Developmental papers
Austerity policies: A Systematic Review of Organisational Responses to Work and Employment Relations (133)
Author/s: Dennis Gabriel Pepple Kehinde Olowookere
Track: Public Management and Governance
Paper Type: Developmental Papers
Keywords: Austerity policies, employee voice, organisation, union engagement, systematic review
Abstract: This systematic review on the responses that organisation make to the effect of austerity provides an insight on the various actions that organisations take to ensure the sustenance of their activities in period of austerity. Organisations respond to the effects of austerity in different ways. While some take advantage of the economic environment to increase the workload of employees with little or no engagement with employees, others encourage dialogue by increasing employee and union engagement. There is however no study that examines the effect of employee and union involvement (conceptualised in this study as employee voice). Thus, suggesting the novelty of this study.
Succession Planning in Russian Non-Profits (138)
Author/s: Jo Crotty Sergej Ljubownikow Joanne Ljubovnikova
Track: Public Management and Governance
Paper Type: Developmental Papers
Keywords: non-profit, leadership, succession planning, Russia
Abstract: This paper examines the hitherto under-researched area of succession planning in non profit organisations NPOs. By employing data from Russian health related NPOs we find an absence of succession planning arising from both a lack of democratic working practices, and the dominance of organisational leaders. Consequently, the internal structure of Russian NPOs, in combination with a hostile operating environment, contributes to the fragility of Russias third sector.
Using Emotional Mapping To Improve Systems Of Care For Frail Older People (211)
Author/s: Victoria Cluley Zoe Radnor Sharon Williams
Track: Public Management and Governance
Paper Type: Developmental Papers
Keywords: Emotional mapping, healthcare, public services
Abstract: The improvement of NHS systems of care for frail older people is an important and topical issue. The aim of this developmental paper is to explore the emotional experiences of frail older people and their carers who have received health care in England and to consider how emotional mapping can be used to improve an NHS system of care for frail older people. Emotional mapping is a technique used in experience based design to improve processes based on user experiences and has been used in the improvement of numerous healthcare systems. The study will use semi-structured interviews with 30 frail older people who have experienced the system of care recently. The interviews will focus individual experiences and the emotions felt. A visualisation of the system of care will be used to focus the interviews to allow the participants to situate their experiences. The findings from the interviews will be mapped onto this visualisation and recommendations for improvement will be made.The empirical research for this study is set to begin in May 2019 in the Leicester city healthcare system in the UK. By the conference date we expect to have completed the emotional mapping and will be able to discuss the project process, experience, and the recommendations for improvement that we intend to make.
Developing an Understanding of Public Service Value and Disvalue Co-Creation (244)
Author/s: Steven Parker Victoria Cluley Zoe Radnor Wendy Fitzgibbon
Track: Public Management and Governance
Paper Type: Developmental Papers
Keywords: Co-production, value creation, value destruction
Abstract: Public services are generally framed as state provided services that benefit the common good or that the public do not want to lose. This developmental paper focuses on the relationship between co-production, value creation and value destruction in public services, and sets out the early stages of a new research project. We present some first steps towards re-thinking co-creation which is coerced, unwanted and enforced, and how it might be researched in future. The paper considers some theoretical developments and the use of innovative approaches to conduct empirical research.
Exploring Collective Leadership in a Public Context (285)
Author/s: Kristy Docherty
Track: Public Management and Governance
Paper Type: Developmental Papers
Keywords: Collective Leadership, public leadership, complexity, narrative research, change
Abstract: This paper explores the experiences and perceptions of professionals working on collective challenges across organisational boundaries in Scotlands Public Services. The author does so through the lens of relationality, exploring how individuals engage and lead together in their practice. The contribution to theory is a qualitative understanding of collective leadership illuminated by context. The focus on how we work together in groups, across boundaries and sectors provides a rich setting to examine aspects of individual and group process, helping us to understand and make sense of what it means to work in this way. The author offers a contemporary, bounded view of collective leadership where paying attention to the relational aspects of group work and privileging the individual, the group process and the relationship between them, above the shared task, may offer an alternative and enlightening approach for teams collaborating across boundaries.
