There is a need for a radical devolution of power and resources to councils to help businesses adapt to a changed consumer environment. This is the main conclusion of a report produced by London Councils, which represents the capital’s 33 local authorities.

Read more on CALL FOR COUNCILS TO GET MORE POWER TO SUPPORT HIGH STREETS…

Change is hard. It’s unsettling, it’s time-consuming, and all too often we give up at the first sign of a setback. Chip and Dan Heath provide insights into why this is so and what can be done about.

Read more on SWITCH: HOW TO CHANGE THINGS WHEN CHANGE IS HARD…

Many benefit claimants will struggle to meet the requirement of the new welfare arrangements which are due to be introduced from October 2013 with the launch of universal credit. Pilot schemes started last year by councils have revealed the scale of the difficulty many claimants will experience.

Read more on UNIVERSAL CREDIT PILOTS REVEAL CHALLENGES FACING BENEFIT CLAIMANTS…

Prisons don’t exist in isolation; they should be an integral part of the community and fulfil a duty of care. In this article Gordon Harrison explains how intelligence management technology plays an important part in fulfilling a responsibility to protect the public as well as contributing to internal prison management.

Read more on ENSURING PRISONS CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO THEIR COMMUNITIES…

In this book Nathan Yau takes a fresh look at visualization. Whether it’s statistical charts, geographic maps, or the snappy graphical statistics you see increasingly on the news and in newspapers, the art of data graphics or visualization is fast becoming a movement of its own.

The author presents an intriguing complement to his bestseller Visualize This, this time focusing on the graphics side of data analysis. Using examples from art, design, business, statistics, cartography, and online media, he explores both standard-and not so standard-concepts and ideas about illustrating data.

Read more on DATA POINTS: VISUALIZATION THAT MEANS SOMETHING…

Integration of health, housing and social care services is crucial to the creation of sustainable care models for the future. This is the conclusion of a new report from the Good Governance Institute.

Read more on CALL TO INTEGRATE HEALTH HOUSING AND SOCIAL CARE…

Public servants who form ‘John Lewis style’ mutuals to take control of their services need better access to external finance if they are to transform public services, a report published today argues.

Read more on MUTUALS NEED EXTERNAL FINANCE FROM SOCIAL AND COMMERCIAL LENDERS…

Procurement by different departments from a host of suppliers inevitably brings inefficiencies and reduces opportunities for leveraging better deals. This feature describes how Newcastle University got a grip on procurement and reaped the benefit.

Read more on NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY GETS A GRIP ON PROCUREMENT…

Alexander Stevenson offers advice to public sector managers in the areas of accountability, setting targets, risk management, innovation, managing people and decision making.

His offer includes practical advice to public sector managers on how to develop techniques to deal with the challenges they face, particularly in the areas of accountability, setting targets, risk management, encouraging innovation, managing people, decision making and working with politicians.

Read more on THE PUBLIC SECTOR: MANAGING THE UNMANAGEABLE…

The civil service values taxing and regulating more highly than saving taxpayers money. In a move to change this culture, an incentive scheme has been launched to reward staff with ideas for saving money.

Read more on CIVIL SERVICE CULTURE CHANGE TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY…