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Purpose – The Zone of Parental Control (ZPC) is a concept that has been introduced in the Code of Practice for the revised Mental Health Act 1983, but guidance on its scope remains scanty. The purpose of this paper is to bring together recent rulings from case law and the original guidance, and make suggestions for clinicians when deciding if an intervention is within the Zone. Design/methodology/approach – Review and examination of case law, legislation and legal guidance. Findings – Deprivations of liberty fall outside the ZPC, but restrictions of liberty lie within; parental disagreement with care correlates strongly with care that lies outside the ZPC. Originality/value – The findings of this article should aid clinicians in deciding whether a treatment regime lies within the ZPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to summarize the work of the Court of Protection. Design/methodology/approach – The paper outlines the history and range of applications within the jurisdiction of the Court, drawing from the Mental Capacity Act and the Code of Practice. Reference is made to annual reports of the work of the court which profile its workload. Finally there is a review of a line of case law dealing with the question of media attendance and reporting of cases before the court. Findings – The Court in its current form was established under The Mental Capacity Act, 2005 and is a significant decision-making body in the UK within adult safeguarding practice concerning adults whose decision-making capacity is impaired. The implications of several specific cases are discussed. Originality/value – This paper provides a unique insight into the work of the Court of Protection and the implications of recent decisions by the Court for adult safeguarding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to summarise findings of a review of service user and carer involvement in safeguarding and recommendations for good practice. Design/methodology/approach -- The study involved a review of selected literature and a consultation exercise with experts in the field of adult safeguarding and telephone interviews with 13 Adult Safeguarding Leads across England and Wales. Findings -- Service users value rights, independence, choice and support. Adult Safeguarding policy sets out an expectation of service user involvement in the process and expects agencies to balance rights to self-determination with properly managed risk. In practice, agencies tend to be risk-averse and service users often do not feel involved in their safeguarding processes. Processes such as collaborative risk enablement, training and capacity building, working with BME groups and evaluation of involvement help. Good practice examples of involvement in Safeguarding Boards or local forums, developing new methods of user feedback and community involvement were found. Recommendations include more involvement of service users in research, more effective forms of involvement of groups who may be more excluded, shared responsibility for risk, and more training in rights legislation. Practical implications -- The paper offers recommendations for good practice in improving involvement in adult safeguarding, which is a requirement and an essential component of delivering good services to vulnerable adults. Originality/value -- Service user involvement in health and social care is now widespread, but there is little knowledge of how to involve the most vulnerable service users who are in need of protection, or how to balance risk and empowerment. This paper addresses the dilemmas facing Adult Protection staff, summarises the experience of practitioners based on the first decade of adult safeguarding work and sets out guidance for improving practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- This paper seeks to consider the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and, in particular, the extent to which the functions of supervisory bodies can, or should be, performed as part of wider "safeguarding" responsibilities. Design/methodology/approach -- The paper reports the views of practitioners, given in response to comments made by the Care Quality Commission. Findings -- Some practitioners believe that DoLS and safeguarding functions should be consolidated, and some, that they should remain discrete; most, however, accept that the two functions should work closely together, and also that an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act is important for each; there is a suspicion that DoLS-activity is greatest where the two functions are kept discrete (and, it is assumed, DoLS practitioners therefore have more to prove); there is also concern about financing, particularly within discrete DoLS services, and, furthermore, some suspicion about the whole business of "safeguarding"; the Neary case continues to cast a long shadow. Originality/value -- This is believed to be the first time practitioners' views have been sought or at least published on this question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to analyse enterprise policy in the United Kingdom (UK), in relation to decisions about policy, policy delivery, entrepreneurial practice and academic/consultative research. Design/methodology/approach – The paper offers and discusses a conceptual framework for analysis of the actors, decisions, and issues involved in enterprise policy-making and policy delivery alongside the interests of the businesses they seek to serve and the academics who provide research support – to shed new light on the UK Government's challenge in satisfying its stated remit. Findings – It considers whether an all-embracing enterprise strategy – with clear ownership and shared commitment – is a realistic alternative to the more piecemeal approach we have experienced in the past. The issues are grounded in key lessons from systems and strategy to assess their relevance to the debate. Originality/value – The change of government in the UK in 2010, the first change for 13 years, makes this debate apposite and the relevant issues discussed are an important challenge for the new coalition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The paper's aim is to explain the development of the concept of personalisation and its dependence upon prior innovations such as independent living, person-centred planning and individual budgets and explore its meaning, limitations and future