Accountability for public sector it projects and the senior responsible owner: a theoretical background and research agenda

The history of public sector IT capital projects is littered with examples of projects that have been delivered late, or have exceeded their budgets, or have proved unsuitable for their intended use. Such projects include the computerised passport processing system, the National Insurance Recording System and the Libra project (Comptroller and Auditor General, 1999,2001, 2003). Other projects such as the Benefits Card Payment project (Comptroller and Auditor General, 2000) have been cancelled prior to completion after the expenditure of significant sums of public money, having made little progress over an extended period of time. These project failures and their consequent negative impacts on the delivery of public services have been widely reported in an almost continuous stream of newspaper headlines. This succession of revelations about the problems of public sector IT capital projects has been accompanied by high levels of political and public concerns that the benefits of the projects are lost and that large sums of public money are being wasted. In the first part of the paper we argue that there has been a historical focus on institutional accountability at the expense of research into individual accountability. We explore how and why the traditional doctrine of civil servant accountability has declined, with a resultant increased emphasis on both the accountability of civil servants and on managerial performance. We examine the effects of managerialism on the changing subject of civil servant accountability and on the emergence of the SRO role. We formalize our arguments by developing two propositions that illustrate the basic flaws in the SRO concept that arise from subjective and cognitive aspects of understanding. In the second part of the paper we explore the potential and limitations of five different approaches to the study of SRO accountability that might take into account its cognitive and subjective components. We conclude that one of the five - experientialism, or phenomenography - offers to overcome the limitations of the others. We present three further theoretical propositions using phenomenographic principles to illustrate the argument for the existence of a range of understandings of SRO accountability. We conclude that the subjective and cognitive limitations outlined open the way for further research into the field of accountability and the management of IT projects across the public sector.School of Managemen

Configuring in high velocity error sensitive circumstances : a grounded study

The operational reliability of organizations that deal on a routine basis with very dynamic circumstances has been a rich domain of study for organizational scholars for many years. Increasing reliance on the application of complex technologies and human processes in a range of social endeavour provokes our need to understand the attributes of such processes. Traditional contingency theoretic perspectives tend to produce archetypal resolutions that identify in rather specific terms what organizational forms can be matched with particular environmental characteristics. But as the organizational environment becomes more dynamic this approach seems less credible. This research therefore moves beyond the search for archetypes to investigate the processes by which resources are configured in order to deal with dynamic circumstances. Further, with self-managed teams increasingly acknowledged to be central to performance, contributing to fast, flexible and creative action and therefore used as the fundamental work group, this study focuses on the meso-level of the team. This helps to limit the scope of the research task while still offering opportunities for good theoretical and practical contribution. Adopting a grounded, qualitative methodology it triangulates evidence from three dissimilar domains (accident and emergency, air traffic control and fire service) that share a common context of unpredictability, high velocity and error sensitivity. The findings identify a specific type of situated behaviour, termed agile configuration, by which team members configure remarkably flexible and reliable behaviours in very dynamic situations, suggesting an almost limitless range of potential configuring behaviours that avoid the limitations of configurational archetypes. The adduced models and explanations provide theoretical insights that increase understanding of behaviour in extreme contingencies and therefore advance traditional contingency theoretic perspectives, with particular relevance for concepts of dynamic capability. These outcomes also have practical potential for the development of agile configuration competence in self managed teams and larger organizational groupings.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

A study of the implications of applying a competency-based approach to performance management in a global organization

