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Institute of Public Administration of Australia
IPAA NATIONAL CONFERENCE
http://www.tased.edu.au/tasonline/ipaatas/cindex.htm

PRACTITIONER AND
ACADEMIC SYMPOSIUM

University of Tasmania November 25, 1998


The Centre for Public Management and Policy (CPMP) at the University of
Tasmania is hosting this year's academic and practitioner session in the
form of a symposium for research papers built around the conference theme
of SERVICE DELIVERY TO THE COMMUNITY -A TIME FOR CRITICAL REFLECTION.

The symposium will bring together a collection of papers which focus
empirically and/or conceptually on aspects of current directions and
developments in service delivery, and we are now inviting proposals for
papers. We are particularly interested in hearing from both practitioners
who are able to offer a detailed and systematic analysis of developments in
their own or other agencies, and academics or independent researchers who
are conducting systematic research into aspects of service delivery.

The symposium will run from 9.00am to 3.00pm in three sessions of 1.5
hours. Each session will involve three presentations of 20 minutes with
half an hour of discussion. Proposals for papers will be refereed of the
basis of applied and/or academic merit in terms of rigour,originality and
relevance. Papers selected for presentation may be included in revised form
in an edited monograph on service delivery planned for early 1999 and
published in the CPMP Series in Public Management and Policy.

Topics for papers might include, for example:

* examples of, and the outcomes emerging from the separation of policy and
delivery in a specific policy arena or within a particular agency or range
of agencies;

* the demonstrable effectiveness and broader applicability of innovative
service delivery strategies in relation to a particular program or output
group(s);

* examples and outcomes of contracting out especially in the field of human
services, where the effects are examined in terms of client outcomes and/or
provider 'markets' (including impacts on the community sector);

* solutions to problems (or lessons learnt about what does not work)
emerging with the shift towards 'contractualism', especially in relation to
aspects of 'contracts' and 'contract management';

* examples where a shift from 'program'-oriented service delivery to
'coordination' of provision across various services (with or without budget
holding and the capacity to purchase a range of services) has led to
improved client outcomes and/or delivery efficiencies (or lessons learnt
about barriers to be overcome);

* significant developments in monitoring and/or evaluating the
effectiveness and appropriateness of service delivery at a program, output
group, state or national level.

Papers may take any one of a variety of approaches, including:

 * critical analysis of current developments across a range of  examples;
 * systematic qualitative or quantitative data analysis;
 * case studies of specific service delivery types, problems or anomalies;
 * model building or development based on critical reflection on practice;
 * systematic and comprehensive reviews of published research.

You are invited to submit a proposal for a paper on any of these or a
related topic. 200-300 word proposals including an indication of the
conceptual and/or methodological approach and the conclusions of the paper
should be sent to the Centre for Public Management and Policy  by August
31. This proposal is to include full name, position and institutional
address and contact details including email address.

Completed papers of <5000 will have to be submitted electronically (email
attachment or disc) to the CPMP no later than November 12, 1998. These will
be posted on the CPMP website so that other  participants can review the
papers in advance of the symposium - and, indeed, engage in email
discussion before and after the symposium (the list of participants
attending the symposium with contact details will also be posted on the
website). The format for presentation of papers will be provided to
successful proposers of papers at the time when they are advised.

The symposium is being coordinated by Janine Cornish at the CPMP
([log in to unmask]). The convenors are Dr Bill Ryan
([log in to unmask]) and
Dr Judith Homeshaw ([log in to unmask]).
The CPMP phone number is 61 3  6226 7146 and the fax number is 61 3 6226 1872.

   _/-- _|\                   Dr Judith Homeshaw
  /          \                  Lecturer in Administration, Acting
Co-ordinator Women's Studies
  \_.--._ /             School of Government
           v <--<<        University of Tasmania,
                GPO Box 252-22
                HOBART 7001, Australia
                tel: 61 03 6226 2739    fax: 61 03 6224 0973


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