Purpose – The way change occurred at a strategic level and in four clinical services in three hospitals was examined. The purpose of this paper is to report how the hospitals designed and delivered change at organisational and clinical service level to improve services for patients, and the role of clinical leadership in this process. Design/methodology/approach – A comparative case study involving semi-structured interviews was undertaken. These involved a range of senior managers in 2009 (n=77), 2011 (n=21) and 2012 (n=29). Interviews with staff involved directly in service delivery were also carried out in 2011 (n=92). The interviews were recorded digitally, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically using the Framework Method. Findings – The value of, and approach taken to clinical leadership varied across the hospitals and over time. This was affected by the culture and priorities of the organisation. Some strategies for developing clinical leadership were developed, however they were limited. It was expected that capable clinical leaders would emerge, and be supported. Effective clinical leadership during organisational and service change required direct executive or managerial support and relied on clinical “champions”. Originality/value – The paper demonstrates that despite the importance of clinical leadership being widely recognized in policy and research, there were no established programmes in place at the hospitals that were studied to support it. Rather there was a reliance on clinical staff coming forward to take on leadership roles as part of organizational efforts to bring about change.
Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to discuss critical perspectives on what has become a dominant approach to public sector management and leadership in England and sets out a new conceptual perspective on leadership to improve this situation, namely a relational one.Design/methodology/approach– A review of key literature on the topics discussed.Findings– A new relational perspective on leadership and management is proposed, along with epistemological, ethical and practical considerations.Research limitations/implications– The paper proposes this new approach to leadership and management in the public sector, but no empirical findings are discussed.Practical implications– The perspective proposes that an explicit consideration of relationships and contextual factors should lie at the heart of leadership and management and all its practice.Originality/value– This is the first time that a relational perspective on public sector management and leadership has been explicated.
Purpose – Information systems (IS) in the public environment largely depend on a needs analysis for their successful integration. This is more likely lead to an improvement in the management control of municipal public services (MPSs) with the help of scientific and technological methodologies, based on both qualitative and quantitative methods. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The data were obtained through field research techniques such as interviews and observation and applying this in each of the municipalities, and complemented by 196 citizen surveys. Findings – An outcome of this research is the implementation of a specific IS to improve administrative and operational processes based on data collected in six municipalities. This implies not only technological but also cultural evolution, since the incorporation of the IS impacts both municipal authorities and society as a whole. Originality/value – This research is based on the need to develop IS to improve management control of MPSs and thus meet the needs of population, and in turn, support the municipal authorities.
Purpose – The middle manager's role in an organization is important. The purpose of this paper is to determine how middle managers understand their roles in managing changes from the perspective of polyphonous leadership. Polyphonous leadership can be described as something that inspires decisions by listening to multiple voices within the organization. Design/methodology/approach – The empirical data were collected from focus groups in the City of Tampere. Participants were middle managers ( n =5) at an organization providing services for young narcotic/alcoholic families and pregnant mothers. The interviewees were selected due to their assumed ability to discuss management issues and their awareness concerning the factors affecting their workers’ capacities. The second focus group was organized for May 2010 ( n =5) and the third later on in May 2010 ( n =7). Findings – In the Finnish context, middle managers understand polyphonous leadership as a process with a beginning and an end. The authors call this process the dominant narrative of polyphonous leadership, because there is a strong consensus amongst middle managers regarding it. In the first step, middle managers have to work as leaders of interaction. Second, they work as utilizers of diversity. In the third step, they act as decision makers and interpreters of polyphony. The final step gives them a role as conciliators of operating plans and personnel operations. Originality/value – There is not much discussion in the extant literature of how middle managers try to act as linking persons in public services infrastructures. The model of the dominant narrative on polyphonous leadership is new in the literature.
Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to introduce the notion of the “Selfless Leader” and to pose the question as to whether this is an impossible ideal. It locates the importance of values within the context of public leadership and puts forward a new perspective on principle-based leadership that incorporates selflessness as its foundation.Design/methodology/approach– It primarily involves a literature review in relation to the importance of virtues and values based on an historical review, and the wider language of leadership. It draws briefly upon primary research based on realistic evaluation (Pawson and Tilley, 1997) across a range of public service organisations in various differing contexts but is, primarily, a conceptual paper aimed at encouraging further debate and research.Findings– Given the fact that we are innately selfish, the requirement to lead in the public interest provides a real challenge for all leaders particularly as leaders are encouraged more towards achievement of competitive advantage, rather than collaborative advantage. The paper will suggest that values-based leadership is highly relevant to the challenges facing public leaders, and will present a principle-based framework for the practice and processes of public leadership.Research limitations/implications– The paper seeks to generate a debate in relation to principle-based leadership that incorporates selflessness as its foundation, primarily through a literature review but supported by selected findings from a range of research projects in the area of public leadership.Practical implications– The approach to realistic evaluation is helpful, not only as a research methodology, but also in relation to the development and assessment of leadership practice.Social implications– This is considered to represent a unique approach to the study of leading in the public interest by focusing on the concept of selflessness.Originality/value– This is considered to represent a unique approach to the study of leading in the public interest by focusing on the concept of selflessness.