Perceiving Financial Vulnerability: The Impact of Entrenchment on Value Destruction in the Case of Northamptonshire County Council through the Lens of Financial Resilience. (316)
Author/s: Martin Jones Bernard Kofi Dom Pete Murphy
Track: Public Management and Governance
Paper Type: Developmental Papers
Keywords: Perceived Vulnerability, Impacts of Entrenchment, Financial Resilience.
Abstract: The concept of financial resilience has been shown to be useful in understanding how local authorities respond to adverse conditions affecting their financial position Barbera et al 2017. After 10 years of financial austerity, the financial director of Northamptonshire County Council NCC issued a Section 114 notice in February 2018, the first occurrence in the UK for 20 years. A Section 114 notice is a significant event as it a legal requirement to report in the public interest where a local authority fails to set a balanced budget. A period of intervention followed the initial Section 114 notice but despite this, a second notice was issued in July 2018 stating that the Council had no financial resilience. Adopting a case study approach, and using publicly available archival data including financial data held by the UK government, audit and inspection reports, CPA outcomes, the Council published accounts, peer assessments and other reports issued by the Council, this paper uses the lens of financial resilience to examine how Northamptonshire County Council perceived its financial vulnerability during the years leading up to February 2018. The paper shows that misperception resulted in entrenchment in decision making that subsequently undermined value delivery. This focussed approach on a single organisation, allows for an in-depth examination of events, contexts, processes and actions in order to better understand how we can interpret perceptions of vulnerability and the impact they have on financial decision making.
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An Exploration of Public Services Innovation Readiness within the Emirate of Sharjah (506)
Author/s: Eman Jasim Al-Raeesi Gordian Udechukwu Ojiako
Track: Public Management and Governance
Paper Type: Developmental Papers
Keywords: Public Sector, Innovation Readiness, Service Innovation, Knowledge Management, Intellectual Capital, Human Capital
Abstract: This study proposes an examination of innovation readiness within the context of public services organizations in the Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. The study will be undertaken in the form of a fine-grained exploratory case study. The unit of analysis will be the public service unit of Sharjah. Data will be obtained from a combination of multiple exploratory interviews with key stakeholders involved in managing innovation readiness initiatives within these service units (Sharjah Municipality) and a questionnaire survey. The data will then be analyzed with the NVivo and IBM SPSS software packages. Findings from are likely to suggest the need for proactive consideration of national innovation priorities in the United Arab Emirates with dual tensions being experienced by the municipalities who on one hand seek to deliver on their traditional mandate and on the other hand seek to deliver on what may appear as a multiplicity of national priorities.
Exploring The Contribution of Lay/Non-executive Directors to the Governance of NHS Commissioning Bodies in England. (565)
Author/s: Joy Margaret Tweed
Track: Public Management and Governance
Paper Type: Developmental Papers
Keywords: Governance, public-sector, non-executive
Abstract: This study explores the role of lay members on boards of organizations responsible for commissioning services to meet local health needs, firstly Primary Care Trusts PCTs and then, from 2013, Clinical Commissioning Groups CCGs. There can be conflicting accountabilities between a non executive director acting in a private sector corporate governance role, and a local representative one. This study considers the motivations for lay people taking on these roles, their expectations and experience of the role. For nearly all respondents there was a public service motivation, with an overarching role as a defender of public interests. However, there were differences in whom the public were perceived to be. The dominant emphasis for some respondents was the efficiency of the organisation, reflecting a corporate governance role, and providing accountability upwards to government and to the national taxpaying public. Other respondents saw their accountability as being outwards to the local public and patients. The roles included challenging perceived self interest of other board members, whether of managers in PCTs or of GPs within CCGs.
