Case Study Of Local Government Research Articles

On the Implementation of Accrual Accounting: A Study of Conflict and Ambiguity

There has been a major debate on the merits of accrual accounting in the public sector in general. This paper is an implementation study of accrual accounting in local government. It examines this issue from an implementation perspective. The implementation perspective adopted draws on Matland's ambiguity–conflict model (1995). This research is informed by a combined methods approach: the analysis of public documents and debates; a survey of local authority capital accountants and case study information on management's perceptions of this accounting information. This research reveals a complex outcome of reformers' initiatives which has resulted in these accounting changes being retained within the accounting domain and having limited impact on wider potential users of this information.

Construction and effects of markets in a local authority in New Zealand

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to make intelligible the rationalities and mechanisms through which markets have been proffered as alternatives or complements to traditional welfare‐based provision and the effect of this development on the subjectivity of workers.Design/methodology/approachThe research involved collection of archival data, personal encounters and in‐depth interviews with managers, staff and elected representatives at a local authority in New Zealand. Michel Foucault's concept of governmentality is mobilised to interpret these data.FindingsThe paper finds that the mandatory changes required by legislation are associated with efforts to constitute local authority workers as business‐like subjects through disciplinary mechanisms and technologies of the self. While markets have permeated this local authority, with some managers and staff claiming to work in a business‐like manner and transact with each other as customers, these discourses have not vanquished the traditional concern of working for one organisation to serve the community.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the results of this study are not generalisable to other contexts, they show how the introduction of New Public Management in a specific context is associated with a contest between the traditional discourses of community and public service, and the more recent ones of enterprise and customer. The paper illuminates the pathologies associated with these new technologies and how their implementation is often divergent from the rationalities in the name of which they are promoted.Practical implicationsThe paper will contribute to ongoing debate on how best to deliver public goods and services and especially, the limits and potential of markets.Originality/valueThe paper's mobilisation of Foucault's governmentality framework in the study of a local authority case study in a contemporary setting is relatively unusual.

Funding for local authority transport and land-use schemes in the UK

This paper focuses on the research activities, findings and planned products of one of the UK EPSRC-funded DISTILLATE (Design and Implementation Support Tools for Integrated Local Land use, Transport and the Environment) projects on the funding of transport and land-use schemes. Research activities have included a literature review, dialogue with local authority case studies and a funding workshop. The research identified and explored a range of barriers to funding, including lack of revenue funding, difficulties in obtaining funding for ‘soft’ schemes, the formation of partnerships and timing-related issues. The research also revealed that the funding system is failing to meet the needs of the current transport policy focus on managing travel demand, rather than being a supply-led process. The key project outputs are described, which include a ‘funding toolkit’ for local authorities, and guidance for funding bodies regarding the barriers faced.

Integrated water cycle planning: A local government case study

Integrated water cycle planning: A local government case study

Towards Local Government Strategic Planning in Vietnam: Systemic Governance Interventions for Sustainability

Strategic planning has been widely applied internationally in both the public and private sectors. It has been criticized for using a top down approach and for not drawing on the insights and lived experiences of the people and for not supporting two – way communication. This article is based on an analysis of strategic planning in three local government case studies in Vietnam. The research is based on original empirical research for a PhD degree. It develops an argument for a more participatory approach based on two –way communication and a consideration of many domains of knowledge to be considered to support governance decisions. This approach is called systemic governance and participatory planning for decision making. This article is based on empirical research. It explores the extent to which strategic planning has been applied in Vietnam.

Working together? The practice of educational psychologists and speech and language therapists with children with specific speech and language difficulties

Meeting the needs of children with specific speech and language difficulties (SSLD) has recently been an area of public policy concern, because of the difficulties in securing speech and language therapy for children with special educational needs (SEN). There is a clear need for education and health service staff working together to support children with speech and language difficulties.The present research involved case studies of six English local authorities (LAs), along with the eight speech and language therapy services provided by the relevant local health trust. They were chosen as examples of good practice in education and health services working together, on the basis of information provided during a previous national study. The purpose of the research was to explore the collaborative practice of educational psychologists (EPs) and speech and language therapists (SLTs) with respect to the education of children with SSLD.This paper reports the views of 51 EPs and 120 SLTs, who worked in the case study LAs with respect to: collaboration; approach to assessment; provision; monitoring of progress; training and views on good practice. Despite the positive regard for collaboration expressed by both EPs and SLTs, their practice revealed little evidence of this occurring. Differences in approach, including the use of assessments for diagnostic purposes and the preference for inclusive as opposed to specialist provision, revealed important differences in conceptualisation between EPs and SLTs. The paper argues that these must be addressed so that collaborative practice by EPs and SLTs may be used not only to developgoodpractice but also to improve outcomes for children byeffectivepractice.

