By Ken Blanchard, John P. Carlos and Alan Randolph.

Empowerment is a process that requires ongoing effort, awareness, and commitment to transforming the hierarchy. This essential guide offers managers detailed, hands-on answers to their real-life questions about how they can navigate the journey to empowerment. The book closely examines and expands on the three keys to empowerment: sharing information, creating autonomy through boundaries, and replacing the hierarchy with teams. It clearly outlines the promises and challenges of each stage of the journey, providing managers with thought-provoking questions, clear advice, effective activities, and action tools that will help them create a culture of empowerment. Wherever they are in the journey, managers will find the book offers a clear roadmap.

Published by Berrett Koehler. ISBN: 1-57675-060-4. 20 US dollars.

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Young people in the North East who learn about the community and show the characteristics of good citizens are being rewarded through the use of smart cards. Some 3000 young people in the Derwentside District Council area are awarded points by teachers for agreed acts of good citizenship at school, for example being punctual or participating in a group activity. The points can be redeemed for rewards at leisure centres, cinemas and theatres.In a similar scheme by Stockton-on-Tees and Darlington Borough Councils some 2700 young people are rewarded with points for good behaviour and for taking part in special activities. They can use the points for leisure centre activities. All the councils are members of the North East Regional Smartcard Consortium.

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Modern matrons are changing the culture of the NHS by empowering nurses and challenging professional boundaries. The job of matron was re-introduced two years ago following its disappearance thirty years earlier. The modern matrons, with a remit for hands on management, impressed the Boards of NHS Trusts and appointments to the new role were made at four times the expected rate. There are now over 2000 matrons in post. The traget is to cover all wards in the NHS by the end of 2004.The new role was introduced to provide strong leadership on wards and be highly visible and accessible to patients. Matrons lead by example in driving up standards of clinical care and empowering nurses to take on a greater range of clinical tasks to help improve patient care. They have the power to get the basics right for patients, such as clean wards, good food, and quality care and they respond promptly to grievances and complaints.

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