OBSERVATION,THE POLICE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: INTRODUCTION

This conversation about the merits of ethnography in police studies began at the ‘Ethnography in Policing’ panel at the Political Studies Association Conference held in Leeds in 2005. Subsequent correspondence and occasional one‐to‐one meetings led to this symposium.     

A Good CEO：Saint or Tyrant？

WHAT’S in a title There’s CEO,President and Chairman,but these titles are often used interchangeably and usually just mean Big Boss.Or Da Lao Ban.Or simply Leader.After all,leadership is what it’s all about.I asked a couple of friends to name the people who instantly come to mind if you say "boss." Their answers were: Richard Branson (Virgin);Rupert Murdoch (News International);Steve Jobs (Apple);Silvio Berlusconi (Italian Prime Minister and businessman);Sepp Blatter (FIFA);     

This Tangled Web

OH! What a tangled web we weave when fir st practise to deceive!" So said Sir Walter Scott in his epic poem Marmion, published in 1808. Of course, he could never have imagined the possibility     

CONSUMERISM AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR: HOW WELL DOES THE COAT FIT?

Consumerism attempts to redress the imbalance of power that exists between those who produce goods and services, and those for whom they are provided. To achieve this end, five basic principles have been evolved which seek to improve consumers' access, choice, information, redress and representation. The article examines the relevance of these principles to services provided by local government and the health service. Its conclusion – that they are useful but not necessarily enough – is perhaps surprising, given the author's concern to place consumers' interests centre stage in discussions about what public services are for, and how they should be run. The article then considers whether the messages of consumerism are reaching their mark, and finally points to those issues which managers of public services – both politicians and professionals – must face if consumerism is to leave a legacy of real value.     

No Place Like Home？

IT was in January 1961 that I first fell in love. I had already been traveling for four years by then. Our family preferred the "paquebots," or ocean liners-Ferdinand de Lesseps and Jean Laborde of the French Messageries Maritimes line, and would ride the steamers from Mombasa, through the Suez Canal or round the Cape of Good Hope to Marseille.     

Want to Learn Chinese？ No Problem!

I have the privilege of visiting China four or five times a year,usually for business meetings in Beijing,but with the occasional opportunity for a purely social outing.Always,there are surprises.Always,I encounter something new and fascinating.And always,someone observes that still, after all this time,I speak very little Mandarin.My response is     

The Environment： Who Cares？!

As the tide of globalization sweeps into every corner of the planet, many worry that Western cultures and values, bolstered by the overwhelming might of Western economies, might wipe out the great diversity of the world that is rooted in and guards the identities of different peoples and nations. To set up a stage for dialogue between the East and West and to air opinions from both perspectives, we launch Brown Eyes, Blue Eyes. In this regular column the chief executive of Cambridge University Press and a vice director-general of the State Council Information Official will comment on topics of concern to both sides, ranging from education and medical care to sciencce and technology.     

Innovation and Innovators Inside Government: From Institutions to Networks

Innovation and innovators inhabit an institutional space, which is partially defined by formal positions and partially by informal networks. This article investigates the role of politicians and bureaucrats in fostering innovation inside government and provides an empirical explanation of who the innovators are, whether this is mostly an attribute of position or role, or mostly an effect of certain forms of networking. The study uses original data collected from 11 municipal governments in Australia in order to define and describe the normative underpinnings of innovation inside government and to show the importance of advice and strategic information networks among politicians and senior bureaucrats (n = 947). Social network analysis is combined with conventional statistical analysis in order to demonstrate the comparative importance of networks in explaining who innovates.     

Achieving and Managing Equality in the Criminal Justice Process: Do the New Equality Measures Go Far Enough?

Abstract: This article will explore some of the legal and organisational challenges facing the various agencies involved in the delivery of criminal justice, in the UK, in adhering to the Equality Act 2006, Equality Duties and the forthcoming Single Equality Act (which, proposes a Single Equality Duty). We will consider the impact of these changes with reference to European legislation. Of particular interest will be the themes of effective implementation of the current Duties, equality of access and equality of outcome for both victims and offenders to appropriate services to tackle offending behaviour and the prevention of crime. This article will highlight issues surrounding impact assessment and the role of agency discretion and regulation. We offer some comments on future directions and the role of the regulatory bodies including the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).