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Useful Weblinksx
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The
Web as a Learning Tool
I have included this section
because so many of my clients and students say they find the
Web a frustrating place to find really useful information
around change and leadership in public service. The information
below should help you minimise your time. You will make mistakes
and go up blind alleys - that's the price of freedom.
Some useful tips:
Use Virus Software
Make sure you have good virus
protections software. Remember to keep it up to date and run
regular scans of your PC. Any good PC store will help you
choose one to suit your needs.
Search Engines
Many people don't seem to know
how to get the best from a search engine (some of the best
are listed in the section below). I would suggest you look
at the 'hints and tips' section of your chosen search engine.
Make sure you enter the 'key' words first including 'and'
and 'not' to help you be more specific. Put your topic in
inverted commas and you will get a more defined list.
Discussion Forums
These forums can be a good
way of transfering and accessing knowledge, and for getting
your opinions challenged. They can therefore be an excellent
learning tool. Some require you to post messages via e-mail
and others on-line through your browser. There are some simple
rules to follow so you don't put people's backs up. Specialist
providers like http://www.topica.com
are good, but you have to be prepared to receive some junk
mail.
Free Information
An increasing number of websites
like ChangeZone offer completely free information services.
For example, if you are a change agent in the public sector
you should try http://www.ukhrd.com
and http://www.trainingzone.co.uk
I have listed a number of the best sites below to get you
started.
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Some
useful Research Sites
Search
for free articles
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/tn_bus
Articles
from the London Business School
www.bestofbiz.com
Action
Research
http://www.actionresearch.com
Leadership
& Organisational Change
www.leadership.co.uk
Organisation
development & management articles
http://www.articles911.com
Management
tools, resources and materials
http://www.managementhelp.org
Find
the books you need
http://www.meansbusiness.com
Action
Learning
hlttp://www.action-learning.org
Training
resources and materials
http://www.trainingzone.co.uk
UK
University Libraries
http://www.niss.ac.uk/lis/opacs.html
British
Library
http://www.bl.uk
BRINT
http://www.brint.com
Learning
Organisation
http://world.std.com/~lo/
Learning
http://www.infed.org
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Public
Sector Websites
A comprehensive list of public sector websites
can be found at the Employers Organisation for Local Government.
CLICK
HERE
Audit
Commission
http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk
Various publications on Best
Value and Performance, including inspection and Research Reports.
Office
of the Deputy Prime Minister
http://www.communities.go.uk
Access logal government white
papers, Best Value Performance Plans and Indicators, and research
findings and the Strategic Partnering Task Force
Cabinet
Office
- service quality and improvement
http://www.cabine-office.gov.uk
Department
of Education and Skills
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/
Contains information on Best
Value in schools and education generally.
Department
of Health
http://www.doh.gov.uk
Conatins information on social
care reviews and health inequalities
LGA
(Local Government Association)
http://www.lga.gov.uk/home.asp
Various publications on Best Value
NALC
(National
Association of Local Councils)
http://www.nalc.gov.uk
CIPFA(Chartered
Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy)
http://www.nalc.gov.uk
EMAS
(Eco-Management & Audit Scheme)
http://www.emas.org.uk
Recognises and rewards good
nvironmental performance by organisations
IDeA
(Improvement
& Development Agency)
http://www.idea.gov.uk
Various Best Value and Improvement
publications covering the essentials, reviews, procurement,
toolkits, knowledge base and helpline.
Employers'
Organisation for Local Government
http://www.lg-employers.gov.uk/index.html
Toolkits on Organisation Development topics,
research topics, surveys, guidance notes, etc.
Local
Agenda 21
http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk
Explores the commitment to sustainable change
by local authorities
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Private
Sector Websites
The
Change Agency
http://www.thechangeagency.org.uk
A black led management consultancyworking with
the public and private sector
CAPITA
http://www.capita.co.uk
They focus on achieving measurable, step changes
in service delivery – increased service efficiency, quality
and accessibility.
The
Work Foundation
http://www.theworkfoundation.com
Previously known as
The Industrial Society it is a leading thinker and adviser
on the world of work. Everything it does - from consultancy
to research, from training to advocacy, from education to
advisory services, is driven by a commitment to change working
life.
Fit
for the Future
The Fit for the Future Campaign
encourages the sharing of knowledge and experience between
businesses of all kinds as a means of improving performance
across every area of business activity at local, regional
and national level and across all sectors. It has an extensive
network of partnerships with private and public organisations.
The
Chartered Institute of Management
http://www.managers.org.uk
The is a leading organisation
for professional management, that promotes the art and science
of management in every sector and every level.
The
Garnett Foundation
http://www.thegarnettfoundation.com
The Garnett Foundation
exists to harness the diversity, energy and creativity of
people towards the common purpose. It achieves this by finding
imaginative and cost effective ways to help people learn,
develop and adopt positive behaviour at work. It provides
practical and creative solutions to organisational issues
and challenges, particularly in the areas of leadership, communication
and the management of change.
The
Office of Public Management
http://www.opm.co.uk
The Office for Public Management provides facilitation
and consultancy services for public private and voluntary
organisations engaged in transformational change. Specialises
in large group interventions.
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Charity
and Professional Websites
National College for School Leadership
Has created a Leadership Development
Framework for schools to impact on the career of every school
leader.
