This article re-connects with structure-agency debates to explore the development of the social work assistant role. Drawing upon an analytical framework based on the tenets of critical realism, it seeks to explain the evolution of this role across three local authorities by looking at the...

Using the Care Programme Approach (CPA) as an example, this article examines the difficulties of implementing change within the National Health Service (NHS). A framework is suggested which aims to clarify the nature of change by distinguishing where, when and how decisions are made. It is...

This article explores the role of the citizen-consumer as an actor in public service industrial relations. Based on research into the New Types of Worker programme in social care, the article considers how new work roles engage end‐users as citizen‐consumers in work relations and their...

It is argued that policy makers, in government especially, use crude output measures such as the link with performance to argue the case for, or more often against, employee participation. The paper considers the problems associated with the use of such crude output measures but argues that...

It is widely assumed in academic and policy circles that younger children are more influenced by advertising than are older children. By reviewing empirical findings in relation to advertising and children's food choice, it is argued that this assumption is unwarranted. The findings do not...

This study sets out to examine two explanations for why employees engage in organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB). The first explanation views OCB as a form of reciprocation where employees engage in OCB to reciprocate fair or good treatment from the organization. The second view is that...

This article examines notions of renewal in a professional union by exploring the developing role of the steward in the Royal College of Nursing. Drawing on survey and other data, it assesses different dimensions of the union renewal process linked to workplace activities, issues and relations....