Miller, P. (2008) "Corporate governance in aged care: how to evaluate Board performance", pp. 1-11.

Abstract

Title: Corporate governance in aged care: how to evaluate Board performance
Keywords: Aged care, governance, Board performance, Board evaluation
Category of paper: Research/Practice paper
Purpose of the research: Board members of an aged care organisation were concerned with establishing a process whereby the Board could gauge its own performance in relation to the governance of the organisation. The paper outlines the process adopted by the Board and provides a summary of the outcomes of the process.
Methodology: Action research (first cycle) involving the development of a self administered questionnaire.
Findings: While adopting sound governance principles, Boards of Management in the Aged Care sector need not converge towards or diverge from private sector corporate governance standards and can design an evaluation process that maintains their cultural identity and yet conforms to sound governance principles.
Implications for theory: There remain fundamental differences between for-profit and non-profit organisations requiring them to take a stakeholder as opposed to shareholder approach to key issues of governance.
Implications for practice: Not for profit Boards of Management in the Aged Care sector are able, with facilitation, to achieve continual improvement in the governance of the Board by the development of rigorous criteria established by the Board itself as to what the Board considers to constitute responsible governance.
Value of the paper: The paper is of significance to academics researching corporate governance in the not for profit sector, to members of Boards of Management and to consultants that practice in the area of governance for Boards.
Number of pages: 11
Number of tables/figures: Nil
Section headings: Introduction, literature review, methodology, results and discussion, conclusions, references.

Sheffield , J. (2008) " Philosophical assumptions in health knowledge management", pp. 12-29.

A$27.50
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Abstract

Title: Philosophical assumptions in health knowledge management
Keywords: Theory building, multiple perspectives, systemic development
Category of paper: Research paper
Purpose of the research: To survey knowledge management theory to surface underlying systems perspectives and to identify the philosophical assumptions of multi-perspective or pluralistic research in health knowledge management.
Methodology: The importance of pluralism to health knowledge management is established by reviewing relevant theory and case examples in the light of three systems perspectives (hard, soft and critical). More than 50 frameworks from the general knowledge management literature are identified and the characteristics of eight frameworks – four pluralistic and four non-pluralistic – are described.
Findings: Only three pluralistic frameworks – critical systems, scientific discourses and the Habermasian inquiring system – describe knowledge as emergent from the intertwining of all three systems perspectives. These three frameworks recognise that dissensus or conflict is the precondition to knowledge creation, and that power relations, value commitments and ethics are central to knowledge management.
Value of the paper: The contribution of the paper is to build concepts and relationships among three pluralistic frameworks of importance to both knowledge management and systemic development. In total, these constitute both a framework for pluralistic inquiry in health knowledge management, and a normative theory for a critique of patient care. Illustrative cases are included that tease out the mutual influence of facts, norms and values. Recognising and articulating the relative importance one ascribes to each is crucial in tackling the hard problems in health knowledge management.
Number of pages: 18
Number of tables/figures: 5
Section headings: Introduction, Pluralism in health knowledge management, Frameworks in knowledge management, Pluralistic frameworks in knowledge management, Pluralism in health practice, Conclusion

Sheppard, L. A. (2008) " Managing aged care: does ethnicity matter?", pp. 30-59.

A$27.50
inc. GST

Abstract

Category of paper: Research Paper
Purpose of the research paper: To identify what difference, if any, the ethnicity of residents makes to the design of facilities and practice of caring for the elderly in South Australia , Australia .
Methodology/Approach: A qualitative approach using illustrative examples. Three case studies were evaluated
Findings: Ethnicity did matter in aged care facility design. The decision to build was made as business expansion and sustainability increased, opportunities for government funding were realised and environmental planning to meet government regulations implemented. The design of the building and management of the facility, including incorporating culturally appropriate food, recruiting bilingual staff and providing communal areas, all respond to the central mission of the organisation to provide for cultural groups' needs.
Implications for practice: The large investment that building new aged care facilities requires forms a key strategic decision with regards to the image, focus on particular populations, and creating an environment for recruiting and retaining both staff and clients. The strategic plan and management of health care facilities need to be interlinked and involve considerable consultation with all possible stakeholders.
Number of pages : 10
Number of tables/figures : 0
Section headings : Introduction, Methodology, Findings, Implications, Acknowledgements, References

Simon, M.A., Magee, M., Shah, A.M., Guo, L., Cheung, W., Liu, H. & Dong, X.Q. (2008) " Building a Chinese community health survey in Chicago : the value of involving the community to more accurately portray health", pp. 40-57.

Abstract

Title : Building a Chinese community health survey in Chicago : the value of involving the community to more accurately portray health.
Key Words: Chinese, local-level health data, urban population-based study, community-based participatory research, process
Category of Paper: Research (Methodology) Paper
Purpose of Paper: Little is known about the health of the Chinese living in the United States , especially at the community level. The aim is to detail a collaborative research process in which Asian community-based organisations and their academic partners developed a community needs assessment of the largest Asian communities in Chicago .
Methodology: The Asian Health Coalition of Illinois in partnership with Sinai Urban Health Institute, and the Chinese American Service League designed and administered a health survey with 383 randomly selected Asian adults in the Armour Square community of Chicago 's Chinatown .
Findings: This report focuses on detailing the process of building a coalition and survey. Sample demographics were heavily focused towards elderly Chinese; with 50% over age 60. For the first time, disease prevalence and risk factor data are available about the Chinese subgroup of Asian American Pacific Islanders in Chicago .
Implications for Practice: Community-academic partnerships are essential to designing culturally appropriate instruments and effectively administering health surveys in the community, particularly in Asian communities.
Value of the Paper: This paper emphasises the importance of community-academic partnerships to ensure appropriate questions are asked, gain the trust of the community for participation and assure culturally and linguistically appropriate research is employed to improve health of minority populations.
Number of Pages: 18
Number of Tables/Figures: 2 tables; 3 figures
Section Headings: Introduction , Literature Review, Methodology , Results , Discussion , Conclusions , Acknowledgement