Shared Services and Cost Reduction Motive in the Public Sector

The intention of this article is to understand whether and how shared service centers can help reduce costs in the public sector context. We identify the sources of cost reduction for shared service centers and discuss the obstacles to making use of them. In order to illustrate and complement the theoretical discussion and the literature review, empirical insights from two Estonian cases are provided. The case studies indicate that when the context is enabling, shared service centers can help reduce back-office headcount. However, the total costs and benefits of the public-sector shared service centers are not calculated and remain unknown.     

推进数字政府建设 优化政府行政生态

在中国特色社会主义进入新时代的关键时期,网络强国、数字中国、智慧社会战略需要以数字政府建设为重要着力点落实落细,从而使得数字政府成为新时代以人民为中心的思想理论价值与实践的统一,也是深化“放管服”改革、重塑政府和市场关系的内在要求。在数据驱动和以大数据、云计算、移动互联网为代表的先进生产力的技术推动下,着力推进数字政府建设,从行政理念、组织结构、健全体制机制等多方面优化政府行政生态,推动政府职能转变,在资源共享、协调合作、公开透明、精准决策的目标指引下建设人民满意的服务型政府,从而达到百姓、企业、政府的共赢局面,促进政府治理能力和治理水平的全面提升。     

Parental alienation (syndrome) in child custody cases: survivors’ experiences and the logic of psychosocial and legal services in Italy

ABSTRACT

Parental alienation (syndrome) is a controversial issue, criticized by experts in different fields. However, this concept is often used by professionals and is frequently cited in courtrooms. This qualitative study focuses on parental alienation and explores women’s experiences as well as legal and social services’ practices in child custody cases. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with separated mothers who were victims of intimate partner violence, and with social workers and psychologists/psychiatrists designated by courts to evaluate parenting skills. Expert reports, psychological assessments and legal documents were also analysed. Results show that professionals endorsed parental alienation and considered it a ‘feminine problem’. Women were often blamed and labeled as ‘engaging in parental alienation’ when they were trying to ensure their children’s safety. Children’s accounts were interpreted as being a result of their mothers’ manipulation. In contrast, fathers were treated as victims of vindictive women who want to keep children to themselves. Men’s violent behaviours were not considered, and their role as fathers was seen as ‘inviolable’. These practices seem to reflect the ‘good-enough father’ approach, according to which the presence of the father is essential for children’s development, regardless of his violent behaviours.     

It Takes a Village: Using a Community-Defined Practice Approach to Develop a Tribal In-Home Services Model for Alaska Native Families

The current evidence base for in-home services in child welfare is limited, with insufficient research on the use of in-home services among ethnically diverse populations. This article describes a case study examining the use of a community-defined practice and evidence approach to develop tribally based in-home service models with Alaska Native communities. The models were co-created by tribal elders, community members, and service providers, with technical assistance provided by the Western and Pacific Child Welfare Implementation Center (WPIC). Research findings suggest that this is an effective approach to developing culturally appropriate child welfare practices while also building local support and ownership.     

Higher Education and the Referendum on Scottish Independence

During the course of the referendum campaign, the Scottish government argued that free tuition for Scottish and EU students symbolised Scotland's preference for universal services and was intrinsically fairer than the ‘marketised’ systems operating in the rest of the UK. Invoking principles of both social justice and pragmatism, three distinct critiques of the Scottish government's higher education policy were mounted and adopted by different policy actors for different political purposes. Following a discussion of these arguments, this article concludes that a more nuanced discussion of higher education policy in Scotland is required, focusing not just on the absence of tuition fees but also on the distribution of debt and allocation of funds across the entire education system. We also note that the focus on tuition fees policy suggests that higher education systems across the UK are set on a process of divergence, whereas there are strong pressures towards policy convergence in areas such as research policy and internationalisation.     

工会应努力为职工提供有效服务

当前工会组织在角色定位、服务领域、服务本领等方面存在缺失.要提高服务的有效性,需要更新观念、苦练内功、实化措施.     

论消费信用卡透支风险的法律监管制度建设

消费信用卡给发卡行带来新的利润增长点的同时 ,也对其造成一定的风险。风险背后的深层原因是制度的缺陷。我国信用卡业务的制度缺陷主要体现在银行对持卡人拖欠透支款缺乏有效催款措施、健全的个人信用制度、信用卡担保保证制度以及完善、统一的消费信贷法规。要改变这一现状 ,促进信用卡的健康发展 ,我国应在上述几个方面加强建设步伐 ,逐步建立一个有法可依的消费信贷法律制度体系。     

论用人单位与劳务派遣工之间的关系

劳务派遣工、劳务派遣单位与用人单位法律关系是一种劳动契约关系,劳务派遣单位与劳务派遣工之间的关系,是劳动合同关系,而用人单位与劳务派遣工之间的关系,则是一种特别权力关系。在后者的特别权力关系中,如果用人单位不按法定或约定的规定履行义务,给劳务派遣工造成实体权益的损害,须承担相应的违约责任。     

论欧盟金融服务法中的母国控制原则

在欧盟金融服务法中,母国控制原则是指跨境金融服务应主要遵循母国的监管规则,相应的监管责任也主要由母国监管当局承担。母国控制原则不能适用于未经金融服务指令协调的领域。相互承认原则是母国控制原则的前提和基础,母国控制原则又是实施相互承认原则的必然要求和具体体现。这一原则的形成与欧盟金融服务市场一体化方法的转变有着密切联系,其发展也是这种新的一体化模式广泛推行的必然结果。立法和司法实践表明,母国控制原则的适用范围尚不明确,其价值没有得到充分的体现。为了消除跨境金融服务的法律壁垒,推动金融服务市场的一体化进程,欧盟金融服务立法应向协调行为规则、进一步明确划分监管责任并扩大母国控制范围的方向发展。     

Public Value Management: A Case Study of Transitional Change in Disability Sector Reform in Western Australia

This paper contributes to the study of public value management (PVM). PVM is distinguished from other approaches to public administration in its focus on establishing community networks and collaborative capacity building for the creation of public value. We explore PVM through a case study of a public–community sector partnership strategy called the positive behaviour framework (PBF), a state government initiative designed to transform services for people with disabilities. The development and implementation of the PBF is analysed via a transitional change or ‘sector awareness’ model. Each phase of the model is illustrated through ‘positive stories’ that depict key moments in the change process and in the activities that public sector managers employed to raise awareness, build capacity, and promote collaboration. We discuss the implications of the study for disability sector change management and for the further study of the PVM approach to public sector administration.