OPM’s blog articles

Challenges for Local Area Agreements and Local Strategic Partnerships

April 23, 2009 – 2:23 pm
Research has concluded that LAAs have made partnership working more focused and embedded. But what still needs to be done? Gillian Gillanders looks at the impact of Local Area Agreements.

Posted in research, evaluation, places that work, leadership, local government | No Comments »

Young Muslim Advisors

April 23, 2009 – 1:44 pm
The Young Muslims Advisory Group – supported by OPM – will enable the government to engage with young Muslim people. At our residential action-planning event, one OPM researcher asked YMAG member Ali-Abbas Khimji about his hopes for the group.

Posted in inclusion, stakeholder engagement, research, places that work | No Comments »

Motivation and professionalism in public services

April 23, 2009 – 1:18 pm
With politicians facing calls to put more trust in doctors and teachers, the question of what motivates public servants has never been more important. Sarah McDonnell examines public service ethos in light of discussions at an OPM public interest seminar.

Posted in public service, research, futures research, governance, places that work | No Comments »

Doing it virtually: Web 2.0 and involving service users in research

April 23, 2009 – 1:10 pm
Web 2.0 is focused on creating user generated content. It is therefore easy to see why it has been lauded as a perfect platform for enabling service user and community participation and involvement.

Posted in technology, Web 2.0, stakeholder engagement, research | No Comments »

The creative quest – more, different and better

April 22, 2009 – 4:32 pm
In the current public service environment, creative approaches are essential to organisational success. Richard Field looks at how to use creative techniques effectively.

Posted in management development, coaching, leadership | No Comments »

Challenges for public service delivery in rural England

April 17, 2009 – 2:54 pm
by Diane Beddoes For people who are disabled or amongst the growing ageing population, accessing services can mean relying on the goodwill and time of friends or neighbours. People who live in urban areas, with public services close by and public transport relatively frequent and wide-ranging, often forget that things can be very different in rural England. OPM’s work with the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) has looked at some of the challenges facing people using and providing public services in rural areas.

Posted in stakeholder engagement, research, places that work, local government | No Comments »

Muscat adventures: leadership learning in a Gulf state

April 17, 2009 – 2:45 pm
OPM fellow Stefan Cantore was invited to run sessions on leadership by a large company in Oman. The sessions were well received and also allowed Stefan to learn more about how good leadership can contribute to social results in a context far from his home.

Posted in leadership | No Comments »

The need for both evaluators and commissioners to engage effectively with stakeholders

April 17, 2009 – 2:25 pm
The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) of Britain was established by an Act of Parliament and came into existence in 2000. It ceased to exist with effect from 1 October 2007, with the setting up of the new Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). The DRC's Senior Management Team and commissioners decided to evaluate how far the DRC had had an impact in the areas identified in its strategy, and whether there were any lessons that were transferable to the EHRC and other disability organisations.

Posted in stakeholder engagement, research, organisational development, evaluation | No Comments »

How can OPM be a good public interest company?

April 17, 2009 – 1:20 pm
Public interest companies (PICs) exist to provide a specific public benefit. But what does it mean to be one and how can they succeed in this aim? OPM’s recent examination of its own work as a public interest company has revealed how projects can have a greater social impact. It has also demonstrated how working as a PIC can improve social outcomes.

Posted in organisational development, governance | No Comments »

Interview with Carolyn Downs, chief executive of Shropshire County Council

December 15, 2008 – 5:34 pm
Carolyn Downs has been chief executive of Shropshire County Council for five years. During that time, the authority has become the highest performing county council and one of the top ten councils in the country – it is rated as four star and improving strongly. Carolyn also played a key role in Shropshire’s successful bid to become a unitary authority.

Posted in leadership, local government | No Comments »