Evidence shows that an organization will function more effectively if the various components of its human resource management system are aligned and acting in a mutually supportive way (Baird and Meshoulam, 1988; Semler, 1997; Bowen and Ostroff, 2004). According to some authors a competency-based performance management system supports the concept of alignment by defining and rewarding the behaviour that is expected and associated with effective performance (Grote, 2000; Boam and Sparrow, 1992; Richards and Howard, 2004; Hopen, 2004; Mosley and Bryan, 1992). The assumptions underpinning the competency-based approach to performance management have, however, been questioned by a number of other authors, including Burgoyne (1989), Jacobs (1990), Morgan (1997) and Day, (1988). The motivation for this research study resulted from a perceived misalignment between (1) the desired leadership behaviour espoused by the top team members of a major UK multinational organization, (2) the behaviour prescribed in the organization’s leadership competencies, and (3) the behaviour that was rewarded in practice. The study takes an unusual opportunity to conduct an in-depth study of the application of a competency based approach to performance management. In the first of three linked research projects, one-to-one interviews were conducted with the organization’s six top team members using an approach that combined repertory grid and laddering techniques. The aim was firstly, to identify the top team members’ criteria 'in use' for assessing and rewarding leadership behaviour in the context of the organization's decision to utilise a competency-based approach to performance management, and secondly, to test the degree of alignment of these criteria among the top team members. The data revealed a good degree of alignment regarding the competencies required, but a poor degree of alignment on their definitions of the behaviours needed to support those competencies. It was also found that two competencies mentioned by the top team members were missing from the organization’s new formal leadership competencies. In the second project the output of Project 1 was used in a web-based questionnaire that was distributed to the 301 members of the organization’s Global Services Leadership Team (GSLT), whose performance appraisals were based on the leadership competencies. The purpose of Project 2 was firstly, to test the degree of alignment between the GSLT's views of what constituted appropriate behaviour and the views of the top team revealed in Project 1, and secondly, to test the degree of alignment of how the desired behaviours identified by the top team were seen to support the leadership competencies. The results showed a good degree of alignment across the GSLT with the top team views of what constituted appropriate behaviour but a poor degree of alignment of understanding of how those behaviours supported the formal competencies. The results also identified a degree of ambiguity within and between the competencies. In the third and final project I conducted a series of participative feedback sessions with key organizational stakeholders based on the results of Projects 1 and 2. Using principles taken from action research, Project 3 was a joint exploration of the problems identified with the performance management system exposed in Projects 1 and 2. The purpose of Project 3 was to stimulate the organization to make changes to improve the alignment and effectiveness of the performance management system. Project 3 identified that it was deemed unrealistic and inappropriate to try to define a unified set of competencies that could be applied in all contexts and applied to all of the different challenges facing the organization. The principle proposal resulting from this study is the need for a modification to alignment theory. It is proposed that extant competency literature appears to be overly prescriptive and fails to take account of contextual factors and the particular challenges facing individuals. The proposed modification to alignment theory requires the inclusion of the process of dialogue and the need for the active involvement of the leadership team members in facilitating understanding and effecting organizational alignment when applying a competency-based approach to performance management. It is proposed therefore that effective leadership action is critical to the creation of alignment that ultimately leads to more effective performance at the level of the individual, the process and the organization. Suggestions for further research to explore these proposals are made.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

A phenomenographic study of British civil servants' conceptions of accountability

In the United Kingdom civil servants have traditionally been accountable to their managerial and political superiors for probity and due process in the execution of their duties. Recent parliamentary and administrative reforms have changed this view. Individual civil servants are now additionally accountable to a range of external groups for the results of their work. This change is reflected in the role of Senior Responsible Owner (SRO), a civil servant accountable to a management team for the achievement of a predefined project outcome. This thesis challenges the idea that accountability is a unitary concept that can be defined by others and delegated in this way. The subjective nature of human understanding suggests theoretical grounds for the existence of different conceptions of accountability among different individuals for a given outcome. In this research I have applied the analytical approach known as phenomenography to the study of these different conceptions. The approach has been widely used, mainly in fields outside management, to establish the bounded number of qualitatively different ways in which a given aspect of reality is conceived by different individuals. Analysis of interviews with 30 SROs from 12 government departments revealed four different conceptions of accountability, each with multiple attributes. The conceptions can be arranged in a hierarchy of increasing richness and complexity. This research contributes to theoretical knowledge of the concept of accountability in the field of public administration in four ways. First, the study adds time to the known attributes of accountability. Second, the study confirms sanctions as an attribute of accountability. Third, the hierarchy of four conceptions of accountability throws new light on the subject that calls into question the unitary view. Fourth, the results refute the notion of a schismogenic paradox of accountability and provide empirical support for meanings of accountability that transcend this paradox.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Nebraska\u27s Economic Future

