Considers the problems of a multi‐disciplinary team working together to understand and evaluate a healthcare information system, which itself is situated in a complex organisational and political environment. Provides general discussion of problems faced by evaluators of such systems. Describes this specific evaluation project (Electronic Patient Records in the UK National Health Service), gives an account of the evaluation process as it occurred, highlights some of the problems encountered, and discusses attempts to overcome these. Suggests that social, organisational and political factors are inherent in all such research enterprises, and that in order to facilitate a rich understanding of complex systems, these factors must also be considered as part of the research data.
Based on research in universities in the North of England, this article refzecu on the growing size and widening remit of the personnel function. Differences between the old and nao universities are discussed together wlh the possible future roles of personnel within higher education. The author feels that it is unlikely, given personnel directors views of the way the personnel function is seen by Vice Chuncellors and Pro-Vice-Chancellors in the older universities, that the personnel function will pluy a more influential role in the immediate future. Also, despite a greater role being played by the personnel function in the new universities, a seat at the 'top table' has generally been denied. The author concludes that in such labour-intensive organizations as universities, the failure to empower the personnel function is somaohat shortsighted given the growing number of government policies directed towards the activihs of academic staff.
Only recently has a professional personnel function become
established within UK universities. Based on interviews with heads of
the personnel function in both “old” and “new”
universities in northern England, discusses the approach being taken to
personnel management in higher education. Presents evidence of changes
in style and direction of the personnel function and considers the
possibility of convergence between the two types of university.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.