Networks In Open Systems Of Governance

Abstract

This article focuses on an abortive attempt to co-ordinate a local governance network in the domain of older persons' care in England. It locates a key source of failure in pressures in the policy context. Exogenous factors are analysed using a tiered (macro-/meso-/micro-) model linking context and agents. People occupy specific positions in the policy system and can respond differently to erratic contextual prompts. This putative autonomy imposes limits on the assumed trajectory and ontology of whole-networks in socially contested arenas and delimits the strategic space for network governance. Networks are thus as often effects as causes of social change.     

Integrating the environmental and economic consequences of converting to organic agriculture: evidence from a case study

In the current debate about the future of food quality, the merits of organic agriculture are frequently championed, but few studies have sought to integrate the changes in soil conditions, biodiversity and socio-economic welfare linked to the conversion from non-organic to organic production. This article aims to undertake this approach with respect to one case study. Its conclusions may not be representative for all organic conversions, but the findings are of relevance at a time of debate over changing patterns of subsidies and other incentives in agricultural policy. The study showed that there were demonstrable differences in overall environmental conditions in the comparison of organic and non-organic farming, with field evidence of increased species diversity, and an eventual improvement in the profitability of the organic farming regime. The broad conclusion is that there are definite environmental and economic advantages arising from organic agriculture that are not fully reflected in the present pattern of agricultural incentives. The study also showed that variations in farm management practice strongly influence the notion of on-farm and off-farm environmental consequences. The implications of these findings for the future of sustainable agriculture and for interdisciplinary science are also discussed.     

ARCHSECRET: a multi‐item scale to measure service quality within the voluntary sector

This paper provides an overview of the application of SERVQUAL reflecting the theoretical criticisms concerning disconfirmation model, process orientation, role of expectations and portability. The original SERVQUAL framework was found to be inappropriate for services that had no close analogue with the private sector. A qualitative research study was undertaken to establish the sector‐specific criteria used by customers to evaluate service quality. The study identified 40 potentially unique features of the service as perceived by service recipients. These features were developed into a pilot survey instrument that comprised 40 questions, covering expectations, perceptions and importance. A pilot study was undertaken to test the instrument among disabled customers and their carers across the main centres of a national voluntary organisation. Analyses of the pilot survey data resulted in a set of 27 distinct statements across ten hypothesised service quality dimensions. These are Access, Responsiveness, Communication, Humaneness, Security, Enabling/Empowerment, Competence, Reliability, Equity, and Tangibles, giving rise to the acronym ARCHSECRET. The ARCHSECRET instrument is potentially a powerful diagnostic tool for managers in their pursuit of continuous quality improvement within voluntary sector organisations. Copyright © 2001 Henry Stewart Publications     

缩小医疗保健业的质量深沟

在医疗保健组织中贯彻波多里奇奖医疗保健业卓越绩效准则可以推动高质量结果和改善财务绩效.波多里奇奖准则提出了一种结构用以帮助组织找准并聚焦于关键受益者的需求和期望所涉及的所有领域.简言之,准则可以改变医疗保健业.     

美容品牌如何链接消费者的情感

任何美容品牌进入亚洲市场的机遇都似乎是无限的。高涉及率的美容类别如护肤、护发和美容护理品牌必须拥有一种对美容理念亲和的理解力，并为客户建立一种其渴求的体验。品牌设计者越来越善于表达品牌故事，及更有效地接触各种市场的购物者。美容品牌建立一种创新文化和渴求，并在情感上连接消费者的原理是什么？     

Antecedents of flow in retail store shopping

“Flow” has been established as a critical determinant of an online shopping experience. Online consumers with flow experience tend to be less price-sensitive and to have favorable attitudes and high re-patronage intention. As retail stores account for 90% of retail sales, it is important to advance our knowledge of flow theory in physical retail stores. However, the antecedents (navigational challenge, web skill) derived from the extant online flow literature are not applicable to in-store shopping. To fill the void, the two objectives here are (1) to provide a theoretical foundation to develop the antecedents (challenges and skills) associated with in-store shopping, and (2) to examine their impacts on consumer flow experience (concentration, control, and enjoyment) and subsequent future shopping intentions. The results will advance the literature of flow and offer helpful suggestions to retail marketing.     

将《社区再投资法》扩展到所有金融机构

《社区再投资法》（CRA）的颁布是为了解决少数族群和低收入社区没有得到银行公正和充分的服务这一事实，这些银行已经成为1929年大萧条以后美国政府金融安全网的受益者。2008年，联邦政府扩大其安全网，把投资银行、经纪人以及其他金融机构包括进来．并通过必要的举措稳定全球金融市场。本文的主要前提是：要想获得联储贴现窗口，投资银行、经纪人以及其他金融机构必须遵守新的《社区再投资法》。要恢复我们对美国金融体系的信心和经济的健康，必须使所有美国人能公平地获得全方位的金融服务。