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。     

积极参与经济全球化是二十一世纪中国的必然选择

随着经济全球化和我国入世后开放型经济的进一步发展,我国与世界经济的联系日益紧密,这既为我们全面建设小康社会提供了的利条件,同时也产生了新的不确定性和风险。在当前世界经济复苏乏力、中东动荡、美国一强独大、反全球化声音不绝于耳的时候,我们应当怎么办。对此,我认为继续积极参与经济全球化是本世纪中国的必然选择,或者说只有更加积极地参与经济全球化,才能实现我国全面建设小康社会的战略目标。     

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。     

提高党的执政能力与深化行政体制改革

加强党的执政能力建设是党执政后的一项最根本的建设。提高党的执政能力 ,必须深化行政体制改革。要按照科学执政的要求 ,落实科学发展观 ,把握行政体制改革的规律性 ;要按照民主执政的要求 ,坚持执政为民 ,建设人民满意的公共服务型政府 ;要按照依法执政的要求 ,推进依法治国与依法行政 ,建立以公民权利为本位的法治政府     

我国政府部门实施质量管理体系的探索

引进ISO9000质量管理体系标准是政府部门实现行政管理的制度化、规范化和程序化的有效途径,是构建规范化服务型政府的必要手段和有效保障.本文概述了政府部门引入质量管理体系的理论基础及其独特性,对我国公共部门实施质量管理体系进行了可行性探索.     

略论网络环境对犯罪动机的强化效应

网络犯罪的高发性表明网络环境对于犯罪心理的形成会有影响。犯罪心理形成的标志是犯罪动机的建立。在网络环境中,人的需要、犯罪条件、个体消极心理因素等直接影响犯罪动机形成的因素都有条件得到强化,从而使犯罪动机产生的几率大大增加。     

抗战时期世界历史背景下的中国国际地位

中国抗日战争是世界反法西斯战争的重要组成部分,它为中国确立大国地位提供了历史的契机.尽管战时中国成为世界四大国之一,但它并未真正享有与之相称的国际地位.