Sketching: Friend or Foe to the Novice Designer?

Previous research by one of the authors showed that novice designers do not use sketching as a way to generate, develop and communicate design proposals, but move immediately to three-dimensional modelling. Neither do they generate multiple solutions. The follow-up study described here addressed the questions: Does teaching two-dimensional modelling enable Grade 7 pupils to better express their ideas and organize their thoughts? What role does discussion play in pupils' attempts to generate a design proposal? Does the use of contextualising items make a difference to pupils' success with designing? Eight Grade 7 pupils were drawn from each of two classes. One class had received instruction in sketching; the other served as a control group. Each group of eight pupils was divided into single-sex dyads. The eight dyads were videotaped while producing a solution to a common design brief. Analysis of the data has provided insights into the effects of instruction on the proposals produced by pupils. Additionally, their ability to generate, develop and communicate design ideas is enhanced by both the dynamic relationship between pupils' talk and 3D modelling and the way the task is contextualised. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Public Sector Reform in New Zealand and Its Relevance to Developing Countries

Does New Zealand's success story have lessons for developingcountries contemplating public sector reform? That questionusually elicits one of two reactions, both inadvisable in theauthors' view. The first reaction is to be impressed with theefficacy of the reforms and conclude that they should be adopteduncritically in other countries. The second reaction is thatthe special conditions existing in New Zealand are such thatnone of its reform experience is relevant to others. The authorstake a middle position, maintaining that poorer countries canindeed extrapolate from the experience of their higher incomeneighbor despite the different conditions under which they haveto operate. New Zealand's comprehensive overhaul of its publicsector affords both general principles and specific elementsrelevant to countries looking to improve the quality, efficiency,and cost effectiveness of their public service sectors, anda careful analysis of those reforms can ascertain what mightbe transferable and what principles might apply.      

Configurations of New Public Management reforms and the efficiency,effectiveness and equity of public healthcare systems: a fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis

ABSTRACT

Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis identifies configurations of New Public Management (NPM) reforms (privatization, consumerism, performance management, and corporatization) associated with perceptions of improvements in healthcare efficiency, effectiveness and equity in 14 European countries. Although these outcomes are pursued concurrently, no combination of the considered reforms appears to support success or failure across the board and the inter-relations between reforms shape their effects. Three NPM reform profiles are evident in Europe; (1) strong reformers, adopting a comprehensive package of reforms that are perceived to perform better than (2) partial reformers, with (3) limited reformers also doing better than partial reformers.     

Olympic Dam Mining： Accounting For Capacity Management

This case concerns the evaluation of a capital investment and provides an opportunity to conduct a sensitivity analysis of outcomes based on alternative project assumptions. Optimum production outputs depend on a reliable fleet of minesite vehicles. Replacement and maintenance alternatives need to be assessed and managed to ensure effective outcomes.     

The new workplace: change at work in Ireland

This paper examines new forms of work organization in Ireland, their incidence, shape and origins. Using data from a recently conducted national workplace survey it is timely on two counts: it provides for the first time reliable data on key dimensions of work reorganization. Previous research findings, which have relied on company listings for their sampling frames, have been of questionable statistical provenance. Second, from this more reliable statistical base, the paper seeks to question the popularly held contention that the radical shift in fortunes enjoyed by the Irish economy in recent years is, in no small measure, due to workplace innovation. In addition, the paper examines the factors associated with new work practices. Three variables stand out as exercising particularly robust effects: establishments in 'high-tech' sectors of the economy, financial services and competitive strategies that give emphasis to product and service customization. Finally, the paper attempts to locate patterns of workplace change in Ireland within the wider international literature.     

Humpty Dumpty's guide to tax law: Rules,principles and certainty in taxation

Tax systems are, most commonly, rules-based. This gives the impression of techno-rationality in the interpretation of the numbers from which tax bills are derived. In fact, uncertainty and complexity in tax rules are seen as promoting tax avoidance behaviour, as avoiders exploit this complexity. Some authors have advocated that this can be combated by replacing rules-based tax legislation with principles-based legislation, giving tax authorities and the courts the power to interpret legislation purposively.This paper demonstrates by reference to a number of UK tax cases that rules-based legislation already embodies the hidden operation of state power as judges have considerable discretion in the interpretation of rules. The paper goes on to argue that principles-based legislation would further empower the state vis-à-vis the citizen. While this might be intuitively appealing to the vast majority of taxpayers not engaged in tax avoidance, it brings with it the hidden danger of a fundamental alteration of the balance of power between the state and all citizens, and should therefore be treated with caution.