Improving children's behaviour and attendance through the use of parenting programmes: an examination of practice in five case study local authorities

In this article, Professor Susan Hallam, of the Institute of Education, University of London, Lynne Rogers, lecturer in psychology at the Open University, and Jacqueline Shaw, music teacher, researcher and educational psychologist in training, report the key outcomes of their recent research into parenting programmes. The survey suggested that most local authorities in England were at a relatively early stage in their preparations for meeting demand for programmes focused on developing parenting skills in order to improve the attendance and behaviour of children in school. Here the authors present case studies of five local authorities that had well-developed provision based on contrasting approaches. Two of these authorities used existing programmes available through alternative providers or early years provision; the others offered programmes in schools, one based on established and internationally-available material and two that used content developed within the local authority. Longer term needs relating to parenting programmes are considered in relation to these case studies and the implications for schools, that may be actively encouraged to take on responsibility for these programmes, are explored.

Air quality action plans in the UK: An overview and evaluation of process and practice

Local Air Quality Management is an effects-based process by which local authorities are required to review and assess their local air quality in relation to health-based air quality objectives. Where it is predicted that objectives will not be met and members of the public are exposed to elevated levels of pollutants, authorities are required to declare Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) and subsequently develop and implement Air Quality Action Plans (AQAPs) to improve air quality to acceptable levels. The majority of AQMAs (>90%) are predominantly transport related, and as such Local Transport Plans (LTPs) will be critical to the successful implementation of measures to improve air quality. LTPs are currently moving into the second round of a 5-year cycle of planning, with Plans being submitted to Government in July 2005 to cover the 2006-2011 period. In order to align AQAP and LTP more closely, and to reduce the number of policies and plans required of councils, local authorities with air quality problems arising from transport emissions have the freedom to include AQAPs within their LTP. LTP’s now include air quality as one of the four priorities. This move to integrate the two processes is seen largely as positive, but it is still unknown how the two processes (which still work to different timescales and report to different government departments) will be implemented in practice. This paper will provide an overview of the air quality action planning and local transport planning processes and then review three case study local authorities to examine the practice of air quality action planning in the context of air quality, organisational and political challenges.

Public Space Management: Present and Potential

This paper explores approaches to the management of external public space, both now and in the future. The paper is in five parts. The discussion begins with an exploration of why public space management is universally an important concern by drawing from literature that argues that the quality of public space has declined, and that a greater engagement of the public sector in its management is required. Next, the research methodology is discussed which sought to investigate the management of public space in England as an example of trends and responses that point to a broader international concern. The approach included both a national survey of the state of play in public space management and a series of case studies that sought to explore innovative practice. Third, the results of a national survey are briefly outlined, with discussion following the same structure as the survey itself. Next, the results of detailed interviews with 20 local authority case studies that exhibited interesting or innovative practice in the local management of public space are presented. In a final part, conclusions are drawn which confirm that this is an area of public sector responsibility in need of significant investment and reform, but also that top-down initiatives from national government are beginning to inspire a burgeoning range of local government initiatives below. Therefore, although public space management remains a fragmented area of local government activity, a number of local authorities are beginning to establish a corresponding bottom-up agenda that seems to map a potential way forward for the future.

INTEGRATING TRANSPORT, LAND USE PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT POLICY

Various recent policy documents stress the need for the integration of sectoral policies. In practice, policy-makers recognize the need for policy-integration but often do not have a complete picture of what it entails or how to put theory into practice. This paper reports on a research project that examines attitudes and approaches to integrating transport, land use and environment policies in three local authority case studies in Denmark, Germany and England.1 The paper reflects on how different institutional and political factors can affect policy integration, focusing particularly on the integration of transport, land use and environment policies. The institutional and political factors covered in this paper include the division of roles and responsibilities within an organisation, the nature of inter-departmental and inter-agency relationships, the diversity of professional skills and education of the workforce, and the role of political and public support.