Ready Or Not? Assessing Readiness For Change In A Public Service (604)
Author/s: Jean Hartley Loua Khalil Richard Harding Denise Martin
Track: Public Management and Governance
Paper Type: Developmental Papers
Keywords: readiness to change, organizational change, implemenation, absorptive capacity, policing
Abstract: There is a significant strand of theory and research about readiness to change (e.g. Holt et al, 2007), but this concept has not been applied to any major extent to conceptualising organizational and cultural change in public service organizations. This paper addresses readiness to change in 43 public service organizations in one sector and provides empirical evidence on variations in readiness. This developmental paper is an examination of readiness to change in the learning and development services of all 43 territorial police forces of England and Wales. The purpose of the research is to understand to what extent and in what ways English and Welsh police forces are exhibiting readiness for change in respect of the organizational changes to training, learning and development which would support to implementation of major change in the L and D service. Responses to a survey about readiness were received from 45 participants representing 32 police forces. The paper presents the findings from the survey, from which three themes about readiness can be discerned. The empirical research makes a contribution to the literature by deploying the concept of readiness to change to organizations in the public service sector, where change has more often been mandated than voluntary. There are valuable insights into readiness to change, and the paper also draws out relevant similarities and differences with absorptive capacity.
How Digital Learning Processes Meet The Ever Changing Needs Of The Policing Profession? Enablers And Barriers In Its Application (707)
Author/s: Tina Papathoma
Track: Public Management and Governance
Paper Type: Developmental Papers
Keywords: digital learning, e-learning, policing, public management
Abstract: This is a developmental paper discussing the topic of professional development through digital learning in the context of education and training of public servants. The fieldwork is undertaken with policing organizations, more specifically territorial forces in England and Wales and their national body for professional development. In particular, this empirical study explores the current application of digital learning in the police service across England and Wales and considers how digital learning processes meet the ever-changing needs of the policing profession in order to identify enablers and barriers in its application. The paper contributes to gaining new insights on digital learning in the context of public service organizations. This research raises awareness into the challenges faced by the police in managing digital learning design and implementation to meet the changing demands of the policing service. The findings of this research can be appliedin other workplace contexts where organisations require professionals to get upskilled through digital learning.
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"Eat, Sleep, Work, Repeat": New Normal For Frontline Emergency Service Workers? (760)
Author/s: Professor Paresh Wankhade Dr Swetketu Patnaik
Track: Public Management and Governance
Paper Type: Developmental Papers
Keywords: emergency service workers, stress, mental health, bullying &, harassment, resilience
Abstract: Cases of stress, poor mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are on the rise in the emergency service workers. Instances of harassment and bullying instances are getting more common and now are part of official reports. This paper analyses the evidence on the health and wellbeing of staff in the ambulance, police and fire services in the UK. It highlights the implications of work pressure on the frontline staff and argues whether work intensification is becoming a new normal? The paper provides avenues for further research on a topic area with a massive knowledge gap.
Developing Leaders in Public Service (790)
Author/s: Paulette D. Toppin
Track: Public Management and Governance
Paper Type: Developmental Papers
Keywords: Non-Western, Leadership Development, Public Service Transformation, Organisation Culture, Leadership Learning
Abstract: This draft developmental papers focus is concepts of public service transformation and its purpose as the background to leadership development efforts in the public sector. Two key themes that have emerged from a systematic literature review on leadership development in the public service, government intentions as the base unit in which leadership development occurs in public service transformation and leadership development terminology receive attention as important theoretical considerations that contribute to investigation into the base unit of study, the Public Sector Leadership Development Programme in Jamaica. This developmental paper will go on to provide first insights into emerging results. To date, 13 semi structured elite interviews have been conducted with programme stakeholders. Based on preliminary results, we begin to show how the challenge of public sector transformation as the underpinning background to the leadership development programme is perceived and informs the leadership development programme, and participant impact.
