Improvement Service

A paper from the Institute for Employment Studies which discusses the potential for online social networking to facilitate new ways of learning. It presents key themes from recent research done for the NHS into establishing new social networks for knowledge and idea sharing, and also offers hints and tips for establishing a new online community.

Evaluation of the Improvement Service website conducted as part of the website redevelopment process in early 2009. The survey was distributed in January 2009 to explore why users use the website, the value of the site and how the site can be improved. This report is based on the results of that survey and an analysis of website visitor data.

Report from the National Audit Office on organisational learning in government. The report states that, in order to achieve value for money in public services, government departments need to learn from success and failure. It examines how departments can become better at learning and outlines the characteristics of organisations that are successful at learning. Although this report focuses on central government departments, it contains many useful messages for other public sector organisations.

This report provides details of a review commissioned by the Improvement Service to contribute to decisions concerning toolkits that are made available to its users. The review is based on user feedback and opinions and quantitative data (user statistics).

The report aims to provide a picture of the knowledge and information management landscape in Scottish local government. The scoping study undertook to identify: information and knowledge-focused professionals within Scottish councils; the nature and scope of IM and KM activities in Scottish councils, local authority engagement in information management professional networks; activities and support for local government practitioners by IM networks; opportunities for practitioners to collaborate and share knowledge; opportunities for the IS to support this community and improve knowledge sharing; capacity and interest of this group for broader KM involvement within their council; and messages about key knowledge and information resources available to local authority employees.

The report aims to provide a picture of the knowledge and information management landscape in Scottish local government. The scoping study undertook to identify: information and knowledge-focused professionals within Scottish councils; the nature and scope of IM and KM activities in Scottish councils, local authority engagement in information management professional networks; activities and support for local government practitioners by IM networks; opportunities for practitioners to collaborate and share knowledge; opportunities for the IS to support this community and improve knowledge sharing; capacity and interest of this group for broader KM involvement within their council;  and messages about key knowledge and information resources available to local authority employees.

This report draws on insights gained from the Beacon Scheme (set up to disseminate best practice in service delivery across local government) to identify the key components of successful knowledge transfer.

Improving information to support decision making: standards for better quality data - a framework to support improvement in data quality in the public sector Introduces a set of standards to define the arrangements public bodies can adopt to drive improvement in the quality of their data. Explains that good quality data is an essential ingredient for reliable performance and financial information. Discusses the definition of the terms data, is and explores why data quality is important. Outlines the responsibility for quality data, the stakeholders and their information needs. Lists the main characteristics of good quality data. Looks at how organisations' management arrangements can improve data quality via the use of governance and accountability, policies and procedures, systems and processes, people and skills, and data use and reporting. Identifies what action public bodies should take to improve their data quality. UNITED KINGDOM, PUBLIC SECTOR, DATA, DEFINITIONS, DECISION MAKING, INFORMATION, MANAGEMENT, INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, POLICY, QUALITY

In March 2007 the Improvement Service distributed a survey to explore why users use the website, the value of the site and how the site can be improved. The survey was undertaken to inform the re-development of the Improvement Service website. This document contains a summary of the findings of this survey, plus details of 'next steps' for the website.

This survey is part of an initial investigation into knowledge management within local government for an MSc dissertation at Robert Gordon University. The study is divided into four main strands looking at levels of awareness; the emergence of knowledge management; progress made and barriers encountered; and whether measurement systems are in place to monitor and evaluate its impact.

This study was commissioned to explore the potential use of action research and applied research to support evidence-based practice, and to improve public sector delivery. Using the National Health Service Scotland (NHSS) as a pilot, the study reports on the potential for the development of communities of practice within NHSS. It also provides eight case studies of action research and applied research drawn from health, social care and other public services.