Learning from the experience of recovery: The turnaround of poorly performing local authorities

This paper sets out the findings of a three-year research investigation into the experiences of 15 case study local authorities in turning around poor performance. The ‘poor’ rating was determined through Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA). In some authorities the CPA score itself proved a sufficient trigger for turnaround to begin. In others the picture is more complex. Turnaround is variable in terms of speed, intensity and the success of the mechanisms employed. Success, though partially determined by a combination of contextual factors, can be greatly enhanced by a combination of cognition, capacity and capability. This paper seeks to explain the approaches adopted and the successes achieved and outlines a research agenda for the next phase of the turnaround process.

Limitations to developing virtual communities in the public sector: A local government case study

Abstract: This article explores how new information and communication technologies affect public administration practice. It examines efforts by the University of Alberta to develop a web‐based “meeting place,” an on‐line community of practice in the local government sector that was to be a forum for practice‐building discourse and a resource for professional development courses. While the MuniMall project was not an unequivocal success, it does provide important lessons for others who are contemplating similar projects. There are important differences between “open” and “closed” virtual communities, as well as differences among professional groups with respect to their receptivity to engaging in discourse in an open forum. For virtual communities targeted towards a specific professional community, critical factors for ensuring success include the readiness of site architecture upon rollout, as well as the culture, capacity and readiness of the audience.Sommaire: Le présent article approfondit la maniére dont les nouvelles technologies de I'information et de la communication influent sur I'exercice de l'administration public. I1 examine les efforts déployés par 1'Université de l'Alberta pour mettre en place un « lieu de rencontre » sur Internet, réseau en ligne d'échanges de pratiques dans le secteur de l'administration municipale qui devait être un forum de discussions sur le renforcement des pratiques et une resource pour les cours de perfection‐nement professionnel. Alors que le project « MuniMall » n'a pas été un succès sans équivoque, il foumit des leçons importantes à ceux qui envisagent des projects simi‐laires. I1 existe de grandes différences entre les communautés virtuelles « ouvertes » et « fermées », ainsi que des différences parmi les groupes professionnels en ce qui conceme leur réceptivitéà s'engager dans un discours au sein d'un forum ouvert. Pour les communautés virtuelles visant une communauté professionnelle particulière, les facers critiques de succès comprennent l'état de preparation de l'architcc‐ture ciu site dès sa mise en place, ainsi que la culture, la capacité et l'état de préparation de l'audience.

Accounting and NPM in UK Local Government - Contributions Towards Governance and Accountability

Despite its size and economic importance, accounting in UK local government is still relatively under-researched. Two important developments which have emerged in recent years across the whole public sector are governance and New Public Management. It is timely to study the contribution which local government accounting makes in this changing context. Governance has proved a particularly contentious concept to define. This study has attempted to understand governance from the participants’ perspective and consequently a grounded theory methodology has been used. The empirical research comprised four UK local authority case studies over a twelve month period. The grounded theory developed makes two important contributions to our knowledge of accounting and NPM in relation to governance and accountability in local government. These are the relative importance of accountability rather than governance per se to participants, and the more significant contribution to accountability made by budgeting practices rather than NPM practices such as performance indicators, contracting out of services and Best Value studies. The reasons for these findings are explored and theorised in the paper, using Bourdieu's concept of habitus.

Internal and External Factors Impacting on E-Government Maturity: A Local Government Case Study

Changes in Australian government policy, demands for cost cutting and funding initiatives, and promoting the use of the Internet have resulted in Australian local governments considering electronic service provision. Funding to support local e-Government developments however has been modest with only limited uptake of e-Commerce amongst local government agencies. Unlike higher levels of government framing an e-Government strategy, local government has other pressures that impact on the direction it takes with electronic service delivery. Research is needed to better understand the factors impacting on the move by local councils to electronic service delivery. This paper presents the findings from an ethnographic case study describing the decision making and development process of one local council’s move to e-Government, particularly electronic service delivery, and highlights the factors that have influenced the decisions made to implement e-Government initiatives.

Management education and management development

The domains of management education and management development have remained relatively distinct. Recent trends suggest a blurring of the boundaries of these worlds. There is a growing corporate confidence that in‐company provision has equivalent, even superior, claims to relevant knowledge and warrant academic recognition. This paper looks at the significance and implications of these developments. Research is based on two local authority case study organisations. The methodology is qualitative in orientation and based on in‐depth interviews and discussions with human resource practitioners and university delivery teams. In both case studies programme participants as well as project leaders articulated different reasons for the importance of “work place relevance” and usefulness of the programme. This paper seeks to address the findings.