prospects. Design/methodology/approach -- The paper takes the form of an analytical and historical review of ideas that have been important in the recent history of public policy for people with learning disabilities. Findings -- People with learning disabilities, along with other disabled people, have been engaged in a struggle to achieve full citizenship. The recent reforms that go by the name of "personalisation" may mark an important stage in the development of a fairer system, but on their own they will be insufficient to achieve that objective. Originality/value -- Personalisation is placed, with all its strengths and limitations, within the wider context of the development of policies for people with learning disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper aims to investigate the potential impacts that differences between UK and US copyright laws for sound recordings have on musicians. It also highlights the needs for continued standardisation of international copyright laws (particularly those for sound recordings), copyright law education for creators, and a need for musicians to re-think future artistic and managerial decisions. Design/methodology/approach - In this critical analysis of current academic literature and legislation, significant differences between the domestic copyright laws of the UK and USA have been identified. The impacts of these differences on musicians are discussed and conclusions drawn. Findings - Findings suggest that there are several significant differences between the UK and US copyright laws for sound recordings, which do impact on musicians in both countries. However, determining the degree of impact is dependent on several contributing factors: the nationality of the musician; the level of success of the musician; the creative roles adopted by the musician; and the ambition of the musician. Research limitations/implications - Research scope was limited to the domestic copyright laws of the UK and USA only; and, specifically, the copyright laws for sound recordings. Findings were generalised for all musicians, regardless of type or genre. Originality/value - This paper is one of the first to investigate the impact of differences in domestic copyright laws on musicians, and identifies several strategy issues that must be considered by musicians when making future artistic and managerial decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to provide a picture of (local) e-government impact and development philosophy in China, New Zealand, Oman, and the UK. Design/methodology/approach - A survey instrument was used to collect data from policymakers in 114 civil service organisations in four countries during 2007. Findings - Policymakers in every country report only low-medium levels of agreement that their e-government initiatives had yielded significant benefits for organisations and citizens alike over a broad range of performance measures concerning service quality, citizen satisfaction, productivity, and management effectiveness. In interactions with stakeholders that are both directive and maintain control over citizens, policymakers also favour the provision of online services that offer ever increasing amounts of information, rather than collaborative service channels that engage citizens in local decision making. Research limitations/implications - Less than a 100-percent response rate gives an incomplete snapshot of the e-government scene in the four countries studied. Also, a lack of understanding of some key e-government issues plus cultural response bias may have led to erroneous/biased responses. Practical implications - In an era in which public sector organisations worldwide are under pressure to demonstrate success in service delivery and organisational performance, policymakers do not perceive online services as an opportunity to reduce the costs of physical infrastructure or to improve democracy via shared decision-making. Thus, further erosions of trust and participation in democracy may continue unless citizens are given similar choices in the democratic system to those they have in their everyday lives. Originality/value - The paper is undertaken at the local level of government and in a diverse range of countries where the political, social, economic, and cultural environments can differ markedly. It evaluates the significance of key e-government issues in Western, Arabic, and Eastern contexts, enabling international comparisons to be made across these cultural settings. Impacts of the e-government initiatives on organisations and citizens are presented and compared; and policymaker attitudes to new technology having the potential to enhance the democratic process are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to consider the attainment of the corporate objective of the UK Companies Act of 2006 Section 172(1) from the perspective of financial valuations that are reliant on the cost of capital. The cost of capital plays an important role in many of the models and propositions that are routinely used for financial valuation and decision making. Design/methodology/approach -- From the perspective of financial valuations that are used to guide decision making that is in accordance with the corporate objective of the UK Companies Act of 2006 Section 172(1), managers and directors require a valid, reliable, and interpretable cost of capital. The theory, models, and propositions of financial management, whether they be investment, financing, or distributions (Sections 829-853) decisions, are dependent on the cost of capital. This paper has three main tasks. First, the relevant sections of UK corporate statute with regard to the corporate objective need to be identified and presented. Second, a brief review of the function and role of the cost of capital for the valuations upon which investment, financing, and dividend decisions are based, is undertaken to ensure that the role and function of this key financial metric is clearly recognized. Third, since the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) is so widely and exclusively used, often without recourse to other approaches to calculation of the cost of capital, an update of CAPM empirical evidence is undertaken to affirm the 2004 findings and subsequent recommendations by Fama and French that the CAPM is not an acceptable way of calculating the cost of capital. Findings -- It is doubtful whether directors, who use an empirically invalid and unreliable