Translations of new public management: a decentred approach to school governance in four OECD countries

Despite the prevalence of corporate and performative models of school governance within and across different education systems, there are various cases of uneven, hybrid expressions of New Public Management (NPM) that reveal the contingency of global patterns of rule. Adopting a ‘decentred approach’ to governance (Bevir, M. 2010. “Rethinking Governmentality: Towards Genealogies of Governance.” European Journal of Social Theory 13 (4): 423–441), this paper compares the development of NPM in four OECD countries: Australia, England, Spain, and Switzerland. A focus of the paper is how certain policy instruments are created and sustained within highly differentiated geo-political settings and through different multi-scalar actors and authorities yet modified to reflect established traditions and practices

Influence of knowledge, training and skill development on service quality of the information systems

Paying due attention to "service quality" can help an organization to stand unique in relation to other organizations and gain a competitive advantage. Successfully implemented Information systems (IS) are the solution to the above managerial challenge in the current business environment. Review of literature shed light on the elements that produce quality services in IS. Based on the framework introduced by Pratyush Bharati and Daniel Berg (2003) an attempt has been made in this study to develop a framework that will produce quality services in IS. Quality System, Technical Support, Management Support and above all Knowledge, Training and Skill Development of personnel employed considered as the main variables that determine the quality service of IS. Work Experience, Staff Motivation and Work Efficiency have been identified as other intervening variables that induce the personnel to provide quality services through IS. As such, the objectives of the framework developed in this research is to establish the above variables and identify the degree of their influence on service quality of IS, identify whether the personnel have sufficient Knowledge, Skills and Abilities to provide satisfactory quality services to the customers, eliminate uncertainty by providing information that improves decision making processes and make suggestions and recommendations if any, to remedy the situation. Analysis shows that customers are hardly satisfied with the services provided to them. Most IS are not operating at a satisfactory performance level. They are also not provided with adequate technical support, although the Project Managers state that they have given attention to it. Personnel who have attended training sessions have a better chance to improve their work efficiency, motivation and customer support capabilities. Fund allocation for man power development varies by type 'of organization due to difference in managerial attention to it. Further, gender discrimination can be identified from the lower level of female satisfaction from the services provided to them

Causes and consequences of unexpected educational transitions in Switzerland

The present study examines transition patterns of Swiss secondary and tertiary school students. Switzerland's highly canalized education system allows us to test how tracking affects person-environment fit of students for students who choose a normative versus unexpected downward transition pattern. In addition, we investigate how self-efficacy expectations and personal values affect an unexpected transition choice. Results indicate that students with strong expectancies and personal values can oppose institutional norms and chart their own academic course; however, these students are less likely to perceive a good fit between their own interests and competencies and institutional demands after the transition. Our findings underscore the importance of developmentally appropriate educational environments and systems permeable enough to adapt to developing students' changing interests