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This paper proposes a new implementation model that bases implementation outcomes on the responses of academics to a new policy. The model is derived from a review of policy and organisational behaviour literature. The model was tested within the context of the implementation of significant reforms aimed at changing the work practices of academics operating in the Australian higher education sector, in particular reforms resulting from the implementation of a quality initiative in the early 1990s, at approximately the same time as the advent of managerialism. The findings were used to modify the original model. The major finding is that the long-established organisational culture is maintained and reinforced by the actions of senior academics undertaking management responsibilities. As such, the factors organisational culture and leadership combine to form a strong force that acts to mediate proposed organisational changes according to established values and beliefs. The revised model contributes to a better understanding of how academics respond during the implementation of change. The revised model may have relevance for similar types of professionals in public institutions, such as public research institutions, hospitals, schools and some welfare agencies.

This article compares the effectiveness of the administrative subculture of public and private sector employees by comparing the efficacy of their organizational processes. The paper provides some evidence that assumptions about the superiority of private sector administrative subculture (as measured by comparing the effectiveness of organizational communication processes in reducing task ambiguity) are probably not warranted. The perception that private sector administrative subculture is more results-orientated than public sector practices appears not to have been substantiated in this study. In contrast, ambiguity with respect to customers, promotion, superiors, and ethical situations was evident across both public and private groups however; the impact on job satisfaction outcomes was greater for public sector employees in general. Keywords: administrative subculture, feedback processes

This article compares the role of management on the effectiveness of social networks for police officers and implications for engagement using survey data from 575 police officers in the USA and 193 police officers in Australia. Analysis included capturing frequencies, correlations, ANOVAs, structural equation modelling (SEM) for quantitative data, and thematic analysis of the qualitative data. The findings show that 5% of police officer in the USA sample and 12% of police officer in Australian sample had no support for problem-solving; police officers in the USA had bigger social networks; the reasons given for not identifying their line manager as part of their social support included 'the unapproachability of managers' and 'poor managers/bullying' and SEM showed a significant relationship between perceived organizational support (from management), social networks, and employee engagement. The findings have implications for internal security (employee well-being and productivity) and external security (public safety). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses Social Exchange Theory as a lens for comparing the impact of management support upon police perceptions of discretionary power and employee engagement, across three countries. A survey-based, self-report process collected data from 193 police officers in Australia, 588 from the USA, and 249 from Malta. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data. The findings suggest a significantly different management support context across the three countries, as well as significantly different perceptions of discretionary power. Across the three countries, police perceived relatively poor satisfaction with organizational management support and only some engagement levels. However, USA police perceived significantly more discretionary power than the other country samples. These findings provide greater clarity about the link between management support, discretionary power and engagement for the police officers. Since employee engagement likely affects policing outcomes, the findings suggest that poor management support of police officers could negatively affect the provided service. Potential strategies to enhance police engagement include (a) training police managers about how to manage so as to promote greater engagement, and (b) modifying police managers' performance indicators in line with achieving better police engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Yvonne Brunetto, Rod Farr-Wharton This study used a social capital theoretical framework to explain how the quality of relationships (that develop between nurses and their supervisors) affect individual and organisational outcomes. The findings make a contribution to the field of public sector organisational behaviour by identifying how the quality of relationships between employees and management not only affects the employees themselves, but also affects longer term organisational effectiveness by affecting productivity and turnover rates. Whilst previous research has identified the importance of building social capital within private sector organisations; these findings suggest that it is as important for public sector organisations to invest in developing effective relationships so as to improve organisational effectiveness. Many of the changes resulting from the implementation of NPM improved the efficiency of processes; however, the same measures appear to have negatively impacted on the quality of organisational relationships for nurses. The implication of the findings for senior hospital management interested in ensuring longer term organisational effectiveness is that nurses' satisfaction with supervisor communication is a powerful ingredient within the social capital equation. This is because it moderates part of nurses' perception of other organisational factors, which in turn, affect approximately a third of their job satisfaction (and therefore productivity) and job commitment (and therefore absenteeism and turnover).

Research indicates that perceived outcomes of managerial changes vary depending on the type of employee who is queried regarding them. Data are drawn from surveys of four different employee types in Australia; implications are discussed.

The research examined the impact of management upon employee outcomes (perceptions of discretionary power, well-being, engagement, and affective commitment), comparing public and private sector nurses in Australia, the United Kingdom, and Italy. Overall, 1,945 nurses participated in a self-report survey within these coreand laggard-New Public Management countries. While management influenced employee outcomes for each country, there were significant differences between the public and private sectors, with private sector nurses reporting higher perceptions of outcomes. Importantly, nurses' engagement was affected by management practice for each country. This study raises important implications for nurse managers, especially public sector managers, described within. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using Social Exchange Theory, this study compared the impact of nurses' workplace relationships with management and colleagues upon nurses' work harassment, psychological well-being, and engagement within the public and private sectors in both Australia and Italy. Using survey data from 1,587 nurses, SEM findings indicated that public sector nurses in Australia had the lowest satisfaction with supervision, higher work harassment, and lower engagement and psychological well-being, than the other groups. The implications include that poor workplace relationships enable work harassment and therefore management upskilling is required along with changes in performance measures to ensure greater nurse well-being and engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]