valuation model such as the CAPM to calculate the cost of capital, will be able to meaningfully and purposefully make decisions consistent with the "enlightened shareholder value". Managers and directors need to use approaches to the cost of capital that are valid and can be empirically verified. Practical implications -- This paper recommends that directors of public companies who make decisions using financial valuations that embody the cost of capital should ensure that models other than the CAPM are used; otherwise, they may find it difficult unable to defend challenges to their statutory duty of attaining the corporate objective. Originality/value -- An update of CAPM empirical evidence is undertaken to affirm the findings and subsequent recommendations by Fama and French (2004) that the CAPM is not an acceptable way of calculating the cost of capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to discuss the quality of narrative reporting of listed UK companies particularly in terms of transparency under guidance from the operating and financial review (OFR). Design/methodology/approach -- The approach taken is to rely on secondary data analysis with complementation from a limited case study of three listed UK companies. Findings -- The analysis finds that narrative reporting in the UK is generally transparent other than some weaknesses in some reporting areas and some limited evidence of creative reporting. Research limitations/implications -- Further investigation could be made on a larger sample of cases. Also, a comparative case analysis could be conducted between narrative reporting made before the current global financial crisis and shortly after the said crisis. Practical implications -- The paper highlights the general usefulness, relevance, and limitations of narrative reporting not only for corporate decision makers but also general investors, suppliers, employees, the state, and various connected community stakeholder groups. Originality/value -- This paper contributes to the enhanced understanding of narrative reporting practices for listed companies in the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The process of public sector reform in the United Kingdom continues to provoke debate. Even among advocates of the reform process there is a concern that improvements in public service provision have not been as marked as originally intended, and that the process has produced a variety of unintended consequences. The purpose of this paper is to explore possible explanations for these unintended consequences, and discuss possible practical solutions for policy makers and service commissioners. Design/methodology/approach - In this conceptual paper focus is in particular Upon attempting to explain managerial behaviour from insights offered by two well-established managerial theories - stakeholder theory and resource dependency theory. Insights from these theories are used to explain the possible causes of the unintended consequences of the reform process. The discussion is illustrated and set in context by reference to a continuum of service delivery modes from monopoly provision through to full competition. Findings - Theory suggests that managers inevitably prioritise the interests of what they identify as their key stakeholders, and particularly those providing critical resources. In the case of public services this means that the interests of government, as the commissioner and funder of services, are prioritised rather than the end-users of services. Examples of how this distorts the objectives of government are highlighted. It is argued that understanding this aspect of managerial decision-making and stakeholder prioritising opens up the potential to resolve the problem. Originality/value - This is the first paper to address the question of managerial behaviour from these theoretical perspectives in the area of the public sector reform process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a survey of British and Danish Library Managers the paper explores the concept of job satisfaction and its relation to stress, job content and job conditions. The paper evokes the theories of Hofstede as a tentative explanation of national differences. The paper sets out to analyse job satisfaction in relation to a range of demographic variables. On the basis of a multitude of questions and statements the author forms several composite variables. They concern factors such as stress, freedom in the job, perception of management style and the actual job content. Hofstede's theories about cultural differences are at least partly confirmed through the analysis. They cannot explain all the differences, but at least some of the major ones. It is also evident that nationality plays a significant role in relation to factors such as stress and freedom in decision making. The paper also hints that an intervening variable could be the way nations adopt different methods to reorganise the public sector. A last point made in the paper is the partial rejection of a generic theory about job satisfaction. The factors tend to be the same, but the weighting of the single factor and its significance are influenced by background factors such as nationality, size of the employing institution and the mix of tasks in the job. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Elder mistreatment (EM) is a complex, universal health and social problem predominantly studied in the indigenous (white) populations of Western countries. This has led to consideration of dominant explanations as universal, potentially masking crucial cultural and ethnic differences. This study aims to fill the gap in elder mistreatment literature for the Pakistani community, offering unique perspectives to inform culturally sensitive policy recommendations. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative approach, anchored in the philosophical basis of constructivist grounded theory, was used to investigate understandings of EM among Pakistanis in Sheffield, UK. This involved two gender-based focus groups (male = 1; female = 1) and 22 in-depth individual interviews, engaging a diverse participant pool, including older people, family caregivers and community stakeholders. Findings: This study reveals diverse understandings of elder mistreatment (EM) among Pakistani adults, varying across age and gender groups, with distinguished key forms identified. Reporting EM is crucial, but victims face complex decision-making, hindered by societal and individual barriers, including moral and cultural dilemmas. Access to formal support is limited, emphasising the need for targeted interventions. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to delve into the perspectives of Pakistanis on elder mistreatment. It emphasises the importance of policymakers and service providers integrating considerations of race, ethnicity, culture and gender to develop inclusive services, as indicated by the study's findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper presents an overview of research and practice literature on the use of Mediation (M) and Family Group Conferences (FGC) in the context of adult safeguarding in the UK. Design/methodology/approach – This paper describes the main features of M and FGC and explores how such "family led" approaches to adult safeguarding fit within the wider agenda of personalisation and empowerment, including the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its associated Code of Practice. It also considers the main implications for best practice and future research and service priorities. Findings – M and FGC in an adult context are inclusive processes that enable people to explore choices and options in a supportive environment, assuring maximum possible independence and autonomous control over basic life decisions, while still addressing the person's need for assistance. When used appropriately, both approaches can be a valuable response to safeguarding concerns, promoting choice and control at the same time as protecting people from risk of abuse and harm. However, there are few robust evaluation studies currently available and no systematic research studies were found on cost-effectiveness. Originality/value – The paper shows that there is a clear need for further pilots of M and FGC in adult safeguarding. If such research and pilot evaluations find M and/or FGC to be effective, then more consideration will need to be given as to how to integrate such approaches into mainstream social work practice. There is also currently wide variation in the training and experience of mediators and FGC co-ordinators, and further work is required to ensure that there are appropriate training and accreditation models in the UK for mediators and FGC co-ordinators working with at-risk adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Commissioned as part of a Joseph Rowntree Foundation scoping programme, this consultation aims to explore the views of disabled people and service users about risk. Design/methodology/approach – The consultation reached nine individuals and one focus group, reaching a total of 17 disabled people and service users. Their views were supplemented by the literature. Findings – The landscape of risk and rights is highly complex. Disabled people and service users have quite different concerns about risk to those of the professionals and the regulatory bodies acting on their behalf. Many people talked of the fear of losing their independence, of asserting their rights and the fear of powerlessness in the face of bureaucracy and (sometimes) uncaring staff. Research limitations/implications – The profile of rights needs to be raised in an accessible and acceptable way: it is necessary to make the language of rights more commonplace. There is a particular need to reach into mental health and residential care services to find ways of enabling people to have their rights realised. The report has implications for risk assessment and risk management as well as for the regulatory bodies responsible in adult social care. Raising awareness among professionals and policy makers about the risks that service users themselves fear and experience should demonstrate just how important it is that the people whose risk is under consideration are involved in the process. Originality/value – This paper highlights the views of users of adult social care about risk; their views have rarely been documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The aims of this paper are to determine the state of visiting for women in the English prison system and to explore the relationship between women's mental health and visits in prison. Design/methodology/approach – For the purpose of this paper the authors conducted a review of the literature. All literature published from 1983 onwards was included to coincide with the introduction of Pat Carlen's (1983) campaigning group Women in Prison (WIP). The review focused on all literature from England and Wales to reflect the National Criminal Justice System and used an inclusion criteria to achieve this. Findings – The review revealed key themes including visit rejection, the importance of visits for maintaining identity and the contradicting emotions that women in prison experience when visited. Originality/value – Social relationships and family ties are protective factors for prisoners' mental wellbeing, yet the number and frequency of visits to offenders in custody has declined. The potential role for prison visiting schemes to improve the mental wellbeing of women in custody is explored, including the implications for the education and training of staff and visitors involved in the visiting process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the potential impact on families of a greater emphasis on safeguarding for vulnerable adults, from both a legal and a lay perspective. Design/methodology/approach – Case examples are used to illustrate some of the issues and problems that can arise in safeguarding situations. Findings – In community settings there can be a tendency for Social Services to take an antagonistic rather than a conciliatory approach when communicating with families. In the setting of a care home, an example of the appropriate use of safeguarding is outlined. Practical implications – The authors argue that Social Services should take a more conciliatory approach and be prepared to work in partnership with families. Originality/value – The discursive format and narrative approach of this paper represents a useful and informative way of presenting important and topical insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential value of coaching as a learning method for driver development within police blue light environments. Design/methodology/approach – An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study was undertaken with a sample of participants who had attended a five-day coaching