Austerity Impacts on Public Service Management among English Local Authorities (853)
Author/s: Bernard Kofi Dom Martin Jones Alan Collins
Track: Public Management and Governance
Paper Type: Developmental Papers
Keywords: Austerity, Public Service Management
Abstract: After the government imposed austerity measures in 2010, managers of English local authorities have faced challenges in making tough decisions in mobilizing funds to ensure public service delivery in their communities. The problem becomes more challenging due to an increase in demand for public services across UK Local Authorities during times of austerity. The Centre for Cities (2019) highlights that individuals had an increased demand for health and social (adult and children) services (97%), housing (37%), and education (25%) services.
The paper seeks to evaluate how austerity has challenged UK local authorities, making it more difficult for them to provide statutory services in their communities. To address the research problem, the paper focuses on how austerity has affected English local authorities in providing two statutory services (social services and education). Further, the paper proposed a mixed method combining both quantitative and qualitative methods to evaluate austerity impacts on statutory service delivery across English local authorities. The paper concludes with possible response strategies that are available to ensure that English local authorities recover from the current challenges they face in managing public services during times of austerity.
The Enablers of Stakeholders Engagement in Health Policy Development: The Case of Western Australia Health Networks (919)
Author/s: Ayman Fouda Johanna Macneil Adrian Melia Francesco Paolucci Ana Rita Sequeira
Track: Public Management and Governance
Paper Type: Developmental Papers
Keywords: Health Networks, Stakeholder Engagement, Western Australia
Abstract: In high income countries, the health sector is challenged by limited resources in an environment characterized by demographic changes, costly technological innovation, and the burden of complex chronic non communicable diseases. Health networks serve as a collaborative platform for multidisciplinary stakeholders engagement and consumer participation aiming for the coproduction of health policies and standards of care. Western Australian health networks are presented as a case study on stakeholders engagement in policy development. WA has chronic understaffing and the lowest population density of any state in Australia, making the effective provision of health services challenging. The case study follows a qualitative methodology which includes document analysis, observation, and interviews. Furthermore, we propose a conceptual framework to measure WA health networks contribution to WA health system. We identified two issues in WA health networks that might negatively influence their effectiveness, lack of equal participation by all the stakeholders, and limitations in the representation of stakeholders. Furthermore, we identified the main limitation of the case study is measuring the extent to which health networks are used in the management of long term conditions in an area characterized by low population density. The limitation stems from the fact that health networks are mechanisms for policy production and dissemination rather than policy implementation. To overcome this limitation, data will be collected that allows an examination and differentiation across networks to examine the extent and effectiveness of the use of informal networks in managing long term conditions relative to the geographical isolation of the individual.
Social Innovation In The Welfare System (1109)
Author/s: Andreas Hellstroem Erik Eriksson
Track: Public Management and Governance
Paper Type: Developmental Papers
Keywords: social innovation, cancer care, welfare, user-driven, design
Abstract: Kraftens hus The House of Power is a social innovation project initiated, driven, and designed by people affected by cancer. Their 300 square meters venue opened on February 8th, 2018 and was the first cancer support center in Sweden created by people affected by cancer. It is the result of a collaboration between cancer affected, relatives, local hospital, primary care, municipality, Social insurance agency, Employment agency, academia, local businesses, and civil society. All of these actors are often involved in peoples life event of getting a cancer diagnosis, but the resources are fragmented and badly fitted for the person affected by cancer. With the ambition to act as a platform for relevant resources, Kraftens hus builds on the logic of user driven resource integration. By offering emotional, social and practical support, Kraftens hus is developing a new role in the Swedish welfare system in the borderland between cancer care and other social functions.
In this manuscript, we focus on the empirical description of the open and distributed innovation process that has created Kraftens hus. We present the design and execution of the process, how cancer affected and their life event framed the design scope, and how relevant social actors collaborated to create a platform for resource integration. We want to discuss relevant and creative theoretical frameworks and models where the presented empirical case may provide interesting contributions. At the end of the manuscript, we present some early suggestions on contributions we believe the manuscript may provide.