The calculative turn in land value capture: lessons from the English planning system

For over three decades, negotiated planning obligations have been the primary form of land value capture in England. Diffusing and evolving over the last decade, a significant policy innovation has been the use of financial calculations to estimate the extent to which policies on planning obligations for actual, proposed development projects and in plan making affect the financial viability of development. This paper assesses the extent to which the use of financial appraisals has provided a robust, just and practical procedure to support land value capture. It is concluded that development viability appraisals are saturated with intrinsic uncertainty and that land value capture that is based on such calculations is, to some extent, capricious. In addition, clear incentives for developers and land owners to bias viability calculations, the economic dependence of many viability consultants on developers and land owners, a lack of transparency, contested or ambiguous guidance and the opportunities created by input uncertainty for bias are further failings. It is argued that how viability calculations are applied has been, is being and will continue to be shaped by power relations.

Öppna arenor och slutna rum : några kommunikationskonsulter i Dalarna ser på opinionsbildning

Syftet med denna uppsats är att ta reda på hur lokala kommunikationskonsulter i Falun/Borlänge-regionen ser på opinionsbildning via professionella konsulter. De centrala begrepp som avhandlas är PR, opinionsbildning och lobbying.Den teoretiska ram som omger undersökningen består av de teoribyggen som skapats av Jürgen Habermas, James E. Grunig och Larsåke Larsson. Habermas ställer sig tveksam till den demokratiska nyttan av professionell opinionsbildning, Grunig är mer positiv och Larsson ser både för- och nackdelar med PR-verksamheten. Larssons undersökning av opinionskonsulter från 2005 refereras också.Undersökningen bygger på intervjuer med ett antal kommunikationskonsulter verksamma i Falun och Borlänge. Den lokala marknaden för opinionsbildande uppdrag diskuteras, men också huruvida politiska uppdrag förser byråerna med politisk färg. Huruvida medarbetarnas engagemang är viktigt och hur hög statusen på opinionsbildande uppdrag är ventileras, samt vilka arbetsmetoder som används. Intervjuerna behandlar också förekomsten av lobbying på lokal nivå. Till slut redogör de intervjuade för sin syn på hur opinionsbildning, PR och lobbying via konsulter påverkar demokratin.Under slutsatser diskuteras resultatet i relation till den teoretiska ramen. Att PR- och reklambranscherna alltmer växer samman och att opinionsbildning är ett vanligt inslag i många projekt är ett faktum som också skymtat fram i den teoretiska ramen. Men reklam- och PR-metoder integreras också i politiken, på gott och ont. Följaktligen växer den gråzon som finns mellan de olika typerna av kommunikation och mellan opinionsbildande och icke-opinionsbildande uppdrag. Det försvårar gränsdragning och tydlighet, men skapar nya kreativa möjligheter.Att den ökade användningen av kommunikationskonsulter kanske kan bidra till en orättvis fördel för resursstarka organisationer diskuteras. Ny teknik, t.ex. Internet, kan dock eventuellt vara den motvikt som gör det möjligt även för resurssvaga grupper att höras i det offentliga samtalet. Kommunikation som maktfaktor tas även upp utifrån termer som lobbying och medias dagordningsfunktion.Några aspekter av den outnyttjade potential som PR har ventileras också. PR som metod är en outnyttjad resurs på det lokala planet, något som kan bero både på okunskap hos de lokala kunderna och ett traditionellt arbetssätt hos byråerna. Utifrån intervjusvaren framkommer att både byråerna, deras kunder och media på landsorten skulle gynnas av ett större samarbete.Resultaten av intervjuerna stöder mycket i den teoretiska ramen, medan somligt förkastas. Som sammanfattning kan sägas att opinionsbildning via konsulter kan användas för både gott och ont. Vilket som blir resultatet handlar som oftast om etik, ansvar, öppenhet och professionalitet.ABSTRACTThe primary target for this report is to find out how communication consultants in the region of Falun and Borlänge views the practice of establishing public opinions by using professional public relations consultants. The concepts in focus are PR, the moulding of public opinion and lobbying.The theoretical framework surrounding this report is the writings by Jürgen Habermas, James E. Grunig and Larsåke Larsson. Habermas has doubts as to the democratic use of professional consultants working with public opinions, Grunig has a somewhat more positive approach and Larsson sees both advantages and disadvantages in a democratic sense with the PR industry. Larssons research concerning consultants working with the moulding of public opinions from 2005 is also reviewed. The research is carried out by interviewing some communication consultants working in the Falun /Borlänge- area. The local market for commissions concerning public opinions is discussed, but also if and how political commissions are forcing a political stamp upon the firms engaging in such commissions. The importance of personal commitment in the consultants and the level of prominence commissions concerning public opinion has in the business is discussed, but also which methods is used and preferred. The interviews also deal with the practice of lobbying in the local arena. Finally the participants state their views on how the moulding of public opinion, PR and lobbying effects the democracy. Conclusively, the result is put in relation to the theories earlier mentioned. The public relations market is merging with the advertising business, that is a fact, and establishing public opinion is a common element in a lot of projects. But methods used for advertising and PR are also integrated in the political sphere, for good and bad. That has made the distinction between different kinds of communication harder, thereby enhancing the difficulties of establishing boundaries and achieving clarity. Yet at the same time it facilitates new creative opportunities.The growing use of communication consultants may contribute to unfair advantages for organisations with large economic resources. New technical development though, such as the Internet for example, may prove to simplify communication for groups with lesser economic power. Communication as an aspect of power is being discussed in terms of lobbying and the agenda setting power of media.Some aspects of the unused potential that lies within PR are also in focus in this report. PR as a method is an unused resource in the local market, which can be due to the local clients lack of knowledge but also to the traditional work carried out by the communication firms. The findings of the interviews show that both communication firms, their clients and the local media would benefit from greater cooperation.The theoretical base in this work is mostly supported by the interviews, though a few of the findings does not agree. The moulding of public opinions by professional consultants can be used for both good and bad. What the result will be is, not surprisingly, a question of ethics, responsibility, openness and professionalism.

Granskning av kvalitetssäkringsarbetet vid en ICC-profilbaserad trycksaksproduktion

To make your company change from a conventional workflow to an ICC-based workflow you need tomake investments in time and money. On the other hand you get your reward in terms of a stable andquality safe production. To choose this way of adjusting your company to new routines requires accuracyas well as a great deal of commitment. It is not only about having the right equipment. There area lot of factors that affect the quality of production.Our ambition with this report is to bring out the importance of general thinking when it comes toICC-profiling and to discuss on which basis printing profiles should be created. Quality parameters asfor example roughness and whiteness of paper are also discussed. To be able to investigate these mattersin detail we have taken a closer look at two companies, which have chosen to commit themselvesto achive better quality through color management but still feel that they have some problems withtheir workflow.One of the conclusions that are made in this report is that both companies should extend their investmentsin education of employees to become less independent of consultants, but also to increase theinterest in changes within the company. It is also stressed that an ICC-profile only can be efficient if acompany commits itself to accuracy regarding routines, control and calibration.

Borlänge och Falun Brundtland städer

Development of an infrastructure for Brundtland Renewable Energy Network - BREN är ettEuropean Commission Alterner Project med Contract no XVII/4. 1030/Z96-032.Projektet har sitt ursprung i UN rapporten “Our Common Future” 1989. Grundläggande för att nå de mål som rapporten föreslog var att förändra och minska användningen av energi. I Danmark tog man fram en handlingsplan för hur energiförbrukningen skulle kunna minskas “Energi 2000 - Handlingsplan för en bäredygtig udvikling”. De danska och schleswigholstenske energiministrarna överenskom att starta vars ett energisparprojekt i en mindre stad. Projektet kallades “Brundtlandby” och de två första var Toftlund i Sönderjylland och Bredstedt i Nordfriesland. Efter en kort tid anslöt sig ytterligare två tyska städer, Rheinsberg och Viernheim, samt Rajec i Slovakien. Mellan städerna formades ett nätverk för att utbyta information. Nätverket, Brundtland City Project, var inspirerande för de ingående städerna i det fortsatta arbetet med energisparåtgärder. Brundtland City Project presenterades på en internationell konferens “Cities and Energy” i Trondheim, Norge, december 1995. Projektet väckte intresse och det föreslogs att nätverket, som ett pilotprojekt, skulle utvecklas i norra Europa för att senare utökas med andra europeiska länder. En ledningsgrupp tillsattes medrepresentanter från de nordiska länderna.En ansökan sändes till European Commission, Alterner Program, och denna beviljades i juli 1996. Projektet indelades i (9 Activities. Aktivitet 1, var att sammanfatta erfarenheterna av Brundtland City Project i Toftlund, Danmark och Brundtland Cities Nätverket i Sovakien, Tyskland och Danmark. Den nordiska delen startar med Aktivitet 2, vilket var att engagera kommuner/städer i Finland, Norge och Sverige. Som samordnade för den svenska delen utsågs Solar Energy Research Center SERC vid Högskolan Dalarna. Projektet presenterades vid ett seminarium den 30 september för representanter för Borlänge och Falu kommuner. Den 10 december 1996 accepterade de två kommunerna inbjudan att ingå i det nordiska nätverket. Uppgiftslämnare i Borlänge kommun har varit Pelle Helje, Borlänge Energi och i Falu kommun Anders Goop, stadsbyggnadskontoret samt för underlag till Newsletter Jan Kaans, fastighetskontoret.Rapportering till Brundtland Center Danmark av arbetet i Borlänge och Falu kommuner har skett vid tre tillfällen, Aktiviteterna 2-5, 1997-12-16, Aktivitererna 6-7 inkluderande delar av aktiviterna 8-9, 1998-05-03 samt underlag till Newsletter, 1998-07-01. De nordiska rapporterna har sammanställts vid Brundtland Center Danmark för rapportering till European Commission. Gemensamt språk har varit engelska. Efter rapportering av aktiviterna 2 - 5 inbjöds till ett projektmöte och en studiedag vid Brundtland Center den 23 och 24 mars 1998. Det var första tillfället deltagarna i projektet strålade samman och nätverket tog därmed en mera konkret form. Man beslutade också att nästa projektmöte skulle hållas i Borlänge i augusti 1998 med Borlänge Energi och Solar Energy Research Center SERC som organisatörer. Beroende på att Brundtland Centre Danmark upplösts av ekonomiska skäl blev projektmötet i Borlänge inställt.Sammanställning av Final Report, October 1998, har utförts av Esbensen Consultants.Framtida utveckling av nätverketArbetet med Brundtland City Network avses fortsätta som ett “EU Thermie B-project” och nätverket kommer att utökas med fyra nya Brundtlandstäder från Österrike, Tyskland Italien och Storbritanien. Dessutom kommer samhället Putja i Estland att ingå i nätverket men detta financieras av EU-Phare programme.

Borlänge and Falun Brundtland cities

Development of an infrastructure for Brundtland Renewable Energy Network - BREN is a European Commission Alterner Project with Contract no XVII/4. 1030/Z96-032.The project has its origin in the UN-report “Our Common Future”, 1989. A change in and reduction of the use of energy was fundamental in order to reach the goals which the report proposed. Denmark decided on an action plan on how energy consumption could be reduced “Energi 2000 - Handlingsplan för en bäredygtig udvikling”. The ministries of energy in Denmark and Schleswig Holstein both agreed to start an energy saving project in a smaller town. The project was called “Brundtlandby” and the two first were Toftlund in South Jutland and Bredstedt in North Friesland. After a short period a further two German Cities, Rheinsberg and Viernheim, and Rajec in Slovakia joined the group. A network for the exchange of knowledge and experience between the cities was formed. The network, Brundtland City Project, inspired the participating cities in the continuing work with energy saving measures. The Brundtland City Project was presented at an international conference “Cities and Energy” in Trondheim, Norway,in December 1995. Great interest was shown in the project and it was decided that a network should be developed in northern European countries as a pilot project to be enlarged with other European countries later on. A steering committee was formed with representatives from the nordic countries.An application was sent to the European Commission, Alterner Program, and was approved in Juli 1996. The project was subdivided into nine activities. Activity 1, consisted of summarising the experiences of the Brundtland City Project in Toftlund, Denmark and the Brundtland Cities network in Slovakia, Germany and Denmark. The Scandinavian part started with Activity 2, to engage municipalities/cities in Finland, Norway and Sweden in the project. The Solar Energy Research Center, SERC, Högskolan Dalarna was appointed as co-ordinator for the Swedish part. The project was presented at a seminar on the 30th September for representatives from the municipalities of Borlänge and Falun. On the 10th of December 1996 the two municipalities accepted the invitation to join the Northern network. Pelle Helje, Borlänge Energi, has been informant for the municipality of Borlänge and Anders Goop, Department of Urban Planninginformant for the municipality of Falun with Jan Kaans, Estates department providing information to the basis for the Newsletter.Reports on the work in Borlänge and Falun municipalities have been made to Brundtland Center Denmark on three occasions; Activities 2-5, 16-12-1997, Activities 6-7, including parts of activities 8-9, 03-03-1998, and the basis for the Newsletter, 01-07-1998. The Nordic reports have been compiled at the Brundtland Center Denmark for submission to the European Commission. English has been the common language. After the report of activities 2 - 5 the participants wereinvited to a project meeting and a workshop at Brundtland Center the 23rd and 24th March 1998.This was the first occasion the participants in the project met and the network thus took a moreconcrete form. It also was decided that the next meeting should be in Borlänge in August 1998,with Borlänge Energi and Solar Energy Research Center SERC as organisers. As BrundtlandCentre Denmark was wound up for financial reasons, the project meeting in Borlänge wascancelled.Compilation of the Final Report was carried out by Esbensen Consultants in October 1998Future development of the networkIt is intended to continue the work with the Brundtland City Network as an “EU Thermie Bproject”and the network will be enlarged with the addition of four new Brundtland Cities from Austria, Germany, Italy and Great Britain. In addition the village of Putja in Estonia will join the network but this will be financed by the EU-Phare programme.

From the Hill

Q&A: Personal loss leads to role as leading advocate of nonviolence in South Africa Business-Ready: Entrepreneurial Alliance has students flocking to the drawing board A Hand Up: Alumni consultants organize to give small businesses a boost Child's Play: Shelley Wollert wants kids to clamor for Elska, a musical, magical friend Poems that Explore "A World of Haunting Absences" A History of Putting a Spin on Vigilante Justice Old Glories Recent Releases Gardner Colby's Remarkable Mom Joining the Club: Ex-refugees, Somali boys have big impact on elite soccer team Hard Hitter: In the chemistry lab and on the field, John Gilboy Is "a no-quit kind of guy" Ravens assistant GM DeCosta Prepares for Future Role Scouting the NFL D-I Vet MacDonald Takes Over Men's Hockey

O Conselho Municipal de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (CMDS) e a gestão de recursos hídricos: um estudo na Bacia do Rio Itabapoana (RJ)

O objetivo desta dissertação é analisar a forma de atuação do CMDS, e sua contribuição para a gestão dos recursos hídricos nos cinco municípios do Rio de Janeiro pertencentes à bacia do rio Itabapoana. O presente estudo foi conduzido a partir de uma discussão teórica sobre os temas: desenvolvimento local, cidadania, desenvolvimento local com cidadania e gestão social. Posteriormente, foram realizadas entrevistas temáticas, baseadas no método não probabilístico, com uma amostra composta por 38 pessoas, entre conselheiros do CMDS (membros do poder público e sociedade civil organizada), técnico, consultores e gestores do Sebrae/RJ. No tratamento dos dados foi utilizada a análise de discurso. Foram identificados aspectos negativos e positivos no que diz respeito à atuação e funcionamento do Conselho nos municípios analisados. Mesmo assim, pode-se verificar que grande parte dos conselheiros tem experiência anterior em Conselhos e movimentos sociais, e que o Projeto Managé, por meio da atuação dos CMDS, ajudou a construir uma identidade territorial para a bacia e também despertou a necessidade de maior conscientização e preservação do meio ambiente. Pode-se concluir que a forma de atuação do CMDS depende da interação e do nível de comprometimento do poder público e da sociedade civil organizada. Portanto, as condições institucionais locais exercem importante influência nas formas de mobilização social e participação dos indivíduos, visto que o processo de gerenciamento de recursos hídricos da bacia encontra-se ainda em fase de construção

Aprendendo com a implementação de ERP: um estudo comparativo entre Brasil e Canadá

Esta pesquisa é uma extensão do trabalho de doutorado Studying Configurational Technology Implementation: A Mediation Process, cujo foco de análise foi o processo de mediação nas implementações de ERP. Processo de mediação é o processo através do qual clientes e consultores conjuntamente influenciam as decisões que são feitas sobre como o sistema será configurado. A partir dessa análise, foram identificados alguns padrões no processo de mediação, estabelecendo-se associações entre esses padrões e os resultados da implementação. Nosso estudo busca analisar o processo de implementação de tecnologias configuráveis, mais precisamente ERP Enterprise Resource Planning, sob o mesmo enfoque do trabalho de doutorado descrito acima, mas observando-se empresas brasileiras. Nossos resultados serão comparados aos resultados encontrados nas empresas canadenses, buscando-se identificar diferenças e similaridades e seu impacto nos resultados do projeto. Visamos, dessa maneira, promover um melhor entendimento sobre o processo de implementação de ERP, contribuindo para minimizar o risco de fracasso de tal empreendimento em empresas brasileiras.

A adoção interna de programas de mudança por consultorias no Brasil: até que ponto se pratica o que se prega?

Em geral, consultores costumam ser vistos como agentes devotados à invenção e difusão de "pacotes" de intervenção organizacional que seriam desenhados para consumo modal e rápida absolescência, o que sugeriria que eles provavelmente não estariam propensos a "experimentar seu próprio remédio". Ou seja, nessa visão, não se espera que empresas de consultoria adotem tais pacotes nelas próprias. Esta pesquisa investiga empiricamente tal argumento, examinando o comportamento de adoção de pacotes de mudança e serviços de consultoria por 20 empresas de consultoria atuantes no Brasil.

Teorias em estratégia

A estratégia empresarial é uma disciplina jovem. Comparado com os campos de estudo de economia e sociologia o campo de estratégia empresarial pode ser visto como um fenômeno de formação mais recente, embora extremamente dinâmico em sua capacidade de criar abordagens teóricas diferenciadas. Este trabalho discute a recente proliferação de teorias em estratégia empresarial, propondo um modelo de classificação destas teorias baseado na análise empírica do modelo de escolas de pensamento em estratégia empresarial desenvolvido por Mintzberg, Ahlstrand e Lampel em seu livro Safári de Estratégia (1998). As possíveis conseqüências relativas à interação entre teoria e prática são também discutidas apresentando o que definimos como a síndrome do ornitorrinco.

O uso da tecnologia da informação no varejo brasileiro

A competição no varejo tem levado as empresas a uma busca constante por uma maior eficiência em seus processos de negócio, tanto no âmbito interno como externo, seja no relacionamento com clientes ou fornecedores. Esta busca da eficiência através da melhoria dos processos tem feito uso intensivo de Tecnologia de Informação (TI) nas mais diversas formas. O objetivo deste trabalho é investigar como está o uso da TI no varejo brasileiro em grandes corporações, numa visão de propósitos, contribuições, facilitadores e obstáculos a partir da percepção de especialistas (pesquisadores e consultores) e executivos do varejo. Para o desenvolvimento do trabalho foram realizadas entrevistas com 24 especialistas e estudos de casos com executivos de 16 grandes empresas varejistas.

Isomorfismo e cerimonialismo em gestão empresarial: pesquisa empírica sobre a difusão de certificações ISO-9000 no Brasil

Esta pesquisa analisa a difusão das certificações ISO-9000 no Brasil sob o prisma da teoria neo-institucional e de referências sobre modismos gerenciais nas organizações. A premissa é de que muitas dessas decisões de certificação - que se tornou muito popular nas empresas brasileiras desde 1990 - só podem ser entendidas plenamente à luz de sua natureza modal e institucionalizada, e que muitas desses processos podem refletir adoções cerimoniais (isto é "para inglês ver"). Através de questionários aplicados em empresas que buscaram a certificação ISO no Brasil, o estudo procura entender melhor fatores ligados à tomada de decisão sobre a adoção, à estratégia de implantação, aos resultados percebidos e aos mecanismos de justificação dos programas.

Planejamento estratégico: aplicação nas micro e pequenas empresas

The Strategic Planning is the managerial process that it makes possible to establish one heading for being followed by the company, with views to obtain an optimization level in this relationship with the external atmosphere. In the small company¿s improvement the general performance of the results and the use of resources, however it is still little known and used. These organizations need administration tools to be capable to promote the business growth and to guarantee the survival more and more in this market competitive. This way, it is done necessary to approach the strategic planning in a complex less way and the objective of this research is to provide larger knowledge regarding the Strategic Planning in the personal computer and small companies, to verify the limitations in the implantation, to analyze the reasons for the low effectiveness of the use in companies of this load and to identify the consultants interviewees close to the best way to implant it. The understanding of these limitations aids the small intrepreneur and the consultant in the implantation of the strategic planning as increment of competitiveness as this use provides reflections, guidelines for the activities of the organization, as well as it makes possible adaptation and answer capacity to the changes of the market.

Repensando o recrutamento e a seleção de profissionais através da internet: o caso CEG-RJ

The Internet recruiting has been announced in the job market as a modern tool to attract the best and brightest professionals to the companies. The main objective of the present study is to analyze the Internet resources applied to the Recruitment and Selection process, so as to understand how can these tools make easier recruitment, in which concerns to cost efficiency, time spent and adequacy of the candidates selected to fill the job vacancies. It is also studied the role of the intermediates in the job market, specifically the recruitment consultants for executive search, considering the intensive use of the Internet tools for companies that, in this new way, get in touch directly with a major group of possible candidates. It is also investigated how these new resources to develop in-house capabilities to manage on-line recruiting, will bring savings, better process times and superior qualities of candidates. The study has an empirical section based on a case study of the Companhia Distribuidora de Gás do Rio de Janeiro - CEG, in which the new method with the Internet tools is compared vis-à-vis the traditional one. The study analyses the new method¿s impact on the main variables present in the process.Keywords: Labor Market, Recruitment and Selection, On-line Recruitment, Human Resource Management, Internet

Responsabilidade social empresarial: o caso Deloitte

Recentemente, a questão da Responsabilidade Social Empresarial tem se apresentado perante a sociedade como um assunto significativamente relevante, polêmico e dinâmico. Embora estudos mostrem que empresas têm abordado este tema através de uma gestão formal das ações socialmente responsáveis junto aos seus públicos envolvidos, deve-se destacar que poucas empresas implementam esta prática em seus negócios por desconhecerem seus resultados. Este trabalho visa contribuir para o preenchimento desta lacuna, analisando práticas e conceitos vinculados a este tema. O estudo busca, então, avaliar o grau de Responsabilidade Social Interna numa organização, partindo da experiência da empresa de auditoria e consultoria Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, com foco em sua área de Consultoria Empresarial do escritório do Rio de Janeiro. Tomou-se como base teórica, conceitos sobre autogestão e organização comunitária, responsabilidades e papel social da organização, desenvolvimento sustentável e a responsabilidade social da empresa. O trabalho apresenta uma pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa e, com relação aos meios, bibliográfica e de campo. A pesquisa foi aplicada junto a 41 consultores, dos quais 37 responderam ao questionário previamente elaborado. Como resultado, a investigação aponta para confirmação das suposições levantadas, ou seja, a Responsabilidade Social Empresarial pode ser utilizada como uma forma de gestão capaz de focar os seus negócios no desenvolvimento sustentável, no relacionamento transparente com os públicos envolvidos e no compromisso com a sociedade.