skills programme run for the Metropolitan Police Driving School, UK advanced driving instructors and a sample of police driving trainees who had been taught using a coaching approach. Findings – The results indicate that the instructors who had taken part in the coaching training identified coaching as being of value in their work with developing advanced driving skills, specifically in raising awareness of police drivers and reducing drivers' risk-taking behaviour. The trainees indicated that they saw coaching as being of value in their learning in areas such as increased flexibility of approach and a focus on the relationship between attitude and driver behaviour. Research limitations/implications – The study suggested positive benefits based on the experiences of this small sample of police driving instructors and police trainees. As a result, the UK's Association for Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is reviewing the role of coaching for wider application in driver training and for further research on the wider application of coaching as a learning methodology. Originality/value – This is the first empirical study of the application of coaching in a blue light and police driving environment. While further research is required into the impact on safety, the paper suggests coaching may be a useful learning approach to police driver training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The UK has experienced a number of flood events in recent years, and the intensity and frequency of such events are forecast to further increase in future due to changing climatic conditions. Accordingly, enhancing the resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – which form an important segment in a society – to flood risk, has emerged as an important issue. However, SMEs often tend to underestimate the risk of flooding which tends to have a low priority in their business agenda. The purpose of this paper is to undertake an investigation of adaptation to the risk of flooding considering community-level measures, individual-level property protection, and business continuity and resilience measures. Design/methodology/approach – A total of four short case studies were conducted among SMEs to identify their response to flood risk, and what measures have been undertaken to manage the risk of flooding. Findings – It was observed that SMEs have implemented different property-level protection measures and generic business continuity/risk management measures, based on their requirements, to achieve a desired level of protection. Practical implications – SMEs are likely to positively respond to property-level adaptation following a post-flood situation. It is important that information such as costs/benefits of such measures and different options available are made accessible to SMEs affected by a flood event. Social implications – Implementation of property-level adaptation measures will contribute towards the long term adaptation of the existing building stock to changing climatic conditions. Originality/value – The paper contributes towards policy making on flood risk adaptation and SME decision making, and informs policy makers and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Through examination of a case study this paper aims to describe a brand re-positioning exercise and explore how an emotionally driven approach to branding can help create meaningful connections with potential undergraduate students and can positively influence choice. Design/methodology/approach – The paper's approach is a case study description with quantitative analysis in support. Findings – The use of an emotionally driven branding concept has positively impacted business development and brand likeability within a UK university. Research limitations/implications – The paper is specific to one case study and evaluation of success remains relatively early. Initial implications relate to the potential use of emotion in higher education marketing communications and how the use of emotion acted as an enabler of more rational decision-making processes within the case university context. Originality/value – An exploration of issues related to the marketing of higher education services is of great importance at this time. The case study described offers value and learning for readers of the journal from both a theoretical and practical perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the investment decision-making process of major stakeholders in the property sector, with a specific focus on determining the impact of location quality (the quality of the immediate and wider environment within which the site is located) on the property investment decision. Design/methodology/approach – The research was undertaken in the context of UK business parks in two regional property markets; South Yorkshire and the South East. Interviews were undertaken with key stakeholder groups adopting an innovative approach utilising graphics and visualisations to explore the impact of landscape quality on investment decisions. Findings – When landscape quality in business parks is considered holistically, it has only an indirect role to play in the property investment decision. Occupiers in South Yorkshire and the South East have low expectations of landscape quality on business park sites, but there are elements of landscape quality that occupiers appreciate and consider to add to the quality of the site. However, investors and developers do not consider landscape quality plays a role in their decision process. There exists the potential for the "removed" perspective of investors and developers to result in a dislocation between their perception of occupiers' requirement and reality. Originality/value – This study represents the first attempt to explore, in detail, the role of landscape quality in property decisions of key stakeholders in the UK property market. It also uses innovative methods to convey complex concepts of landscape quality to non-technical participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The internet is initially hailed as the future of recruitment and is expected to replace other media as the preferred recruitment method, but the adoption of online recruitment has not been as comprehensively predicted. In addition, empirical research regarding online recruitment from an organisational perspective is sparse. This paper aims to examine the reasons behind an organisation's decision