Security, Capacity and Post-Market Reforms: Public Management Change in 2003

Public sector change in 2003 was a product of external demands and internal pressures for improvement. The specific areas addressed are responses to security threats in the international environment; strengthening internal capacity, particularly through whole-of-government approaches; and fine-tuning the public management model in part through readjustments to the centre-agency relationship and greater emphasis on horizontal structures and processes.
This is the ninth year an administrative essay has been published in the journal since 1996. Earlier chronicles include: J. Stewart 55(1) 1996; S. Prasser 56(1) 1997; J. Homeshaw 57(3) 1998; J. Moon 58(2) 1999; J. Curtin 59(1) 2000; C. Broughton and J. Chalmers 60(1) 2001; N. Miragliotta 61(1) 2002; and J. Nettercote 62(1) 2003.
In this issue two chronicles are published — the first, by John Halligan and Jill Adams, focuses on external security and internal capacity building. The second assessment by Scott Prasser takes a different view of compliant management, poor decisions and reactive change.     

'Designing Better Health Care in the South': A Case Study of Unsuccessful Transformational Change in Public Sector Health Service Reform

This article presents a case study of a project known as 'Designing Better Health Care in the South' that attempted to transform four separately incorporated health services in southern Adelaide into a single regional health service. The project's efforts are examined using Kotter's (1996) model of the preconditions for transformational change in organisations and the areas in which it met or failed to meet these preconditions are analysed, using results from an evaluation that was commenced during the course of the attempted reform. The article provides valuable insights into an attempted major change by four public sector health organisations and the facilitators and barriers to such change. It also examines the way in which forces beyond the control of individual public sector agencies can significantly impact on attempts to implement organisational change in response to an identified need. This case study offers a rare glimpse into the micro detail of health care reform processes that are so widespread in contemporary health services but which are rarely systematically evaluated.     

The risky business of public–private partnerships

Public–private partnerships (PPPs) are now a common strand of third way government policy, with better efficiency promised from the private funding of public infrastructure through the transfer of risks to private parties. This paper aims to investigate, on an empirical basis, the realities of risk transfers in PPPs and compare this experience against both the rhetoric of project proponents and the formal contract conditions. The paper outlines some conceptual frameworks underpinning PPPs and establishes the notions of risk shifting and risk sharing. The range of typical risks encountered in infrastructure projects is specially considered, and differences to traditional project delivery arrangements are articulated. Some empirical experience on the transfer of risks under PPPs is then outlined through a case study. This analysis shows the extent to which risks were shifted to the private parties as planned, or whether risks remained with government. It is argued that while commercial risks were largely well managed, governance risks were not. It is critical to understand better the nature of risk transfers in PPPs in view of the large financial implications of these deals along with long contract terms.     

试析实施民爆物品安全管理的新举措

为切实加强民用爆炸物品安全管理 ,严防涉爆案 (事 )件的发生 ,罗平县公安局在深入调研和总结近年来民爆物品管理工作经验、教训的基础上 ,确定了新形势下民爆物品安全管理的新路子 :1 加强组织领导 ,层层明确责权 ,严格奖惩考核 ;2 建立完善管理制度 ,规范日常安全管理 ;3 依托基层治保组织 ,落实日常动态监管 ;4 实现管理与服务相统一 ;5 提高爆破作业人员和安全管理员队伍素质。     

中国电子信息产业运行问题思考--2003年回顾与2004年展望

2003年中国信息产业运行状况良好,业绩突出.产业运行问题,表现在技术创新能力不足、核心技术乏力;宏观调控与市场机制的衔接协调;国际贸易纠纷等方面.展望2004年,协调市场机制和政府干预两者的关联,协调对外贸易争端是中国电子信息产业经济运行紧迫的任务.     

论会计信息失真及其治理

会计信息失真已成为全社会普遍关注的问题,在这个问题上会计造假是危害最为严重的一个方面。会计信息失真的原因从社会环境方面来说,是利益的驱动;从制度方面来说,是公司治理机制和市场机制问题;从监管方面来说,是监管不力和监管权限十分有限;从对违规的处罚方面来说,违规与处罚的主体常常错位。解决会计信息失真有五个方面的对策。     

完善行政诉讼制度的几点构想

现行行政诉讼法多元化的诉讼目的不利于对相对人权利的保护 ,应确立保护相对人合法权利为唯一目的 ;过于狭窄的受案范围不能适应日益扩大的公民权利的救济需求 ,行政机关的抽象行政行为与公民的政治、经济、劳动、教育等权利的救济均应纳入受案范围 ;现行行政诉讼法将利害关系人排斥在原告范围之外 ,显然与立法宗旨相违背。而将被告恒定为行政机关使大量行使公权力的其他组织的行为不受司法监督。因此 ,行政诉讼的原被告范围均有扩大的必要。行政诉讼制度需进一步完善。     

当前我国缉毒工作构想

毒品犯罪是一个极其严重的社会问题,关系到国家的兴衰,民族的兴亡。针对我国现阶段毒品犯罪的状况以及目前我国缉毒工作中存在的问题,提出相应的对策,以引起社会广泛关注,共同寻求打击毒品犯罪的根本途径。     

浅论诉讼时效的起算问题——由一起案例引起的思考

在民事诉讼中,诉讼时效问题往往成为案件的争议焦点,诉讼时效是否届满直接关系到当事人的权利能否受到法律的保护。解决这一问题需要正确理解法律规定的“知道”和“应当知道”,从而准确判断诉讼时效的起算点。     

浅析公司被吊销营业执照后的法律地位

公司在注销其法人格之前必须进行清算,以了结公司存续期间的法律关系。公司被吊销营业执照只是导致其强制解散,使公司由业务经营转为清算。在公司办理注销登记之前,其人格依然存续,并以其名义参与诉讼。承认公司清算中法人格符合股东有限责任和公司财产独立的公司法理论,有利于维护公司、有限公司债权人和股东各自的利益。