Nebraskans like where they live. Young and old, they like the “sense of place” they feel here. They like being part of the legendary work ethic. They like the fact that, for the most part, they feel safe here. They like the fact that Nebraska agriculture helps to feed and power the world. But when people from other states ask them where they’re from, they sound apologetic. The Strategic Discussions for Nebraska team heard variations on that theme everywhere we went. Caleb Pollard, Executive Director of the Ord Chamber of Commerce said it best: “we need for Nebraskans to be proud.” Nebraska is a conservative state, both politically and fiscally. It is constitutionally required to balance the state budget. It is also a state with only 1.7 million people, so there are few people to share the property tax burden. Additionally, Nebraska doesn’t have mineral resources that some states tax heavily, relieving the property tax burden on individuals. However, Nebraska’s sales and income taxes are about the same as its peer states, a fact that is often overlooked when people share concerns about taxes. One of the state’s main concerns is the declining work force, particularly in greater Nebraska. This magazine contains several stories that refer to the work force shortage and the challenges faced by communities that desperately need workers. Nebraska’s Strong Agricultural Base Agriculture has changed in the last century, but it’s a booming business and Nebraskans are knowledgeable about those changes. They know the state is well-suited to growing highquality crops and animals, and they know people in the rest of the world want to buy them. They know the University of Nebraska’s research has been important for Nebraska agriculture, and they support the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Nebraska Innovation Campus, which will be built in Lincoln on the site of the Nebraska State Fair when the fair moves to Grand Island in 2010. Nebraska exported nearly $5.5 billion dollars worth of agricultural and manufactured goods in 2008. That’s up from$3.6 billion in 2006 and $4.2 billion in 2007. According to Greg Ibach, Director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, exports bring the state a steady flow of domestic and international sales and allow the state to remain strong during financial cycles that affect the U.S. and other countries. Nebraska is fortunate to have not only the natural resources to produce some of the best agricultural products – and can source the needed parts and material for the manufactured products – but also has the people with the needed background, knowledge, experience and work ethic to produce the quality products, Ibach said. Importance of Education and Technology There are no greater proponents of education than people in greater Nebraska. The state’s education system is good and is one of the drawing cards for businesses interested in locating in the state. Nebraskans know that jobs today and in the future will require more knowledge of technology in all its forms. Whether people work in information technology in Omaha, farm near Cozad, ranch near Mullen, read x-rays in Ord, work on locomotives in Alliance or conduct research in one of dozens of locations in the state, they’ll have to know technology. Technology requires consistent broadband access and capacity that statewide, Nebraska just doesn’t have. A conversation participant who lives outside North Platte told us her satellite gives her access to the Internet “as long as it isn’t cloudy.” That isn’t good enough for the needs of rural health care, business development, education or for attracting young people to smaller communities. Infrastructure If a state doesn’t have good infrastructure, it closes doors to economic development and therefore, growth. Infrastructure necessary for every viable community includes water, sewer, electricity, roads and Internet access. Additional infrastructure needs are schools, health care facilities, power plants, transportation and communication. It’s expensive to build these things and expensive to maintain existing facilities. Dr. Doug Kristensen, Chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Kearney, told us many of the state’s school buildings were built about the same time – about 100 years ago – and are beginning to crumble, requiring extensive and costly repairs or replacement. Changing Nebraska’s Layout? The Strategic Discussions for Nebraska team interviewed a number of people who believe Nebraska should change its county structure. Ninety-three counties were needed when people had to use a horse and buggy to get to the county seat, but some say the state could save money if the counties were merged, creating about 15 larger counties. Others say there would be few dollars in savings and would widen the gap between greater Nebraska and eastern Nebraska in accessibility to services. Others suggest a “hub and spoke” regional layout, in which one town would be the hub and about 10 or 12 smaller communities would be the spokes. Trouble is, everybody wants to be the hub. What makes the most sense? Send your opinion to me at [email protected]. We’ll post the results on the Strategic Discussions for Nebraska website: www.unl.edu/sdn. Leadership and Cooperation People told us the state and communities need strong leaders who are willing to partner with other organizations, communities, states and countries for the good of Nebraska as a whole. It also needs leaders who will consider the needs of the entire state, regardless of money, power or special interests. In this magazine, you will find a variety of perspectives on Nebraska’s economy, including the opinions of state and community leaders, academics, business owners and government officials. Each opinion has value, based on the person’s experience, education, location and economic condition

Substrate utilization during exercise performed with and without glucose ingestion in female and male endurance trained athletes

Compared to males, females oxidize proportionately more fat and less carbohydrate during endurance exercise performed in the fasted state. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that there may also be gender differences in exogenous carbohydrate (CHOexo) oxidation during exercise. Healthy, young males (n = 7) and females (n = 7) each completed 2 exercise trials (90 min cycle ergometry at 60% VO[sub2peak]), 1 week apart. Females were eumenorrheic and were tested in the midfollicular phase of their menstrual cycle. Subjects drank intermittently either 8% CHOexo (1 g glucose &sdot; kg &sdot; h[sup-1]) enriched with U-13C glucose or an artificially sweetened placebo during the trial. Whole-body substrate oxidation was determined from PER, urinary urea excretion, and the ratio of 13C:12C in expired gas during the final 60 min of exercise. During the placebo trial, fat oxidation was higher in females than in males (0.42 &plusmn; 0.07 vs. 0.32 &plusmn; 0.09 g &sdot; min[sup-1] . kg LBM[sup-1] x 10[sup-2]) at 30 min of exercise (p &lt; .05). When averaged over the final 60 min of exercise, the relative proportions of fat, total carbohydrate, and protein were similar between groups. During CHOexo ingestion, both the ratio of 13C: 12C in expired gas (p &lt; .05) and the proportion of energy derived from CHOexo relative to LBM (p &lt; .05) were higher in females compared to males at 75- and 90-min exercise. When averaged over the final 60 min of exercise, the percentage of CHOexo to the total energy contribution tended to be higher in females (14.3 + 1.2%) than in males (11.2 &plusmn; 1.2%; p = .09). The reduction in endogenous CHO oxidation with CHOexo intake was also greater in females (12.9 &plusmn; 3.1%) than in males (5.1 &plusmn; 2.0%; p = .05). Compared to males, females may oxidize a greater relative proportion of CHOexo during endurance exercise which, in turn, may spare more endogenous fuel. Based on these observations, ingested carbohydrate may be a particularly beneficial source of fuel during endurance exercise for females.<br /

