False economy? The costs of contracting and workforce insecurity in the voluntary sector

The purpose of this project has been to gain insights into the direct and indirect implications of the insecure funding regime faced by the social care sector, with a particular focus on those relating to employment and service quality. Respondents revealed an intensifying climate of competition and anxiety among workers and their representatives regarding future employment prospects. This situation was aggravated by uncertainties over Supporting People funding and the actual, and perceived potential, impact of new EU public procurement regulations

The Use of Strategic Metaphors in Intercultural Business Communication

This paper contends that the use of strategic metaphors can help deliver the effective intercultural business communication necessary for global success. Using the Renault-Nissan Alliance as an example, the authors argue that an appropriate metaphor can help provide the global glue which captures the essence of the organisation’s activities, encapsulates its strategic intent, incorporates the national and global cultures, and portrays its ethical and business stance. Indeed, as is the case in the Renault-Nissan Alliance, the appropriate use of metaphor allowed the firm to bind a diverse group of stakeholders to a common goal by using the inherent ambiguity and multiplicity of meaning of the metaphor to overcome Asian and Western intercultural differences and at the same time maximise goal congruence.intercultural business communication, strategic metaphors, alliance relationships

The inhibiting factors that principal investigators experience in leading publicly funded research

Securing public funding to conduct research and leading it by being a principal investigator (PI) is seen as significant career development step. Such a role brings professional prestige but also new responsibilities beyond research leadership to research management. If public funding brings financial and infrastructure support, little is understood about the inhibiting factors that publicly funded PIs face given the research autonomy offered by publicly funded research. Our study finds that there are three key PI inhibiting factors (1) political and environmental, (2) institutional and (3) project based. Traditional knowledge, skills and technical know-how of publicly funded PIs are insufficient to deal with the increasing managerial demands and expectations i.e. growing external bureaucracy of public funding agencies. Public funding is no longer the 'freest form of support' as suggested by Chubin and Hackett (Peerless science: peer review and US science policy. Suny Press, New York, 1990) and the inhibiting factors experienced by publicly funded PIs limits their research autonomy. We also argue that PIs have little influence in overcoming these inhibiting factors despite their central role in conducting publicly funded research

Analysing public service outsourcing: the value of a regulatory perspective

This article draws on findings from two longitudinal case studies of voluntary organisations engaged in delivering social care services via purchaser – provider relations with local authorities. The study focuses on changes to contractual relations, employment conditions in provider organisations and service quality. The article argues the influence of the market on these changes can only be adequately comprehended by rooting the analysis in an understanding of the way in which surrounding regulatory frameworks shape its structure and operation. In doing so, it reveals how in an era of shifting market conditions characterised by greater competition and dramatic local authority cuts, a ‘soft’ regulatory framework offers little support to partnership relations between voluntary organisations and local authorities. Instead, the regulatory environment undermines financial security among voluntary organisations, degrades employment conditions in them and raises concerns regarding their service quality

Public services outsourcing in an era of austerity: the case of British social care

Utilising an institutional, inter-organisational and inter-personal framework, longitudinal qualitative data are used to examine the changing nature of state – voluntary sector relationships in the area of social care outsourcing and its implications for the terms and conditions of those employed by Scottish voluntary organisations. Over the period 2002 to 2008/09, against the background of funders seeking to pass on efficiencies to voluntary organisations, these relationships have become increasingly cost-based and ‘arms-length’. This has been accompanied by downward pressures on staff terms and conditions, which are intensifying because of more draconian public expenditure cuts. Consequently, voluntary sector employers are increasingly converging on an employment model based on low pay and more limited access to sickness, pension and other benefits that is informed strongly by narrow financial logics

Identifying as an outsider: implications for nonfamily in small family firms.

Family businesses are held in high regard the world over for their impact on employment, credited in part to their longevity and abundance. In spite of this omnipresence, we have only begun to understand the day-to-day realities of the family business as an employer. In this work, I look to further this understanding by investigating what it means to work for a family business. Nonfamily employees contribute greatly, however, they are not closely coupled to the identity of the family unit. I ask how they see, understand and deal with their identity as outsiders in a close family business. A social constructivist approach is used to paint a picture of how nonfamily identity is formed, using qualitative data and inductive analytical methods. Findings highlight the identity of nonfamily as developed through their relationship with the family business. This relationship is explained as a function of social identity theory and the implications forfamily business management are explored

What to do Until the Readiness Workbooks Arrive!

On a brisk October morning, Ms. Kind arrived at school early. Are those readiness workbooks here, yet? she asked Ms. Leeder, the principal. Not yet, Ms. Leeder replied, but they should be here any day now. I hope so, responded Ms. Kind. This morning I noticed how much the leaves have turned. The school year is moving right along. Since the school system\u27s goal this year is to have all children ready to begin reading instruction by the time they complete kindergarten, and my children have such a long way to go, I had better get started soon. Well, they\u27re due in any day now, Ms. Leeder repeated as she walked out to greet the first busload of children. For the next several weeks Ms. Kind checked every day to see if the workbooks had arrived. Finally, she was told that they were back-ordered and should be there after Thanksgiving! Meanwhile, Ms. Kind knew from talking with teachers in other schools that their workbooks had arrived weeks before. When Christmas vacation began and still no readiness workbooks had appeared, Ms. Kind decided to take matters into her own hands. Armed with journal articles she had copied at the library and some current textbooks, she sat down one snowy afternoon after Christmas, determined to plan her own reading readiness program. Her list at the end of the afternoon included five major knowings

The Olympics – going for gold and what else? : can London 2012 urban regeneration legacy be considered as sustainable development?

Olympic legacy was previously seen as a potential burden on the host city, however an evolutionary shift has occurred whereby it can now be regarded as an instrument in wider urban policy planning. Sustainable development is a requirement set by some governments, and London 2012 aimed to use the Olympic legacy for sustainable development in the form of urban regeneration. This paper is a case study of the London 2012 Olympics, using mixed methods involving interview, documents and personal observations. The focus is on the potential for mega sporting events such as the Olympics to contribute to sustainable urban development, and the London case, is used as an example of how this potential can be realised, and what problems it can occur. Within this, I analyse the concept of legacy itself, before using that definition to understand the sustainability of the London Olympics via the three pillars of sustainable development (Environment, Social and Economic). Each pillar was critically analysed highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the London Olympics towards sustainable development. Environmentally the focus was directed towards construction and renewable energy. Emphasis regarding social aspects was concentrated on issues such as gentrification and sports participation and the effect of using temporary venues. Economic legacy is the most researched aspect and therefore this paper does not just regurgitate monetary values. Instead it analyses the employment legacy, which is vital when investigating local economic impacts. This paper takes steps towards understanding Olympic regeneration and concludes that the desired goal of sustainable development within this is still a utopian prospect, and that more analysis is needed before it can be considered as a utilitarian practice. It has however, underlined a variety of the different strengths and weaknesses of current approaches, which if adapted can enhance sustainable regeneration further