UNISON Open College
Have created this site
to help you find out about the Open College and its courses,
grants and bursaries, access links to other sites offering
vocational training.
The New Economics Organisation
Has an excellent search facility
if you want to find a charitable or professional body.
Common Purpose
Neighbourhood Initiatives Foundation
Business in Communities
Contains valuable information
for anyone wanting set up community businesses
Local Development Europe
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Organisation
Development Websites
Social
Science Information Gateway
http://www.sosoig.ac.uk/roads/subject-listing/world/organchan.html
This
site has an extensive list of information resources on organisational
change issues listed alphabetically, including writers, consultants
and journals. It has a good search facility.
Society
for Organisational Learning
http://www.solonline.org/organizational_overview/
This
link takes you to the Society for Organisational Learning
(SoL) website. It contains an overview of Organisational Learning
(OL) and its key concepts, a booklist, latest research and
how to build the capacity of OL into your organisation. There
is an interview with Peter Senge on how he views the benefits
of OL.
Inter-Organisational
Change
http://www.opm.co.uk/
Summary of tools and
methodology adpted by the Office for Public Management. It
offers perspectives on new challenges and new thinking, particularly
large group interventions. The site also has items on organisation
development, leadership development and management learning.
Employers
Organisation
http://www.lg-employers.gov.uk/improvement/org_dev/index.html
Research conducted by the Employers'
Organisation with local authorities in the autumn 2002 has
provided a clearer picture of how OD is being managed, helped
to highlight good practice and identify skills and development
issues for those carrying out high level OD work.
Cross-Functional
Step Change
http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/sims/cim/expertise/organisational_change_cv.htm
This site contains articles
on the people and organisational aspects of cross-functional
step change. Contains practical experience and best practice
studies on critical success factors.
OD
Network Bookstore
http://www.odnetwork.org/bookstore.php.
This site contains an extensive
range of publications on organisation development topics.
They can be searched by author or book title.
Think
Tank Websites
Academy
of Enterprise
http://www.academyofenterprise.org
This
organisation is influential in shaping government thinking
on the way ahead for UK companies. It wants to revolutionise
the way children are prepared for the world of work. It promotes
"Peoplism" and economic state that sees brainpower
as an important factor of production.
CPS
- Centre for Policy Studies
http://www.civitas.org.uk
This
right wing organisation focuses on the promotion of free market
policies, individual choice and respect for the law. It develops
and publishes public policy proposals.
Civitas
http://www.civitas.org.uk
Tends
to have a right wing bias. Tipped as the think-tank to watch.
It's focus is a better divition of responsibilities between
government and civil society - relating to health, welfare,
education and the family. Has called for the Commission for
Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission to
be abolished.
The
Conference Board
http://www.conference-board.org
This
is a global independent organisation that explores major issues
impacting on business. It is a leading management and business
research body looking for wyas of improving performance and
serving society. It runs the European Council for HR.
DEMOS
http://www.demos.co.uk
This
is a left leaning think-tank used by Tony Blair to help him
reinvigorate public policy and political thinking. It likes
to find radical solutions to long standing problems. It is
also a disciple of "Peoplism".
IPPR
- Institute for Public Policy Research
http://www.ippr.org.uk
This
is the biggest and probably the most influential think-tank
in the UK. It is responsible a number of new Labour initiatives
including public-private partnerships.
ISER
- Institute for Social & Economic Research
http://www.iser.essex.ac.uk
This
independent think-tank is based at the University of Essex.
It is working to understand how an individual's behaviour,
beliefs and life changes are structured over time by domestic
arrangements and patterns of employment. Conducts the annual
British Household Panel Survey to measure social change
PSI
- Policy Studies Institute
http://www.psi.org.uk
A
leading independent research body and a pioneer of large-scale
surveys of employees and their company practices. It drew
up the blueprint for the Race Relations Act.
Runnymede
Trust
http://www.runnymedetrust.org
This
is an independent charity at the forefront of the fight against
racial discrimination for the past 30 plus years. It stimulates
debate
The
Smith Institute
http://www.smith-institute.org.uk
Left
leaning and closely linked to the Chancellor Gordon Brown.
It's work centres on the policy implications stemming from
the interactions of equality, enterprise and equity. It identifies
the latest research and draws conclusions to present to business
leaders.
The
Social Market Foundation
http://www.smf.co.uk
Formally
identified with the SDP now the centre right. It extols the
virtues of a social market economy. Supporter of business
involvement in education. It's report on Teleworking demonstrated
an increase in productivity by up to 30% but failed to deliver
a better work-life balance.
The
Strategy Unit
http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page77.asp
Draws
on the mood of the moment and is internal to the Cabinet Office.
It brings together the Performance and Policy Unit and the
Prime Minister's Forward Strategy Unit. Regarded as Tony Blair's
own think-tank it is responsible for 'blue skies thinking'.
Launched a five year action plan for a better skilled workforce.
Tomorrow's
Company
http://www.tomorrowscompany.com
Small
independent think-tank that punches above its weight. It is
pursuing the vision of creating "a future for business
which makes equal sense to staff, shareholders and society.
Seeks fresh ideas for business to contribute more to society.
The
Work Foundation
http://www.theworkfoundation.co.uk
Independent
and worthy. Formally the Industrial Society it is part research
institute, part business consultancy and part advocate. It's
goal is to create a better workplace. Has a reputation for
being an influential campaigner..
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