to use online recruitment, and reports on the development of a model of the factors affecting the adoption of this recruitment method. Design/methodology/approach - The paper uses in-depth interviews and a survey of human resource (HR) managers with recruitment responsibility. The factors that affect the adoption of online recruitment are explored, and related to Rogers's diffusion of innovation theory (DIT) and Ajzen's theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Findings - Factors related to the adoption of corporate web sites and commercial jobs boards are found to be different, with positive beliefs/relative advantage, subjective norms and negative beliefs emerging in the case of corporate web sites and positive beliefs/relative advantage and compatibility for jobs boards. These results provide some fit with both Ajzen's and Rogers' factors. Originality/value - This paper addresses an important area that is under-researched academically and provides a basis for further research into how organisations may adopt online recruitment successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper aims to highlight some of the ways in which UK academic libraries are responding to the increasing space pressures in both their library buildings and their external stores. Design/methodology/approach - A survey of academic libraries looks at current practice, with examples taken from the University of Leeds and a number of other UK universities. Findings - The paper finds that relegation of stock has become a fact of life, and withdrawal is becoming more common. It is clear that the shortage of physical space cannot be solved by institutions in isolation, and that a collective strategy is essential in order to guarantee long-term sustainable storage of low-usage material. Originality/value - It is hoped that the examples discussed can help inform stock management decisions in other institutions that are starting to face storage problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the factors that can influence the availability of cost information to support design and production decision making at the early stages of project team formation. Design/methodology/approach - An investigation of the current practice of the exchange of financial information between supply chain organisations in the UK construction industry that was undertaken using a portal survey with 710 estimators. The survey sought data on the extent and maturity of the relationships that existed between contractors and their supply chain, and the effect this had on the gathering of subcontract price information. Findings - The data analysis established that a significant difference existed in the approaches adopted by respondent organisations to the collection of subcontract price data for three different procurement approaches, and that main contracting organisations were developing closer relationships with their supply chain. Practical implications - The paper concludes by suggesting that the use of supply chain price information for pre-contract negotiation and post-contract governance can influence the propensity of the supply chain to provide "richer" information on the costs assumptions made within their estimates to improve the empirical basis for future decision making. Originality/value - The paper takes an original approach to the construction estimating process by considering supply chain price information available to the estimator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – To review the current debates on partnership working and to examine whether a ‘fitness for purpose’ test is an appropriate way of evaluating existing developments. Design/methodology/approach – The paper examines the conceptual frameworks within which the partnership discourse has been located, and reflects on whether this enables both practitioners and academics to make sense of the partnership literature and arrangements. Findings – The paper argues that existing frameworks are limited and suggests that alternative models need to be considered. Practical implications – The paper invites the practitioner/academic community to reassess existing models in the light of experience and analysis. Originality/value – The paper provides an alternative framework within which to situate partnership development and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The article seeks to explain the rapid increase in the use of agency ‘temps’ by employers during the 1990s. It tests the thesis of profound change in employers' labour use decisions. Design/methodology/approach – The data was from in-depth interviews with human resource/line managers in 12 work organisations in the UK responsible for decisions on use of temporary agency labour. Organisations were chosen to include a variety of industrial sectors, sizes and locations. Findings – Although there were common trends in organisations, including declining numbers of permanent jobs and waves of restructuring, organisations varied in their approach: it was not always profound change. The paper finds four distinct types of agency labour use and developed a 2 × 2 typology, depending on whether employers were acting strategically or reactively, and whether they were using temps for supplementation, or more far-reaching substitution, for permanent workers. Research limitations/implications – Research is based on UK data and is a ‘snapshot’ of the situation. However, the typology can be used to analyse temporary agency labour usage in other settings and time periods. Practical implications – The findings could be used by human resource managers to assist them in making decisions on use of agency workers. Originality/value – The paper makes associations between external and internal contexts within which organisations operate and how these affect decisions on temporary agency labour usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the primary motives behind any strategic corporate decision is to maximise shareholder value. Strategic decisions for UK construction firms are made with the objective of maximising the wealth of the company's shareholders. This paper investigates the financial performance of UK construction companies, which have been involved in construction related mergers and acquisitions and examines the impact of merger announcements on acquiring firms' and target firms' stock performance in the UK construction industry. It also examines abnormal share returns throughout a period surrounding the announcement of both successful and unsuccessful acquisition and merger bids. The overall results indicate that related construction mergers create wealth for shareholders of the target firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine two predominant export decision-making orientations emanating from normative and descriptive decision theory, namely planning and improvisation and their coexistence within exporting firms. In addition, contingencies under which one may be more appropriate than the other for optimal performance consequences are identified. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative study was conducted with UK exporters by way of in-depth interviews. The results were analyzed using within- and cross-case displays of in-vivo and literature-based codes, based on Miles and Huberman's recommendations. Findings – The study reveals widespread use of improvisation in export functions, and its co-existence with export planning for enhanced decision-making. In addition, resource- and capabilities-based moderators are identified that may affect the ways in which planning and improvisation are related to export performance. Research limitations/implications – This is a preliminary study which addresses the two export decision-making orientations together for the first time. Further quantitative research is needed to formally test the conceptual model developed. Practical implications – Export decision-makers often feel guilty about improvising, believing that planning is the accepted norm. Avoidance and covert use of improvisation, however, are not necessary. Indeed, export improvisation can have many positive consequences for the export function, especially when combined with export planning. Originality/value – Research on export decision-making has tended to focus on normative decision theory (from which planning emerges), largely overlooking descriptive approaches which identify improvisation as a valid decision-making orientation. However, in today's global and competitive environment, better performance consequences are increasingly to be found in the faster and more creative export decisions that improvisation can afford. This study addresses for the first time how benefits can be drawn from employing a combination of export planning and improvisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of the My Way transition programme. Design/methodology/approach -- The programme was evaluated over a two year period via interviews with a range of stakeholders. The evaluation focused on outcomes for young people, experience of the transition process, differences in the cost of care packages and an exploration of what was different about the My Way approach. Findings -- There were positive outcomes for young disabled people using the programme, and reduced costs to commissioners. The success of the My Way programme seemed to result from its focus on implementing actions and "doing" rather than just developing plans. Originality/value -- This study provides evidence for commissioners, providers and service users of the importance of providing person-centred facilitators who implement actions. It clearly demonstrates that when this happens savings can be made and good outcomes achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper's aim is to explore older peoples' decision making regarding complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and their perceptions and experiences of weft-being. Design/methodology/approach - Qualitative focus groups with 37 volunteers aged over 61 years exploring health and well-being decision making were held at a community centre in southwest London. Data were content analysed. Findings - Five themes emerged: physical well-being, impact on activity, emotional issues, community and health services, and keeping positive. A range of CAM was used, most commonly mind/body or physical therapies. The main reason for CAM use was to "keep going" and maintain well-being. Conventional medicine was perceived as central to weft-being, with CAM used to address its limitations. Decision making was rarely systematic; anecdotal information dominated, and disclosure to conventional practitioners was uncommon. "Keeping going" is important for older people and often promoted by CAM, including manipulative and exercise therapies. Concurrent CAM and conventional medication use, unreliable information and/or insufficient discussion with conventional providers may have safety implications. Healthcare providers should consider exploring CAM use with older people and facilitating access to CAM information. Practical implications - Asking older people about CAM use may be integral to providing holistic, safe care. CAM use may provide an opportunity for health promotion in older people by encouraging self-management and the taking of responsibility for their own health. Originality/value - Although up to half of older people in the UK may use CAM, there is little information on their decision-making processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate differences in decision-making processes between UK and non-UK managers in the defence manufacturing industry. Design/methodology/approach - A pilot study was conducted with a small number of firms in Yorkshire, UK. A large-scale survey was conducted of 250 firms in the UK. The response rate was 60 per cent. Findings - Decision making is kept team-orientated in larger firms with decision making autonomy in place for each team. The research demonstrates that leading firms drive best practice and best practice research disseminates globally through industry-academic collaboration. Practical implications - Alliances with leading firms will lead to the evolution of team-based, programme structured decision making in UK-non-UK strategic alliances. Originality/value - Global managers learn from the experiences of team-based programme structured decision makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose — This paper aims to identify the problem situations leading financial firms to kick off the elimination decision-making process for financial products in their line, measure the importance of problem situations, and assess the effects of a set of contextual variables on the above importance. Design/methodology/approach — The study took place in the UK; data were collected through 20 in-depth interviews with managers of financial firms and a mail