In recent years, there has been a trend towards the negotiation of closer contractual relationships between employers and employment agencies. However, little is known about this change or its likely consequences. In theory, such relationships can benefit employers by lowering fees and also...

In recent years marked changes have occurred in the way employers recruit and select agency workers, with this activity increasingly being outsourced to third party organizations providing ‘vendor managed services’ (VMS). Drawing on data from a study of English social services, this...

<italic>The paper investigates the presence and impact of clinicians on the boards of National Health Service (NHS) acute care trusts on efficiency over a three-year period (2006--2009). The analysis shows an increase, albeit marginal, in the number of clinically qualified directors in the period under...</italic>

The aim of this article is to question the idea that all professional service organizations are undergoing a process of inter-archetype transformation. This idea, originating in organizational archetype theory, is now being used to interpret contemporary processes of change in British and other...

In recent years there has been growing support for the idea of developing collaborative network relationships between purchasers and providers in UK public services. Under the new Labour Government this idea found its way into policies aimed at promoting a ‘third way’ between markets and...

For over two decades there have been attempts across many countries to reform the management of public services and substitute market based provision for bureaucracy. But while these changes have been pursed vigorously, doubts about their appropriateness, feasibility and effectiveness remain....

Around the world clinical professionals have increased their involvement in the management of health services. However the evidence to suggest that these changes will lead to improved performance remains fragmented. In this paper we address this matter focussing on the impact of clinicians...