Purpose–The purpose of this paper is to report on doctoral research that is addressing how strategic partnerships are rethinking their approach to tackling domestic abuse in Manchester, UK, and creating a new Public Service Reform Commissioning Framework, involving a significant programme of collaboration across sectors, including local authorities, Greater Manchester Police, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and voluntary not-for-profit agencies.Design/methodology/approach– The methodological approach is a case study strategy (Yin, 1994). It is mainly qualitative, with multi-method data collection and analysis. The paper is a commentary on the research, rather than a research paper.Findings– The paper explores the extent to which an innovative new public leadership approach (Brookes and Grint, 2010) to the strategy and governance framework has been adopted, and whether the partnership is succeeding in creating create public value (Moore, 1995). It will discuss how a more collaborative approach based on a community model can add greater engagement across the sectors.Originality/value– Although there is a substantial body of literature about domestic abuse, there is an absence of research from a business and management perspective. The literature review identified that there is little about leadership approaches in tackling domestic abuse, or analysis of partnership approaches from a business and management perspective.
Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine how stewardship of public service renewal and reform is changing and influencing contemporary public leadership.Design/methodology/approach– The literature is reviewed to close the gap between theory and international practice. New evidence from innovation awards, scenario building, surveys, and interviews help demystify leadership dynamics.Findings– International stakeholders remain unconvinced about the role of leadership and claim that public service behaviour cannot be predicted. Scholars maintain that collaborative leadership prevails in thought and practice over the transformational leadership of the New Public Management era. Innovation and stewardship are particularly important aspects of values-based leadership in times of uncertainty. Emerging evidence and patterns of stewardship in public service renewal and reform confirm that “where leaders stand depends upon where they sit”.Research limitations/implications– Leadership practice is running ahead of theory. Research does not differentiate the roles and impact of leaders at the centre, front, and middle of government. Action research is needed to fill knowledge gaps and make the business case for leadership development.Practical implications– Role, capacity, and ethical considerations frame the implications for public leaders. Middle managers play a strategic role in networking government for change. Good governance depends upon developing their strategic leadership competencies and values.Social implications– In turn, where nations stand on the economic ladder depends upon strategic development of their public service. Turning individual competence into organizational capacity requires institutional change.Originality/value– Leaders in the middle are increasingly instrumental as change makers and disciples of reform in today's networked government. Harnessing their leadership capabilities is integral to stewardship of public service renewal and reform.
Purpose– Although the private sector has long understood that a customer-focused service is synonymous with success, the concept is less embedded in public agencies such as the Police. Cultural studies consistently argue that police practitioners perceive “citizen focused” or “quality of service” approaches as distant to “real policing”, making the concept difficult to implement. The purpose of this paper is to explore the complex infrastructure required for the implementation of this approach, specifically focusing on senior police leadership.Design/methodology/approach– Using semi-structured interviews across a diversity of police officers and staff it provides a case study of a city Police Force in England, who attempted to introduce a citizen focused approach between 2006-2010.Findings– Senior police leaders were reported to exhibit distinct and consistent leadership styles with a “transformational” style more positively associated with the implementation of this agenda.Practical implications– The study argues specific leadership styles are critical to the delivery of “quality” approaches.Originality/value– No other case studies currently exist that have explored the role of police leadership in the field of quality service/citizen focused approaches.
Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between perceived power and transformational leadership in the public sector.Design/methodology/approach– The authors investigate this topic empirically in the context of German police forces using a between-groups design, manipulating power and statistically analyzing the results on the multifactor leadership questionnaire.Findings– Police officers with a high perception of power achieve significantly lower scores on transformational leadership compared to their low power counterparts.Research limitations/implications– The study contributes to advancing public leadership theory by showing that transformational leadership, which is considered as particularly useful in public organizations, is likely to be adversely affected by leaders’ power. Furthermore, it also extends on the literature on power by providing first empirical evidence that power has a significant impact not only on factors such as the pursuit of a goal, social behavior, or affect, but also on leadership.Practical implications– The results suggest either to control power accumulation in leadership positions of public organizations, for instance by implementing flat hierarchies, or to come to terms with more authoritative leadership styles in top management.Originality/value– To the best of knowledge, the authors provide the first study that investigates the impact of power on transformational leadership in the public sector using an experimental design and quantitative empirical data.
