Risher HPublic Personnel Management, (USA), Autumn 1999 Vol 28 No 3
Start page: 323. No of pages: 21
Lists the problems that beset the traditional approach to pay within the US public sector, criticizing its reliance on job hierarchies for being inimical to teamworking, bureaucratic and for overemphasizing salary grade change, rather than competence, as the main vehicle for salary increases. Describes a new approach based on broad banding, illustrating it by showing how it works in Charlotte, North Carolina. Indicates the main differences between broad banding and the old approach. Sees the market focus of broad banding as being one of its main advantages, discussing why public sector pay needs to be linked more to the market rates for the job. In addition to broadbanding, sets out the advantages of introducing pay-for-performance and, focusing on merit pay and gainsharing, considers how to introduce such plans successfully. Underlines the need to ensure that employees accept the change to the new approach, listing the ways in which beliefs about pay need to be shifted and indicating the human resource department’s role in achieving this.
Read more on ARE PUBLIC EMPLOYERS READY FOR A NEW PAY PROGRAMME?…
The Department of Health has released more money to allow airline style booking in the NHS to become a reality for around five million people in less than two years time.It follows pilots which have experimented with the modernisation of previously slow and inflexible booking systems.
Read more on BOOKING YOUR OP LIKE BOOKING YOUR PLANE OR TRAIN…
Three further reports from the 18 Policy Action Teams (PATs) set up to respond to the challenge of renewing Britain’s rundown communities have been published.They add some of the last pieces of the jigsaw to shape both the forthcoming urban and rural white papers later this summer, and the spending review.
Councils, and all public sector workers faced with the challenge of market-testing their services, will welcome recognition from the Government that the quality and training of staff represents an important factor in delivering quality services.Such issues are among some of the new criteria councils will be able to use when they seek partnerships with the private sector under new proposals set out in a new Best Value consultation paper.
Read more on QUALITY OF STAFF A FACTOR IN ACHIEVING QUALITY SERVICES…
The British Medical Association has welcomed the Prime Minister’s ten point plan for freeing family doctors of much of their paperwork and returning to them their primary role – caring for patients.Dr John Chisholm, chairman of the BMA’s General Practitioners Committee described Tony Blair’s plan to free up surgery time as “a constructive approach to addressing GPs’ inexorably growing workload.”
Read more on GPS OFFERED ESCAPE ROUTE FROM GROWING NON-PATIENT TIME DEMANDS…
Local councils have been urged to put their land and property assets to better use.It’s been suggested that they might engage in a massive exercise of buying and selling property in order to re-site services more conveniently to users, and that they might save money by joining up with other key services to give buildings many uses.
A national task force on community planning will aim to assist communities in Scotland develop a shared local vision.The new task force will include membership from all key community planning partners, including councils, health boards, local enterprise companies, and voluntary and community groups.
Read more on NEW TASK FORCE TO HELP DELIVER COMMUNITY PLANNING…
1McAdam R, McCreedy SThe Learning Organization, (UK), Vol 6 No 3 1999
Start page: 91. No of pages: 10
Asks whether knowledge management is an emerging paradigm for business improvement or if it is a passing fad. Investigates this by evaluating existing knowledge management models and questioning the underlying assumptions. Identifies the main schools of thought within knowledge management. Looks at two different conceptualizations of knowledge that underpin the theories on knowledge management. Argues that the acknowledgement that knowledge is socially constructed is vital for the continuing development of knowledge management as an emerging paradigm. Suggests that the alternative view relegates knowledge management to being a convenient management tool. Presents a critique of the different models of knowledge management. Develops a model of knowledge management which acknowledges both the scientific and social construction of knowledge.
Read more on A CRITICAL REVIEW OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT MODELS…
The Government’s decision to target for improvement the way the NHS plans its workforce has been hailed as a vital first step in making better use of public money.The Kings Fund’s health policy analyst Anthony Harrison said: “Planning future requirements for doctors, nurses and other health professionals together rather than separately is a basic necessity for the NHS. Up to now, it has been carried out poorly and often inaccurately.”
Read more on PLANNING THE WORKFORCE IS VITAL STEP TO EFFICIENCY…