Impact of Frailty on Emergency Department Encounters for Cardiovascular Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Data are limited on whether the causes of emergency department (ED) encounters for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and associated clinical outcomes vary by frailty status. Using the United States Nationwide ED Sample, selected CVD encounters (acute myocardial infarction [AMI], ischemic stroke, atrial fibrillation [AF], heart failure [HF], pulmonary embolism, cardiac arrest, and hemorrhagic stroke) were stratified by hospital frailty risk score (HFRS). Logistic regression was used to determine the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of ED mortality among the different frailty groups. A total of 8,577,028 selected CVD ED encounters were included. A total of 5,120,843 (59.7%) had a low HFRS (15). Ischemic stroke was the most common reason for the encounter in the high HFRS group (66.9%), followed by hemorrhagic stroke (11.7%) and AMI (7.2%). For the low HFRS group, AF was the most common reason for the encounter (30.2%), followed by AMI (23.6%) and HF (16.8%). Compared with the low-risk group, high-risk patients had a decreased ED mortality and an increased overall mortality across most CVD encounters (p <0.001). The strongest association with overall mortality was observed among patients with a high HFRS admitted for AF (aOR 27.14, 95% CI 25.03 to 29.43) and HF (aOR 13.71, 95% CI 12.95 to 14.51) compared with their low-risk counterparts. In conclusion, patients presenting to the ED with acute CVD have a significant frailty burden, with different patterns of CVD according to frailty status. Frailty is associated with an increased all-cause mortality in patients for most CVD encounters

Impact of Frailty on Emergency Department Encounters for Cardiovascular Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Data are limited on whether the causes of emergency department (ED) encounters for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and associated clinical outcomes vary by frailty status. Using the United States Nationwide ED Sample, selected CVD encounters (acute myocardial infarction [AMI], ischemic stroke, atrial fibrillation [AF], heart failure [HF], pulmonary embolism, cardiac arrest, and hemorrhagic stroke) were stratified by hospital frailty risk score (HFRS). Logistic regression was used to determine the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of ED mortality among the different frailty groups. A total of 8,577,028 selected CVD ED encounters were included. A total of 5,120,843 (59.7%) had a low HFRS (15). Ischemic stroke was the most common reason for the encounter in the high HFRS group (66.9%), followed by hemorrhagic stroke (11.7%) and AMI (7.2%). For the low HFRS group, AF was the most common reason for the encounter (30.2%), followed by AMI (23.6%) and HF (16.8%). Compared with the low-risk group, high-risk patients had a decreased ED mortality and an increased overall mortality across most CVD encounters (p <0.001). The strongest association with overall mortality was observed among patients with a high HFRS admitted for AF (aOR 27.14, 95% CI 25.03 to 29.43) and HF (aOR 13.71, 95% CI 12.95 to 14.51) compared with their low-risk counterparts. In conclusion, patients presenting to the ED with acute CVD have a significant frailty burden, with different patterns of CVD according to frailty status. Frailty is associated with an increased all-cause mortality in patients for most CVD encounters

Research-Informed Teaching Toolkit

Research-informed teaching is a term used to describe the different ways in which students are exposed to research content and activities during their time at university. Depending on your discipline this could also be called practice-informed teaching. A four-year body of research involving over 600 students from across Sheffield Hallam University has been used to draw together the following five key Curriculum Design Principles to embed research and practice into teaching:1) Embed research and practice skills at the course level and develop them through the course. Moving students from consumers of research and best practice to creators of research and best practice. 2) Academic research and practice can form the basis of taught content and be used as direct examples of applied knowledge. 3) Accessing research literature is a high-level skill and requires scaffolding. 4) Research and practice skills should be taught in context and task linked. 5) Research undertaken by the students should be co-created, with students involved in the design process. Students and University staff from Sport, Nursing, Midwifery, Biosciences and Chemistry were involved in the creation of this toolkit. This toolkit is most relevant for those looking to embed research-informed teaching in their practice. The toolkit includes an introduction to research-informed teaching, how students perceive research, the barriers and enablers for staff and students to engage with research-informed teaching, skills students develop and ideas for the integration of research-informed teaching