Purpose – Previously published studies about trainee perceptions of clinical leadership, although small in number, have not assessed the opinions of senior registrars nor established their awareness of the relevant leadership frameworks. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Survey questions and interview questions were designed and a comparison of the relevant literature was performed. An online survey was sent via e-mail to a potential of 2,126 registrar trainees within the deanery and a series of semi-structured interviews (analysed via a content analysis) were conducted amongst voluntary subjects. Findings – The response rate for the questionnaire was 247/2,126 (11.6 per cent). Respondents recognised the importance of leadership (90.4 per cent), professionalism (99.6 per cent) and promoted team-working (89.8 per cent). In total, 94.3 per cent of respondents have had ideas for improvement in their workplace; however, only 27.9 per cent have had their ideas for change implemented. Of the 85.5 per cent of trainees who are not aware of the leadership frameworks, 89.1 per cent performed leadership activities either daily or sometimes. The priorities of registrars did appear to differ between the junior and senior grades. Originality/value – Registrar trainees have a desire to engage and a perceived ability to contribute to service improvement; however, a lack of encouragement, awareness and limited training opportunities serve to hamper the development of clinical leadership potential. This study presents itself as a pilot and will hopefully prompt a larger deanery study to gain a thorough assessment of all trainee perceptions, in order to improve the training programme and ultimately create a generation of consultants equipped to engage in clinical leadership throughout their lifelong career in the National Health Service.
Purpose – This paper aims to explore the role of organisational leaders and leaders within the professions in ensuring that society is well served by its professionals. Design/methodology/approach – This paper draws on the authors own observations over 25 years of educating and developing clinical leaders. Findings – This paper explores the particular challenges of leading professionals in fields such as, law, education or healthcare, where relationships can often be fraught and combative rather than constructive and effective. The paper concludes that if leaders insist on managing professionals as part of a connected hierarchy it will simply continue to provoke resistance. Originality/value – This paper explores the particular challenges of leading professionals in fields such as, law, education or healthcare, where relationships can often be fraught and combative rather than constructive and effective.
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to trace the health management career of Antony Sheehan, a former executive in England's National Health Service and now president of the Church Health Center in Memphis, TN, and reveals principles that guide his management priorities. Design/methodology/approach – The approach is reflective, reading-based, and anecdotal. Findings – Three leadership priorities emerge: liberating talent, profound belief in knowledge, and purpose beyond self, all three being mediated by respect. Research limitations/implications – The narrative is not based on clinical research, but specific experience of the author. Practical implications – Readers may find inspiration to examine the principles that guide their own leadership efforts. Originality/value – Based in the author's own experience, the paper does not represent original research.
Purpose – The story of the Bangladesh public sector is not a happy one as it has often failed to uphold efficiency and equality in delivering services to the people. Hence leadership has a critical role to play to ensure equality, effectiveness and efficiency. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the present condition and future prospect of leadership development in the Bangladesh public sector by focusing on the efforts initiated both by the government of Bangladesh and international organizations during the last ten years. Design/methodology/approach – This paper has reviewed available literatures on theories of public sector leadership development and its application in Bangladesh to identify the state and future prospect of public sector leadership development utilizing available theories. Findings – The analysis shows that partisan politics, dominance of generalists, absence of long-range feedback and monitoring systems and lack of efficient and knowledgeable trainers are the major impediments to public sector leadership development. International organizations provide proposals, frameworks, technical assistance along with funds to develop the public sector leaders but in implementing the schemes they have a very limited role in the implementation process. Research limitations/implications – This paper does not offer much empirical evidence on public sector leadership development in Bangladesh, but creates the platform for further research on public sector training and leadership development with empirical data. Significant variables can be drawn out of this piece of work to design future research on this very important issue. Originality/value – This paper will help the interested individuals involved in the public sector leadership development in Bangladesh to understand the divergence between the efforts put in by the government and international agencies in developing public sector leadership.
Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to describe leadership, decision making and other community characteristics that support community resiliency following disasters.Design/methodology/approach– Literature review and case study based on participant observation in nine years post-Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.Findings– Effective leaders promote community resiliency using democratic, diffused decision making, stressing intra-dependence and promoting individual agency and locally-informed decisions. They build upon local networks and cultural bonds – not waiting for disaster but continuously, with flexible readiness framework infused in all efforts.Research limitations/implications– The paper uses New Orleans’ experiences following Hurricane Katrina to explore how leadership, decision making and other community characteristics can promote resiliency post-disaster – case study extrapolating from one disaster and relevant literature to understand role of leaders in community recovery/re-design.Practical implications– Changes in global economic and environmental conditions, population growth and urban migration challenge capacity of communities to thrive. Leadership and decision making are hub of wheel in crises, so understanding how leaders promote community resiliency is essential.Social implications– Disasters create breakdowns as functioning of all systems that maintain community are overwhelmed and increased demands exceed wounded capacity. Eventually, immediate struggle to limit impact gives way to longer process of re-designing key systems for improved functionality. What contributes to differing abilities of communities to reboot? How can we use understanding of what contributes to that differential ability to prepare and respond more effectively to disasters?Originality/value– Hurricane Katrina was a uniquely devastating urban event – causing re-design and re-building of every major system. Almost ten years post-hurricane, rebuilding process has provided key lessons about effective leadership and community resiliency post-disaster.
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an analytical description of the leadership provided by an official identified as “P” in the resettlement of adults with profound learning difficulties from hospital care to supported housing in the community. His story, presented as a case study, is contextualised in the history of the resettlement and its policy context, and in the evaluation of the resettlement. Design/methodology/approach – This is a case study of the leadership activities and style of an individual based on evidence from a series of interviews; documentary evidence; and the results of a formal evaluation. Findings – The leadership was highly effective in achieving a resettlement which had to overcome numerous hurdles and which achieved externally evaluated outcomes in improving the quality of life of the service users concerned. Research limitations/implications – This is a case study of an individual with the attendant difficulties of scientific generalisation. The achievements of the individual in terms of outcomes were evaluated through the use of valid and reliable measures. Practical implications – The descriptions of leadership behaviour and style and the obstacle overcome should be illuminating to those facing comparable management challenges. Originality/value – This would be the only case study in the literature of leadership in this area. The evaluation which measures its success is also unique.
Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to argue that effective and ethical governance and government can and should benefit from many influences and inputs. These influences and inputs, in the form of evidence, information, knowledge and informed public participation contribute to the quality and legitimacy of government analysis and action.Design/methodology/approach– The approach in this viewpoint is to use persuasive communication in an advocacy and illustrative way to introduce learning governance as an approach to governance.Findings– The viewpoint states the case for the usefulness and relevance of evidence and ideas based learning governance linked to learning leadership in governance for effective and ethical leadership in governance.Originality/value– The value of the viewpoint is to stimulate and elicit discussion and debate on learning governance and leadership as approach to governance leadership.
Purpose– Based on the concept of “intelligent public organisation” as a new theoretical trajectory for New Public Management (NPM) theory, this paper brings together the recent critical discussion on NPM as it relates to public services and service science while specifically pinpointing the nature of public sector intelligence, evaluation, as well as management and leadership of public services. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach– The paper highlights the ongoing discussion on service-dominant logic and reflects the major innovations in service research, innovation studies, organisational learning, development methods, and evaluation from the public services’ perspective.Findings– It is argued that contemporary public management theories and practices – and theories reflecting the role of public services – should make more use of that body of literature focusing on substantive service-dominant theories found in marketing and business studies. The paper concludes that the academic discourse on NPM and New Public Governance (NPG) has been rich in content, but to date rather biased from a public services perspective.Practical implications– It is argued that public services are arenas for interaction, co-operation, and co-creation, orchestrated by the networks of organisations providing these services. The essence of “service user” has also changed in recent decades. This development has practical implications for developing leadership practices in public services.Originality/value– Doctrines of NPM and NPG have been missing an appreciation of the comprehensive role played by public services and the role of evaluation of public services has also been largely ignored. In this light and in regards to public services in particular, the new wave of public policy evaluation paradigms could usefully be integrated with NPG.
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore if women who are in positions of leadership are influenced by gender when voting for a party led by a female candidate and if perceptions of the media's portrayal of a woman candidate influences the voting preferences of women leaders. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reports the results of an online survey of women leaders to provide a pre-election analysis about how they would vote and what was influencing their vote for Gillard, if they chose to vote for her. Data were analysed using Content Analysis and Descriptive Statistical Analysis. Findings – Although gender does influence the vote of women leaders for a woman candidate, they use different decision criteria to influence their voting preferences of a female candidate, of which the woman candidate's views and priorities play a major part. Research limitations/implications – The small sample size was not statistically representative and the data were self-reported and not validated post voting. A random and larger sample is required as well as further research comparing how Abbott was portrayed in the media and how men would vote for the party leaders. Practical implications – The paper highlights that female candidates need to clearly assert their views and priorities during an election campaign and foreshadows women's evaluation of Gillard's achievements for women, in the next election. Originality/value – Based in a unique time in Australia's political history which led to a woman being elected prime minister of a minority government and it explores how women in leadership perceived and reacted to the electoral environment at the time.
