An in-depth analysis of the bureaucratic systems of government service operations and the benefits of restructuring the existing system of bureaucracy.
Abstract This paper reports that even though bureaucracy gives an impression of governmental departments like taxation, and welfare, it is actually found in almost every public spheres. Corporations, churches, the military, labor and trade unions, community centers, schools, hospitals all are essentially facilitated by certain bureaucratic components. Most people take them as important part of their lives, though not readily. However the best part of bureaucracy is that it provides a set of rules and procedures to set everything running in a proper order, transparently, and also ensures consistency and fairness acceptable to all. This paper focuses on evaluating the organizational and power structures while emphasizing the need for refurbishing Human Service Organization in Australia on the lines of bureaucratic organizations.
Introduction
Background
The Bureaucracy - Pros and Cons
The Power
Bureaucracy Concerns
Components of an Organization
Restructuring and Reengineering
Conclusion
From the Paper "One of the major administrative foundations for the creation of bureaucracy is the exception principle. Therein only important and complex problems reach the higher ups while trivial routine issues are solved by the people in the lower levels. Programmed decisions are implemented automatically in accordance with the predefined operating procedures and the unusual problems requiring major decisions are routed to the top. This should make the hierarchy more effective. However there are problems related to the delegation and motivation in bureaucracy; delegating authority and power is not an easy task. It requires immense confidence in sub-ordinates and an immaculate efficacy of the system."
Abstract This paper explains that the community influences the public sector, re-emphasizing the importance of the collaboration between community, citizens and government agencies toward creating a solid, driven and contemporary organizational system. The author points out that contemporary agencies now understand that government agencies have a responsibility to be focused on citizens and customer service oriented instead of being process and procedure driven. The paper stresses that the role and responsibilities of middle managers have changed and will likely continue to change as organizational structures within public service organizations become less bureaucratic and monopolistic in upcoming years.
Table of Contents
Key Factors That Have Produced Greater Emphasis on Relationships
Key Differences in Analysts Views of Public Sector Agencies
Managing Out Imperative and Changing Managers Roles
From the Paper "Multiple agencies have also expressed an interest in delivering processes which uphold more ethical standards, ones that can be easily identified and institutionalized; for this reason many agencies are working together to be more informed than they would be without communicating, and to improve not only the construction of but also the implementation of such regimes or policies. There has been great interest of late within the public sector for improving among other things ethics education, a sentiment expressed at the 5th International Ethics in Public Sector Conference held in Brisbane."
Abstract This paper suggests ways in which military spending is affected by the economy and ways in which military spending affects the economy. The author notes that the military, just as business, needs to seek a proper balance between income and expenditures. The paper relates that the majority of military expenditures go for personnel and equipment.
From the Paper "The economics of the military on one level is the same as for any business, with a need for a proper balance between income and expenditures, with the latter going largely for personnel and equipment. One difference is that the military can always ask for increased funding and will usually get it from Congress, while a business can only increase sales, get a loan, or improve the bottom line by reducing expenditures. Both are also affected by macroeconomic forces largely out of their control, but the effect on the military is not always in keeping with the strict rise and fall of the macro-economy. Changes in the macro-economy can affect military spending in the same way they affect other forms of public spending, by adding to or reducing the revenue collected through taxes and so adding to or reducing the amount of money to be spent."
Abstract In this paper, America holds hegemony through military, economic, cultural, and political positions. The threat to American power seems low due to the massive military aggression that America has taken against the Middle East in recent times. The writer discusses that the overwhelming sense of military might, along with political and economic justification on the part of the U.S. appears to be the ongoing trend on the international scene. The writer notes that this power lessens the strength of the E.U., Russia, and China as America culturally dominates the world through the power that it wields.
From the Paper "This study seeks to understand the basis of power that has become United States hegemony within the global system. The basis of economic, military, political and cultural power is accessed to comprehend U.S. domination within an international scope. In defining these pillars of strength, one can realize that the United States is not likely to face any serious challenges to its hegemony in the coming decade. The United States military presence is a major cornerstone of hegemony that is now being imposed throughout the world."
Abstract This paper examines three prominent United States interest groups and looks at the issues that interest them (and don't interest them), the activities they engage in, the role they expect government to play (at least in their areas of concern) and the means by which they access the policy-making process. The paper concludes that while they are all narrowly-focused, their actions are remarkably similar.
From the Paper "Public policy interest groups greatly affect the policy-making process in America - and in most nations. As holders of specialized information and as organizations habitually possessing the resources necessary to deal directly with policy-makers, these interest groups play a major role within the democratic, policy-making process that is often poorly understood by ordinary citizens. This paper will examine three of these organizations - the Center for Immigration Studies, the National Council of La Raza, and the Center for Defense Information - and attempt to answer the following questions: what issues do they care about; what issues don't they care about; the manner in which they support their arguments (with specific examples); their perspective on the role of government; and, lastly, how they access government (e.g: via Congress, the Judiciary, public opinion, etc.). "
Abstract This paper is an article review on the topic of cost accounting in the healthcare industry. The article chosen discusses cost accounting practices within 19 hospital centers in Georgia, looked at various parameters such as number of revenue centers compared to service centers, types of accounting methods used, frequency of using a cost accounting methodology, software, etc.
From the Paper "This paper will review the study performed in the fall of 2004 and published earlier this year by Timothy Cairney and Kevin Bennett (2005) titled: Support Department Cost Allocations in The Georgia Healthcare Industry. Tim Cairney is an assistant professor of accountancy with specialized interests in cost and management accounting. His partner, Kevin Bennett, is an assistant professor of health services administration in the Georgia Southern University system. Both are well published. While interest in cost accounting methodologies for the healthcare industry are growing based on the number of recent non-fiction books (including text books) on the subject as well as the dramatic increase in colleges offering specific courses on the topic, Cairney and Bennett report that: "sophisticated support cost centers are used less than may be expected given the complexity of the healthcare firms' operation" (p.90)."
Abstract This is a brief essay that provides an overview of the major differences and similarities between two types of government; parliamentary and presidential. The essay draws from current as well historical events to demonstrate these two types of governments and how the general public accesses the electoral process. European examples are also presented to provide world context.
From the Paper "Makeshift coalitions aside, here in Canada the prime minister is the political party leader who manages to get the most MPs elected to parliament. In the United States, the president appeals to the voters for more direct support through an electoral-college system. The advantage, in the case of the U.S., is that voters feel a greater sense of impact by casting ballots directly for the man who they feel should be president. Canadians, on the other hand, like those engaged in other parliamentary systems, are sometimes forced to hold their noses while they vote for a less desirable MP in order to indirectly vote for their prime minister."
Abstract This paper outlines in brief, the process by which judges are selected in America and the relative strengths and weaknesses of this approach. As the paper makes clear, the American model is not perfect (no model is) but it at least offers democratic input while bolstering the legitimacy of the judiciary in the eyes of ordinary citizens. Finally, the American model encourages the legal education of its citizens.
From the Paper "No nation in the Western World takes greater pride in its commitment to freedom and to democracy than does America - and justly so. The following paper will examine one aspect of America's enduring commitment to freedom by assessing the manner by which it selects its magistrates - most notably, Supreme Court justices. In addition to offering a synopsis of the process, the paper will also briefly outline its strengths and weaknesses. As will soon become apparent, whatever the failings of the American system, it injects an element of accountability and responsiveness into the judiciary that is often sorely lacking elsewhere. To begin with, at the state level, nominees for state Supreme Court justices are selected by state party officials (Eaton, B1). This process is too often shrouded in secrecy, but the basic lineaments are open to view."
Abstract This paper focuses on the issue of staffing shortages within the nursing profession. The paper further discusses the reasons for staffing shortages, as well as the effects that are felt in the health care community and by patients within the United States. The paper examines legislation that has been proposed to address this issue and how it will impact both the nursing community and the citizens that depend on health care each day.
From the Paper "One of the most significant issues related to nursing today is the shortage of trained professional nurses that staff hospitals and health care centers nationwide. Working conditions within hospitals have often led many nurses to change professions because salaries are being reduced, and equipment is often not available in order to succeed in helping patients in a satisfactory manner. The rise of health care costs has played a monumental role in this change within the profession. As hospital systems have struggled to survive economically, administrators have determined that cutting staffing, wages and supplies is a way in which to meet financial needs."
Abstract This paper defines the concept of community policing and contrast it with traditional policing. The paper also explains the effects that bicycle and foot patrols have on the community in terms of community policing. The paper suggests that officers are getting back into touch with their communities, reducing the confrontational atmosphere that has thickened over time.
From the Paper "Community policing is not a new thing. Rather, it is a thing of the past, returning to popularity. Once upon a time police officers were more a part of the community rather than holding themselves apart from it as they did in the mid- to late-twentieth century. Today, it is not unusual to see police officers on bicycles or on foot, patrolling their neighborhoods. The return to community policing has been taking place over many years."
Abstract This paper discusses HIV/AIDS both in general terms and in relation to the dynamic HIV/AIDS has created across the African continent. The paper examines, in depth, the cause, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of HIV/AIDS. It gives emphasis to testing, treatment, and prevention strategies currently employed and under development; primarily adjusting antiretroviral treatment strategies. Finally, it briefly examines how HIV/AIDS has changed and is changing the demographic structure across Africa and some reasons why HIV/AIDS is so prevalent in that region.
From the Paper "AIDS/HIV and Africa HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Overview HIV or human immunodeficiency virus is a virus in a group of viruses called retroviruses and destroys cells in the body called CD4 T-cells. CD4 T-cells are a type of a white blood cell or a lymphocyte which are part of the body's immune system. These cells are vital to protect the body against various bacteria, viruses and other forms of infecting agents (Freiberg). AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a term which covers the range of infections and illnesses resulting from a weakened auto immune system caused by HIV. This distinction is important; one can be HIV positive and not to be suffering from AIDS (Freiberg). Most often there exists a lengthy period of time, usually several years, from first being infected with HIV, and the development of infections and other AIDS related issues."
Abstract This paper discusses the Department of Homeland Security and its hierarchical structure. Without adequate processes instituted to facilitate knowledge sharing and to instill a shared purpose, the paper makes the observation that the Department of Homeland Security will not be able to fulfill its mission.
From the Paper "Department of Homeland Security The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is certainly a hierarchical organization. It could be argued that while the various departments and bureaus that now comprise the DHS were hierarchical prior to their inclusion into the DHS framework that now with the creation of the DHS its hierarchical structure has been needlessly compounded. While this may indeed be true, it must be noted that not all hierarchical organizations are bad simply because of the vertical structure and variety of layers of management that are invariably present. That said, the DHS faces certain very real hurdles that because of its relatively short existence it has not yet effectively dealt with or even realized: 1) mission complexity, 2) cultural incompatibility, 3) task obfuscation, and 4) symbolic versus real performance (Krauss pars.4-7). "
Abstract This paper discusses the dynamics of systemic or institutional racism that maintain white privilege. The paper presents a critical view of US/UK bedrock of theory, when discussing Canadian phenomenon. The paper presents fieldwork which reveals that most homeless persons in a Toronto facility were 'white' and when speaking with a white mentally ill vagrant man, it was realized that his 'privilege' did not mean any institution was responsible for him.
From the Paper "'Whiteness', Institutional Racism, and 'White Privilege'. Course materials indicating institutional racism pertain most often to British or American examples, and employing a jargon of 'privilege' that is interesting to examine in relation to contemporary Canada. One is to assume that the situations of these quite strongly racist societies are pertinent to Canada, in which racism certainly exists, but in a condition not to be compared with what is encountered in the others. Should we be examining institutional racism and white privilege in Australia, for instance, or other communal distinctions in India, or in Israel? An interesting approach is taken in John Hartigan's discussion of the American case, in reference to 'rednecks', 'hillbillies' and 'white trash', as marked racial subjects. (2003: 95-111) "
Abstract The paper compares waste management practices and policies in the Canadian city of Toronto with the American city of New York. Government officials in major North American cities are increasingly concerned about reducing waste collection and transport costs, and are seeking to increase efficiency. While Toronto officials are aggressively promoting recycling in order to reduce the volume of solid waste that huge urban areas must haul to landfills for disposal, New York City officials are focusing more upon implementing more efficient and less expensive methods of waste collection and transportation.
From the Paper "Comparing waste management practices and policies in the Canadian city of Toronto with the American city of New York indicates that government officials in major North American cities are increasingly concerned about reducing waste collection and transport costs, and are seeking to increase efficiency. Subsequently, Toronto officials are aggressively promoting recycling in order to reduce the volume of solid waste that huge urban areas must haul to landfills for disposal, while New York City officials are focusing more upon implementing more efficient and less expensive methods of waste collection and transportation. In Toronto, Solid Waste Management Services is responsible for handling the transfer and disposal of garbage, "as well as the processing and sale of recyclable materials collected through the blue..."
Abstract This paper explores the police in their role of crime prevention. It explains how effective the police are in their efforts to prevent crime and gives reasons for their shortcomings. Additionally, other roles of the police are discussed and it explores whether these roles conflict with crime prevention.
From the Paper "One of the main roles of the police is to prevent crime. The police, however, can not prevent all crime from occurring. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the police in their role of crime prevention is debatable. Throughout this paper I will explore the question of to what degree the police can prevent crime and whether this is a realistic expectation. Additionally, I will discuss authors which support my arguments as well as whether the police's role of crime prevention conflicts with other roles that the police have. Although the police are charged with the duty of crime prevention, this is often not an easy role for the police to fulfill. It is pointed out in Topic #2 - Crime Prevention Role, "the police-citizen crisis of the 1960s brought to light the inadequacy and inability of the police to fulfill their role in crime prevention."
