A rounded picture is what we need : rhetorical strategies, arguments, and the negotiation of change in a UK hospital trust

This article is concerned with the introduction of the agenda of New Public Management (NPM) within the board of a UK Hospital Trust: West London Hospital (WLH). We discuss the literature on New Public Management, including its limitations for analysing the organizational reality of implementing NPM. But we will also be drawing on discourse theory and the literature on rhetoric. The main argument in this article is that in order to understand the reality of the NPM paradigm, we need to study the rhetorical strategies of protagonists involved in the negotiation of the NPM agenda. Rhetorical strategies are means of making general viewpoints more convincing, for example, by comparing 'our' organization with similar organizations. Rhetorical strategies show patterns, which reappear in conversations and arguments made by protagonists. Specifically, we identified three rhetorical strategies justifying why and what kind of a more 'rounded picture' was required: widening the argument to include national productivity comparisons with other hospitals; widening the argument away from a narrow focus on finance toward a strategic and political perspective; and, lastly, widening the argument to look at innovation in the whole clinical process

SmartNet simulation platform

The TSO-DSO coordination schemes proposed by SmartNet have been tested by means of dedicated simulations aimed at realistically reproducing the behavior of the electrical system and of the involved actors in hypothetical scenarios (expected 2030 situation of Italy, Denmark and Spain). The present report describes the software platform of the simulator which has been completely developed by the SmartNet team on the basis of the theoretical concepts in terms of aggregation/disaggregation, TSO-DSO interactions and responsibilities, market clearing strategies. Numerous settings can be set in order to simulate arbitrary market and bidding dynamics (market frequency, latency, time horizon).The document describes in detail the simulation blocks that have been developed by the SmartNet team, illustrating the role of the main functions, the variables used to make interaction among different layers, as well as the necessary settings for the setup of simulation platform

Testing TSO-DSO interaction schemes for the participation of distribution energy resources in the balancing market : the SmartNet simulator

Many projections of near-future electricity system foresee a constantly increasing necessity of power flexibility services. In particular, thanks to the growing presence of renewable generation and innovative load technologies, distribution resources are becoming attractive productsin ancillary services markets. In order to open the market gates to distribution flexibility, constant interactions between transmission and distribution system operators are required and the European project SmartNet is investigating in detail the possible coordination schemes among these two actors. The paper describes the SmartNet simulator, one of the main tools developed within the project, whi ch precisely estimates the impact of TSO -DSO coordination schemes from the bidding and market clearing perspective, taking into account the consequent effects on the network physics at both transmission and distribution level

Introduction: Rethinking environment and development in Africa and Asia

This paper introduces a series of African and Asian case studies on environment and development. It explores the tension between optimistic and pessimistic interpretations of environmental maintenance and transformation. It critically examines political ecology and eco-populism before analysing underlying models of governance, social justice and human rights. Key concepts in understanding the relationship between environment and development are discussed, including security, sustainable livelihoods, coping and entitlements. The paper ends with a discussion of marginality and vulnerability with particular attention to urban and informal sector environments

Energy utilisation in peri-urban areas: issues of demand

Whilst energy issues are generally understood in both rural and urban areas, there is a poor grasp of the same issues where the rural meets the urban. These peri-urban areas have their own characteristics and own dynamics that require a specific focus if energy needs are to be satisfied. There are specific problems, constraints and opportunities in peri-urban zones that are both areas of consumption and production. This paper explores the range of energy demand issues in the periurban interface. This includes an examination of household livelihood strategies, energy conservation, fuel-switching, gender issues, peri-urban energy markets and participatory planning for energy interventions

The Contestation of Archetypes: Negotiating<br /> Scripts in a UK Hospital Trust Board

This paper deals with the aftermath of the creation of a new governance structure in the UK National Health Service. We conceptualize this new governance structure as a ‘Trust Hospital Archetype’ in order to establish the promises and limitations of an archetype transition framework. We find that the ‘reality’ of the ‘Trust Hospital Archetype’ is one involving a high degree of contestation. This is confirmed by evidence drawn from interviews, documents, observation and participant observation. In order to analyse contestation, we distinguish between three interpretive schemes – Ideological–New Public Management, Executive Pragmatism and Medical Professionalism; and we outline five scripts – challenging, critiquing, mediating, cautioning and defending. This diversity casts doubt on the usefulness of simplistic managerialism–professionalism dichotomies prevalent in much of the literature. It also suggests modifications to archetype transition theory, which lends too much weight to the role of dominant interpretive schemes

The Grand Western Canadian Screen Shop, A Print Legend : A Fifteen Year Survey, 1968-1983

The authors discuss the silkscreen process, the history of the Grand Western Canadian Screen Shop, the Winnipeg Art Gallery's exhibition policy objectives, and the origins of the exhibition. Biographical notes

Discourses, Rhetorical Strategies and Arguments: Conversations in an NHS Trust Hospital Board

This article is concerned with the introduction of the agenda of New Public Management (NPM) within the board of a UK Hospital Trust: West London Hospital (WLH). We discuss the literature on New Public Management, including its limitations for analysing the organizational reality of implementing NPM. But we will also be drawing on discourse theory and the literature on rhetoric. The main argument in this article is that in order to understand the reality of the NPM paradigm, we need to study the rhetorical strategies of protagonists involved in the negotiation of the NPM agenda. Rhetorical strategies are means of making general viewpoints more convincing, for example, by comparing ‘our’ organization with similar organizations. Rhetorical strategies show patterns, which reappear in conversations and arguments made by protagonists. Specifically, we identified three rhetorical strategies justifying why and what kind of a more ‘rounded picture’ was required: widening the argument to include national productivity comparisons with other hospitals; widening the argument away from a narrow focus on finance toward a strategic and political perspective; and, lastly, widening the argument to look at innovation in the whole clinical process