Temporary Work in the Public Services: Implications for Equal Opportunities

This article examines the impact of the growing number of temporary employment contracts in the public sector on equal opportunity theory, policy and practice. Quantitative and qualitative data from two case study local authorities are utilized to examine the mechanisms by which temporary work becomes an equal opportunities issue. A strong association between part‐time work and temporary employment status is demonstrated as an important aspect of the gendered nature of temporary work. Links between ethnicity and temporary work are less clear but are based upon the insecurity of targeted funding for teachers and the under‐valuation of the skills of the workers concerned. The data indicate that temporary workers are largely excluded from equal opportunity policy and practice, bringing into question a concept of equality that can permit less favourable treatment for certain groups of workers. It is argued that public sector restructuring, particularly concerning decentralization and the quest for flexibility, has facilitated the differential treatment of employees, thereby fundamentally eroding the basis of equal opportunity policy and practice.

Are SDIs serving the needs of local planning? Case study of Victoria, Australia and Illinois, USA

National spatial data infrastructures (SDI) have been built throughout the 1990s in both Australia and the USA, conceptualized and initialized by the Australia New Zealand Land Information Council (ANZLIC) and the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC), respectively. Numerous SDI-related activities at the national, state, and local levels in both countries share similar core objectives to stimulate coordinated collection, dissemination, and use of spatial data by public and private entities. This coordination is to result in digital databases that would be easily accessible and seamless across administrative and organizational boundaries and that would contribute social, environmental, and economic benefits to the involved communities. Improved information resources, at the local level in particular, are expected to aid decision-making process and to enhance cooperation between government and non-government sectors. This paper raises a question about the effectiveness of existing SDI developments and about outcomes of the related interactions between the local, state, and national levels. Case studies of local governments in Victoria, Australia and Illinois, USA are used to evaluate the utility of existing SDIs to local planning activities and to make suggestions for increasing their effectiveness.

Minimising Risk: The Role of the Local Authority Risk Manager in PFTIPPP Contracts

Recent pronouncements by senior government figures would suggest that, despite much opposition, PFl/PPP will remain the favoured route for the procurement of large public sector projects. There has been a considerable debate surrounding the Value for Money and Public Sector Comparator calculations essential to gaining approval for PFI/PPP, much of which has focused on how risks are allocated between the parties and how these risks are valued. This article considers another aspect of the risk element of PFI/PPP projects, specifically the role that the local authority risk management function performs, and perhaps should perform, in the process. Based on three local authority case studies, the research will suggest that there has been a marginal growth in the involvement of internal risk management experts by local authorities. Equally, there is evidence that this involvement could be considerably increased, bringing a number offinancial and operational benefits for local authorities.

Evaluating Collaborative Planning: Implications from an Empirical Analysis of Growth Management

Collaborative planning is increasingly being advocated as a new paradigm because it generates commitment to commonly accepted objectives and fosters commitment to implementation. However, the long-term effects of implementation are seldom evaluated. In South East Queensland, Australia, a collaborative planning approach was used to manage regional growth. Based on six local government case studies, this research evaluates the consensus process and assesses the long-term implementation effects. I also evaluate the outputs of the collaborative planning process to reflect on its role in implementation. By adapting a policy implementation framework for the collaborative planning setting, I expound on the commonly cited criteria of a high-quality agreement and a structured approach to implementation.

Strategic Sourcing and Federal Government Transformation

The Bush Administration has acknowledged the need to transform government's business processes. This article presents the case that a more strategic approach regarding human capital, best business practices, sourcing and transformation is required in order to achieve enterprise-wide, long-term success in government re-form. It begins by highlighting the GAO's new sourcing principles and then moves into an analysis of strategic sourcing concepts. Focus then shifts to a portrait of an ideal public-private partnership. Subsequently, the article spotlights the Department of Defense, considered to be on the bleeding edge of outsourcing. A local government case study highlights the differences between taking a tactical and a strategic approach to sourcing. The article includes a discussion on the relevance of strategic sourcing to a government chief information officer's undertakings. It concludes with recommendations for greater success in both transformation and strategic sourcing efforts and the observation that the two should be intricately linked.