survey to a stratified random sample of financial firms, which yielded 112 returns. Findings — Eight problem situations are identified and their importance is measured. The results indicate that the importance of problem situations is highly situation-specific: it varies in relation to the degree of a financial firm's market orientation, the intensity of competition, the austerity of the regulatory environment, and the rhythm of technological change. Research limitations/implications — From a theoretical standpoint, future research on the investigation of the importance of decision variables pertaining to line pruning must always take into consideration the internal and the external context of the firm. From a practical standpoint, this study has important policy implications, since it provides managers with a first picture of the effects of selected contextual forces on the importance of the problem situations triggering line pruning in services settings. The limitations of the study provide useful avenues for future investigation. Originality/value — This study represents the first attempt to measure the importance of different problem situations triggering line pruning in financial services and relate that importance to a set of contextual variables. As such, it makes a clear theoretical contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- Research neglects the role that specific locations play in the decision process to accept international work. This paper aims to explore the career drivers of individuals working as expatriates in London (UK) and to focus on the relationships with specific location attributes. Design/methodology/approach -- A total of 11 qualitative in-depth interviews and 348 quantitative questionnaire responses are used to explore the importance of intelligent career considerations for working as an expatriate in London. Findings -- A range of location-specific factors and intelligent career considerations is identified and quantitatively assessed. The study depicts the links of perceived career factors and location-specific drivers. Originality/value -- Applying the intelligent careers framework, the research goes beyond the normally used broad national factors to explore career capital drivers that motivate individuals to go to a specific city location. In exploring the relatively neglected areas of knowing-whom and knowing-why it sheds light on international relocation decision making. These insights inform further academic research and help to shape expatriation policies and practices of organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although formal techniques of locational analysis have been available for over 50 years, most retailers traditionally made no use of them, relying instead on intuition guided by experience and "common sense". However, the simultaneous advent in the last 15 years of low cost computing and the increasing availability of retail related data of all types has given retailers the opportunity to take a much more rational approach to decision making. This paper examines the extent to which retailers have taken advantage of the potential released by these developments, and adopted more "scientific" rules based methodologies. The analysis is based on an extensive questionnaire survey of UK retailers conducted in 1998 which encompassed organisations operating altogether more than 50,000 outlets across eight sectors. The survey sought to identify the use made both of particular types of techniques, and of Geographical Information Systems, which act as a platform for them. It was complemented by a series of in-depth interviews with location specialists in a number of major retail organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – A review of the literature regarding the use of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) of 2005 with young people with intellectual disability indicated an absence of publications on this topic, yet clinical practice suggests that services are grappling with complex issues in this area. This article aims to focus on the principles of the MCA and to explore its application to young people with intellectual disabilities. Design/methodology/approach – The key principles of the MCA are reviewed and its application to young people with intellectual disability are explored through case studies. Findings – The MCA is applicable to 16-18 year olds with intellectual disability and services require training and support in its implementation. Issues of adaptation of communication to convey complex matters and appropriate preparation for assessment are especially pertinent. Originality/value – The article explores the application and relevance of the MCA to young people with intellectual disability in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents information about research performed to explore the decision making and experience of African students in Great Britain and provides a hypothesis for re-conceptualising these processes. The research method used a focus group of 28 students studying in two universities in England. A decision making model was developed from the data which identified factors that create anxieties and fears for African students about studying in England. The study also shows that African students come to England to study because they believe that they will get an international higher education experience.

Purpose - Seeks to analyse the complexity of current practices surrounding the management and governance of urban regeneration activities in the UK. In particular, aims to focus on the potential of initiatives decentralised to the sub-local level that have been designed both to effectively manage public service provision and to improve citizen participation in local government management decision making. Design/methodology/approach - Explores the early experiences of local authorities' attempts to introduce "area committees" in line with the complex "modernisation" agendas advanced by the "New Labour" government under an overarching project of "new localism". Findings Highlights that new attempts at devolving power and responsibility to these sub-local structures should be more flexible to local conditions rather than directed by national policy. Originality/value - Argues for a "middle way" to be adopted in managing local government and governance changes in order to develop a more "pragmatic localism". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]