A Conceptual Model for Group Support Systems in Local Councils

This paper proposes a conceptual model of a context-aware group support system (GSS) to assist local council employees to perform collaborative tasks in conjunction with inter- and intra-organisational stakeholders. Most discussions about e-government focus on the use of ICT to improve the relationship between government and citizen, not on the relationship between government and employees. This paper seeks to expose the unique culture of UK local councils and to show how a GSS could support local government employer and employee needs

Identifying the practice components of youth councils: contributions of theory

Social workers are involved in numerous efforts to engage youth in programs, communities, and civic life. One potential strategy has focused on engagement and empowerment of youth through the form of youth councils. Multiple theoretical frames have characterized the scholarly literature. This has limited the conceptual coherence of the field. In this paper, we report empirical data on the operation of several youth councils. We analyze the data to identify the implicit frameworks in use and apply the data from our study to sort practice components within frameworks. This effort is designed to improve conceptualization of youth councils, to inform the development of councils, and eventually to improve outcomes of councils.Published versionAccepted manuscrip

Summary Assessment Report: The Planning Phase of the Rebuilding Communities Initiative

Evaluates the planning and implementation of a multiyear community change initiative in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Denver, and Detroit

Developing a conceptual model of marine farming in New Zealand

Survey and Geographic Information System (GIS) data analysis describes the relative influence of biophysical and human variables on site choices made by marine farmers in New Zealand. Community conflicts have grown in importance in determining farm location and different government planning strategies leave distinct signature patterns. Recent legislation empowers local governments to choose among three strategies for future regional aquaculture development. This paper suggests each strategy could result in different spatial outcomes. Simulation modelling of the type described here can provide a better understanding of farmer responses to management approaches and the range of futures that could result from planning choices made today

Strengthening group decision making within shared governance: a case study

Shared governance is an approach to empowering nurses and other health care workers to have authority for decisions concerning their practice. Commonly, visible definers of shared governance are groups of workers known as ‘councils’ whose membership works collectively to realise a shared goal. The literature is replete with rhetoric as to the benefits of shared governance yet the evidence base concerning shared governance and especially decision-making within shared governance is scant. This paper presents a case study of group decision-making within a UK shared governance council model. The evidence which informs the case study is drawn from a doctoral action-research study to strengthen decision-making within the model. Eight key factors affecting decision-making and four supportive conditions are presented and incorporated into a conceptual model. Within the case study, presence of these factors was found to be necessary but not sufficient to enhance decision-making. Factors included having a clear issue, clear aim, fitting issue, manageable issue, size, lead person allocated, level of authority, background information, key informant/s, a mechanism for evaluation, adequately skilled members, support/guidance and sufficient/appropriate membership. Aspects of group decision-making processes are highlighted and compared with established management, shared governance and group dynamics theory

European Works Councils on the Periphery? A Case Study of a 'Global Economic Outpost'

European Works Councils (EWCs) are now an established part of industrial relations structures in approaching 600 multinational companies with potentially 10,000 or more employee participants(EIRR 2000). They have become the object of considerable expectation as, variously, vehicles for the development of a European industrial relations system, corporate communication networks or the basis for international trade union solidarity. They are equally the focus of wide ranging academic speculation, case study analysis and survey research. The empirical data that has been generated has served to support the development of a series of ‘models’ of EWCs that are commonly related to the initial expectations to their role

Exploring the evidence base : an overview of the literature on the economic impact of knowledge transfer

This paper presents a policy-focused overview of relevant extant and ongoing research relating to the economic impact of knowledge transfer from higher education institutions. It highlights gaps in the current higher education research policy agenda on knowledge transfer as well as making suggestions where further research could most usefully inform policy. Consideration is also given within this paper to the development and use of metrics related to knowledge transfer activities of higher education institutions

Creating an evidence base to support the development of a holistic approach to working with children and young people in Derbyshire: a local authority case study on the integration of social pedagogy in children and young people’s services

Derbyshire County Council Children and Younger Adult’s Directorate has been undergoing a social pedagogy learning journey. Local research has identified that where social pedagogy underpins the activities offered to vulnerable children and those in residential care settings the outcomes for these groups are improved. Research suggests that there is a growing appetite for a programme of workforce development in social pedagogical approaches. A growing body of research suggests that whilst training in this area is valued and has impact, it should not result in a new professional identity, that of social pedagogue. Rather the principles and concepts should be embedded in the existing roles of a range of practitioners and stakeholders working with children and young people. As a result of these insights a new accredited programme is being developed in Derbyshire in partnership with the University of Derby which will be offered to 100 practitioners drawn from across the range of the children’s and young people’s workforce. This new approach will be the focus of new research which monitors the impact of the training on the behaviours of practitioners and the outcomes for children. This article offers insights into process and thinking which surrounds the new strategy

A three-dimensional model of residential energy consumer archetypes for local energy policy design in the UK

This paper reviews major studies in three traditional lines of research in residential energy consumption in the UK, i.e. economic/infrastructure, behaviour, and load profiling. Based on the review the paper proposes a three-dimensional model for archetyping residential energy consumers in the UK by considering property energy efficiency levels, the greenness of household behaviour of using energy, and the duration of property daytime occupancy. With the proposed model, eight archetypes of residential energy consumers in the UK have been identified. They are: pioneer greens, follower greens, concerned greens, home stayers, unconscientious wasters, regular wasters, daytime wasters, and disengaged wasters. Using a case study, these archetypes of residential energy consumers demonstrate the robustness of the 3-D model in aiding local energy policy/intervention design in the UK