bertalanffy, L. (1972). History and status of general systems theory. Academy of Management Journal, 15(4).

  • Walliser, B. (1977). Systèmes et modèles. Paris: Introduction critique à l’analyse de systèmes. Aux Éditions du Seuil.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wieland, L. (2013) Madrid. Capital of rubbish (Madrid. Hauptstadt des Mülls), Frankfurter Allgemeine 11/11/2013 (http://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/madrid-hauptstadt-des-muells-12658880.html).

  • Zahnow, R., Wickes, R., Haynes, M., & Mazerolle, L. (2013). Change and stability in ethnic diversity across urban communities: explicating the influence of social cohesion on perceptions of disorder. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 46(3), 335–356.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad del Pacífico, Lima, Perú

    Luis Camilo Ortigueira-Sánchez

Authors
  1. Luis Camilo Ortigueira-Sánchez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luis Camilo Ortigueira-Sánchez.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ortigueira-Sánchez, L.C. Influencing factors on citizen safety perception: systems and broken windows theories. Int Rev Public Nonprofit Mark 14, 95–111 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12208-016-0163-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12208-016-0163-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation