The roles, responsibilities and development needs of quality managers in Britain and Australia

This paper compares and contrasts the career experiences and development needs of 334 British quality managers compared with Australian quality managers based on two Australian surveys. The quality managers in both countries brought wide functional experience to their roles, with many coming in particular from production and operations and general management. In their current roles major sources of job satisfaction for managers in both countries were improving efficiency and problem solving, whereas aspects of employee relations was a source of least satisfaction. Both groups of quality managers utilised a very limited range of quality tools, the most popular being brainstorming, control charts and Pareto analysis, with virtually no mention of more sophisticated tools like Six sigma, which is in stark contrast to American managers. Also British and Australian managers showed little awareness in terms of their development needs for a broader background in quality, which could disadvantage their companies in global markets.

Waste management practices in construction projects: perceptions of project managers

The construction industry has been found to be a major generator of waste and there are many challenges associated with finding the most sustainable way to manage construction waste. As the construction industry is a project based industry, it is essential to look at cultural issues related to waste management at the project level. Therefore, this research aims to identify the current status of waste management practices in construction projects by analysing project managers’ views on waste management performance in construction projects; project managers’ attitudes towards waste management; and project managers’ views on waste management culture in construction projects. A questionnaire survey was carried out and project managers were selected as a target group to distribute questionnaires, as project managers have a vital involvement in promoting and maintaining project culture in the construction project environment. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and the Kruskal-Wallis test. The findings reveal that project managers believe that even though the operational cost of waste minimisation is high in construction projects, overall waste management is profitable. At the same time it was interesting that even though project managers believe most project participants are satisfied with existing waste management systems, overall waste management efforts are not perceived as being at a satisfactory level in construction projects. Project managers consider waste as an inevitable by-product, but they do not believe that waste management is beyond the control of project members or that waste has no value. At the same time, it was found that project managers infer that project participants are cost and time conscious in waste management despite the roles, responsibilities and duties of each party in waste management not being well-coordinated or fully understood. Taken together, these findings highlight the misconceptions related to waste management in construction projects and emphasise the necessity of collective responsibility on the part of project participants to enhance the performance of waste management in construction projects.

The job strain model is enough for managers : no augmentation needed

This paper reports on the results of a study aimed at identifying the relative influence of generic and job-specific stressors experienced by a cohort of Australian managers. The results of a regression analysis revealed that both the generic components of the job strain model (JSM) and job-specific stressors were predictive of the strain experienced by participants. However, when looking at the total amount of variance that is explained by the predictor variables, the combined influence of job demand, job control and social support contributed 98 per cent of the explained variance in job satisfaction and 90 per cent of the variance in psychological health. The large amount of variance explained by the JSM suggests that this model provides an accurate account of the work characteristics that contribute to the strain experienced by managers and no augmentation is needed.

Managers' views on ABC in an insurance company: A grounded theory case study

This is an in-depth case study using a grounded theory approach to explore managers’ views of ABC as part of the control system in an insurance company. Relevant issues are allowed to emerge from the data rather than imposing a theoretical framework upon them. Hypotheses are derived rather than confirmed. Issues emerging from this case study include: the relevance of ABC to managers, increased cost awareness coupled with the problem of taking qualitative factors into account, and the existence of different perceptions of managers within the same department. One hypothesis is how an understanding of ABC can affect job satisfaction by influencing the impact of ABC on managers’ actions. In this case study process and non-process managers had different levels of understanding and use of ABC information. A second hypothesis is that how managers view ABC information depends on whether they adopt a personal or an organisational perspective.

Communicating the ethos of codes of ethics in corporate Australia, 1995-2001: whose rights, whose responsibilities?

This paper considers the commitment to business ethics of the top 500 companies operating in the Australian private sector and communicates the results of a longitudinal study conducted from 1995 to 2001. Primary data was obtained (in 1995 and again in 2001) via a self-administered mail  questionnaire distributed to a census of these top 500 Australian  companies. This commitment of each company to their code of ethics was indicated and measured via a range of methods used by organizations to communicate the ethos of their codes to employees. Just as they were in  1995, it would appear that companies in 2001 still are good at ensuring that their rights are protected, but at the same time they do not seem to take on the responsibility to ensure that employees'' rights are just as well protected. This double standard leads to cynicism towards the current business ethics processes inherent in Australian companies.

Governing the Stressed Self: teacher "health and well-being" and "effective schools"

In diverse arenas there is much discussion about the dangerousness of contemporary lifestyles, including the stressful nature of work. These stresses associated with contemporary lifestyles and work are dangerous in so far as they are conceived as placing at risk the emotional, physical and psychic health and well-being of large populations. In this paper we engage with debates about the stressful nature of teachers' work, and the ways in which teacher health and well-being are constructed as being central to the task of delivering more effective schools. In this article we are not so much concerned with the nature of teacher stress as an indication of individual physical, emotional or psychic health and well-being, as with understanding how it is that at this particular historical juncture the self can be so widely conceived in terms of stress. Moreover, what processes make it possible at this moment to link the success or otherwise of a massive institutional process of state-regulated schooling to the health and well-being of teachers and the management of this health and well-being by school managers? We argue that in a policy context that devolves various responsibilities to self-managing schools, the government of the stressed self emerges as an ethical concern for teachers and those who manage them (Foucault, The Use of Pleasure , New York, Pantheon, 1985). Our purpose is to problematise these processes so that responsibilities for delivering on the promise of effective schools might be differently framed and debated.

RE Patrick & the rights and responsibilities of sperm donor fathers in Australian family law

In the matter of Re Patrick, Guest J of the Family Court of Australia held that a sperm donor, known to the lesbian mother of the child, had a right under Australian law to regular contact with the child to the extent that this was in the child's best interests. However, his Honour also held that due to the way in which particular provisions of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) are drafted, a sperm donor cannot be regarded as the "parent" of the child, and accordingly called for legislative reform to recognise the rights of known sperm donors wanting involvement with the child. In this article, the authors will first explore the facts and decision in Re Patrick, and then outline a proposal to amend the Family Law Act 1975 so that sperm donors can apply for an order to be a 'parent' under the Act.

Training quality managers-do they practice what they preach?

This paper discusses the personal and professional development needs of Quality Managers. It has been presumed that training is the most important factor to improve quality, once commitment is present. This paper poses the question as to whether Quality training is objectively, systematically, and continuously performed in Australia. In previous research by the authors, it was ascertained that training is often initiated by individuals and provided by private providers as directed by the client. It is of interest to determine if the two largest professional associations for Quality, Australian Organisation for Quality (AOQ) and SAI (Global) perform in this respect. Questions of interest included: what do they offer; how do they determine the needs of their members; who provides these programmes; how do they communicate these programmes to their members; how do they evaluate the success or otherwise of their programmes; and by what process of evaluation do they determine future needs. These data have been collated and analysed and it is concluded that a specifically designed and comprehensive training needs analysis for Quality Managers is being neglected and that the initiation for professional development remains with the individual.

File replacement algorithm for storage resource managers in data grids

The main problem in data grids is how to provide good and timely access to huge data given the limited number and size of storage devices and high latency of the interconnection network. One approach to address this problem is to cache the files locally such that remote access overheads are avoided. Caching requires a cache-replacement algorithm, which is the focus of this paper. Specifically, we propose a new replacement policy and compare it with an existing policy using simulations. The results of the simulation show that the proposed policy performs better than the baseline policy.

Caregivers as managers of subjective wellbeing: a homeostatic perspective

Background: This paper proposes that the adequacy of service delivery and caregiving to people who are disabled should be assessed using two criteria. One is the objective circumstance of living, which should be at a standard acceptable to the community at large. The other is a level of subjective wellbeing (SWB) within the normal range. Method: This latter criterion is a novel conception based on an understanding that SWB is homeostatically managed to lie normally within a narrow range of values. Results: People who have a disability are more likely than usual to have a fragile homeostatic system because of the additional life challenges imposed by their disability. Conclusions: The role of a caregiver is to provide resources and protection against strong threats to homeostasis, thereby ensuring that the person in their care has a normal-range level of SWB.

Some care, little responsibility? Promoting directors'and managers' legal accountability for Occupational Health and Safety in the workplace

Health and safety at work remains a serious and under-recognised problem in Australia. This paper argues for the importance of increasing the individual responsibility and accountability of senior managers and directors of corporations for the development and maintenance of occupational health and safety (OHS) standards in the workplace. In order to do so, the paper first sets out the range of statutory and general law duties and liabilities to which directors and senior managers are subject, considers to what extent these obligations have relevance in the OHS area and argues for the extension of these duties and liabilities in some circumstances. The paper then goes on to argue for a better legislative model for the legal responsibility of managers and officers, supported by the increased prosecution of individuals in appropriate circumstances, as well as acknowledging the benefits of a broader range of non-legal strategies to improve board level commitment to OHS that will influence corporate compliance overall.

Social innovators or lagging behind: factors that influence managers' time use

Purpose – The broad aim of this paper is to investigate whether managers in Australia allocate their time differently than other occupational groups, and the impact gender and life situation (using marital status and presence or absence of dependent children as a proxy) has on time allocation.
Design/methodology/approach – To address these broad aims, data are drawn from the 1997 Australian Time Use Survey. This is a nationally representative survey that examines how people in different circumstances allocate time to different activities. Findings – The results of this study highlight three important issues. The first is that male and female managers display different patterns of time use. Male managers' time is dominated by paid employment activities, whereas female managers' time is spent predominantly on employment and domestic activities. The second is that life situation impacts on the time use of female managers, but not male managers. The third important find of this study is that managers' time use is different to other occupational groups. Practical implications – These findings have policy implications relating to work-life balance, career progression and changes in patterns of work. In terms of work-life issues, it reveals that male and female managers face a “time squeeze”, with some evidence of a “second-shift” for female managers. In addition, the findings provide insight into the work-life issues faced by male and female managers. Originality/value – The results of this inquiry provide insight into how different individuals spend their time – insight into “lifestyles”. However, in-depth qualitative studies are required to reveal why individuals allocate their time in this way and to understand the opportunities and constraints individuals face in time allocation.

Child protection and public health: nurses' responsibilities

Background. Health care workers have been recognized as having a key role in the protection and care of Scotland's children, particularly in respect of identification and detection of child abuse. Nurses, especially health visitors, are often the first professionals to suspect that child abuse has taken place. While previous research has found that health visitors have primarily perceived their role as that of providing support and advice to vulnerable families, there are pressures on them to fulfil a more narrow surveillance role. Concurrent with a lack of clarity about the role of health visitors in child protection, there has been increasing recognition that other nurses can also make an important contribution, including those who do not work directly with children.

Aims. The aim of the study was to explore nurses' understanding of their professional responsibilities in relation to child protection, and the potential for nurses to be involved in the protection of children from abuse.

Methods. A qualitative interview-based design was used, and 99 nurses working in an National Health Service trust in a Scottish city were interviewed, either individually or in groups, about their professional involvements in child protection issues. Interview data were subjected to thematic analysis.

Findings. There was lack of consensus among interviewees about the nursing remit in child protection issues, particularly with respect to the extent to which nurses should actively seek to detect cases of child abuse. An emphasis on identification and detection was not easily accepted by many nurses, and was perceived by some to be a change from their more traditional role of supporting families, as well as being potentially in conflict with some public health responsibilities.

Conclusion. In spite of the perception of some nurses that there is a sharp divide between child protection work and public health interventions, many of the child protection roles identified by nurses, such as supporting families, parenting education and service development, are clearly within the ambit of contemporary notions of public health. Furthermore, it is clear that there is a role in child protection for a much wider group of nurses than health visitors.

Quality managers: beyond 2000?

A review on current quality management literature discloses a conglomeration of sentiments amongst quality managers with regards to the future of their quality profession. These sentiments can primarily be grouped into two categories: (1) that quality managers will no longer play a role in functional management, as quality will become an integral part of the organization; and (2) alternatively, they will play a significantly different role, leading to a specialized job design (Stratton, 1996, Quality Progress, 29, pp. 73-74). Despite the fact that many have voiced their concerns regarding the future of the quality profession, little formal research has been conducted to address this issue. Thus, the significance of undertaking this research is to aim to verify and substantiate their sentiments. Findings of the research may also contribute as a signal to quality managers with regards to their future roles and may inspire them to prepare themselves better for meeting future qualityrelated endeavours. It is important not to prophesy the precise future role of quality managers, as no one outside the psychic industry will claim to be capable of it. Rather, the research endeavours to predict the role of quality manager in the next decade by conducting interviews with various professionals in the quality-related fields, testing the significance of research questions generated from these interviews through surveys and reviewing current quality manager-related literature. Thus, synthesizing the results from the above-mentioned means to predict the role of quality managers in the years beyond 2000.