Inter-organizational collaboration among health and social care: TRT©, a transactional approach

Inter-organizational collaboration (IOC) supported by information and communication technologies (ICTs) faces challenges on many fronts in 21st century England as well as globally. Between the somewhat desirable ideal of 'joined up' systems providing efficient services to customers and clients on one side of the continuum, and the costs and risk factors associated with integrating data or constructing large databases on the other side, a fundamental tension exists. This paper addresses this issue in two parts. Firstly, it argues that there is a way forward for information sharing among heterogeneous organizations which does not involve the integration of systems, interoperability, joined up recordkeeping, database linkage, or construction of yet another large database. Transactions in Real Time© (TRT©), the transaction by transaction information sharing approach, satisfies all the requirements of each collaborating organization for information sharing. Secondly, this paper briefly considers the future of IOC among health and social care and possible pathways forward through this uncertain area. The health and social care information sharing transaction is often unique among the particular transaction situation, and the micro and macro environments

Electronic Multi-agency Collaboration. A Model for Sharing Children¿s Personal Information Among Organisations.

The sharing of personal information among health and social service organisations is a complex issue and problematic process in present-day England. Organisations which provide services to children face enormous challenges on many fronts. Internal ways of working, evolving best practice, data protection applications, government mandates and new government agencies, rapid changes in technology, and increasing costs are but a few of the challenges with which organisations must contend in order to provide services to children while keeping in step with change. This thesis is an exploration into the process of sharing personal information in the context of public sector reforms. Because there is an increasing emphasis of multi-agency collaboration, this thesis examines the information sharing processes both within and among organisations, particularly those providing services to children. From the broad principles which comprise a socio-technical approach of information sharing, distinct critical factors for successful information sharing and best practices are identified. These critical success factors are then used to evaluate the emerging national database, ContactPoint, highlighting particular areas of concern. In addition, data protection and related issues in the information sharing process are addressed. It is argued that one of the main factors which would support effective information sharing is to add a timeline to the life of a dataset containing personal information, after which the shared information would dissolve. Therefore, this thesis introduces Dynamic Multi-Agency Collaboration (DMAC), a theoretical model of effective information sharing using a limited-life dataset. The limited life of the DMAC dataset gives more control to information providers, encouraging effective information sharing within the parameters of the Data Protection Act 1998

Understanding social enterprises in the United Kingdom: the case of South Yorkshire

Purpose-- This study analyses the development of social enterprises in the UK, in the context of the increased need for creative solutions to ameliorate deprivation and deliver effective public services. Design/methodology/approach-- The investigation draws on a mixed method approach, using a postal survey of 102 social enterprises complemented by detailed analysis of two selected cases and key informant interviews. Findings-- The results of the study show that there is a paradigm shift in the practice and conceptualisation of social enterprises in South Yorkshire as they are increasingly taking a more corporate approach to achieve their outcomes. Research limitations/implications-- The study is limited to social enterprises in South Yorkshire, UK. Further comparative analysis in other regions and social contexts is required in order to explore if these results are widely applicable. Practical implications-- This study is of potential benefit to researchers and those involved in formulating policies for the development and support of social enterprise. Originality/value-- The study contributes to the extant literature by investigation of the development of social enterprise in competitive markets, which is an area that requires further academic scrutiny. The South Yorkshire region presents an interesting case that extends our understanding of the operations of social enterprises in the UK given the high levels of deprivation due to the steady decline of its industrial base ( Bache and Chapman, 2008)

Inter-organizational collaboration without integration: a transactional approach for electronic information sharing

As we proceed into the 21st century, the sharing of information between organizations, whether locally, nationally, or globally, is becoming the focus of increased attention. Numerous trends toward inter-organization information sharing are becoming the norm, often using socio-technical systems for adoption and implementation. Inter-organizational information sharing, however, supported by Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), face challenges on many fronts. This workshop will describe the transactional approach to information sharing via an introduction of Transactions in Real Time© (TRT©), which enables information sharing in real time without systems integration or the construction of new databases. TRT is particularly relevant for the theme of the 2014 BAM conference: demonstrating supporting economic and social development. New research such as TRT directly addresses inter-organization collaboration, resulting in greater wellbeing for a vulnerable population, reduced costs, elimination of personal data loss risk, and the enabling of a way forward among organizations whose differing cultures find it difficult to communicate and collaborate. Further, TRT is scalable and applicable to a wider environment, as well as to other environments where organizations seeking to share information may find it difficult to collaborate due to the type of information to be shared, differing organizational cultures, lack of common goals, or any number of particular circumstances