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.     

论被害人国家补偿制度的价值及本土化

被害人国家补偿制度是国家对遭受犯罪行为侵害而又没有得到充分赔偿的被害人及其家属,通过法律程序给予一定物质补偿的制度。其理论基础在于公平正义理念之彰显,国家基于契约义务所产生的责任和公共福利的实现。我们应当在借鉴外国立法的基础上,构建一种既符合我国本土特点又具备先进理论框架支撑的被害人补偿制度的范式。     

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。     

简论并案侦查的性质、作用与基本步骤

并案侦查是一种高效率的侦查方法。它的性质实际上是逻辑思维中的类比推理在侦查实践中的应用,所以应遵守类比推理的基本要求。恰当地运用并案侦查方法,可以做到及时破案,提高破案率。而要做到恰当且正确地运用并案侦查方法,就要严格遵守技术串并的步骤要求。     

物权请求权不应适用诉讼时效

物权请求权是否适用诉讼时效是一个争论很大的问题,有的国家或地区适用,如德国、台湾,有的国家不适用,如瑞士。德国、台湾法上,物权请求权虽然适用诉讼时效,但实际功效甚小。依照物权请求权的性质,以及物权请求权和取得时效之间的关系,物权请求权还是不适用诉讼时效为宜。世界上大多数的国家也都是采纳的此种立法例。所以,我国将来制定民法典时也应当规定物权请求权不适用诉讼时效。     

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     

监听的法治分析及本土架构

监听是指通过安装监听设备秘密听取当事人通话内容并将其内容及时固定的一种技术侦查措施。本着对制度创新的关怀和变革法治的理想,我们需要对监听法治化的理论基础进行考量,以全球视野进行考察,吸收国外的监听制度的合理内核,架构具有我国本土特色的监听范式。     

能力建设及其在当代中国的实践

进行能力建设是人类历史发展的启示,是知识经济的兴起和市场经济建设的内在要求,是我国实现全面、协调和可持续发展的迫切需要,也是促进人的思维发展和人的全面发展的必由之路.能力建设,就是为了促进社会和人的全面发展而展开的开发人的潜能,增强人的能力和充分发挥人的能力的教育、培养、配置、使用、管理和激励的活动和过程.围绕培养和提高人的创造能力,充分调动广大人民群众的积极性,加强领导和管理,实现制度创新和体制创新,建立能力运行机制,塑造能力人,营造能力型组织和能力型社会,是当前我国进行能力建设的必然选择.