Jacky Holloway | University of Northampton (original) (raw)

Papers by Jacky Holloway

European Journal of Operational Research, 1995

Cancer, 2009

Validated prognostic factors are an integral part of any cancer diagnosis. The available prolifer... more Validated prognostic factors are an integral part of any cancer diagnosis. The available proliferation of new markers and randomized clinical trial results leads to a complex decision making looking for optimal treatment and outcome results. Advanced mathematic models have been developed to weigh each specific prognostic factor into a single outcome number in nomograms modeled for specific predictive accuracy in key phases of the treated history of the disease. Despite this progress, it is important to realize that the results are an outcome stratification for groups rather than for the individual patient. It is clear that in the tumor prognosis, host and environmental factors need to be evaluated before any clinical decision is made. Cancer 2009;115(13 suppl):3160-2. (c) 2009 American Cancer Society.

Performance Management, 2008

International Journal of Public Sector Management, Jun 30, 1999

This paper critiques the notion that a single approach to performance improvement can alone be re... more This paper critiques the notion that a single approach to performance improvement can alone be responsible for significant organisational transformation. We draw on phenomenological case study evidence, placed in the context of an ongoing series of studies of the nature and prevalence of best practice benchmarking in the UK, including large-scale questionnaire surveys and longitudinal case studies of the rich

Journal of the Operational Research Society, Mar 1, 2002

Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 0954412988712, Aug 25, 2010

Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 1353832022000031674, Aug 18, 2010

ABSTRACT This paper presents an exploration of the process of developing the Quality Assurance Ag... more ABSTRACT This paper presents an exploration of the process of developing the Quality Assurance Agency's subject benchmark statements and an examination of issues surrounding their implementation in the UK. The nature of 'benchmarking' in the context of subject benchmark statements is found to be far removed from benchmarking as recognised outside the higher education sector. This paper concludes by discussing ways in which higher education could be encouraged to accept the notion of benchmarking as a route to improving processes and continual development and the implications of a crude adoption of 'subject benchmarking' as currently defined within the new academic review process.

Any assessment of the level or nature of decentralisation in the NHS is fraught with difficulty. ... more Any assessment of the level or nature of decentralisation in the NHS is fraught with difficulty. Different Health Ministers, for example, have held conflicting views. Enoch Powell argued that the centre had almost total control. Richard Crossman maintained that the centre was weak. Barbara Castle argued that the RHAs were 'pretty subservient' (in Ham, 2004, p.174-5; cf. Lee and Mills, 1982, p.105). Similarly, commentators present different views. For example, during the Conservative period of office (1979-1997), it appeared that the NHS was moving in two different directions at once. Some commentators claimed that the national character of the health service was undermined (eg. Mohan, 1995) while others argued that the NHS was effectively nationalised (eg. Klein, 2006). Similarly, Labour health policy (1997 onwards) has stressed the importance of both the national and the local (Baggott, 2004; Klein, 2006; Powell, 1998). As Butler (1992, p.125) writes, it is unclear whether the NHS is a central service that is locally managed or a local service operating within central guidelines. Governments have tended to claim the latter, whilst actually willing the former. This section examines the conventional wisdom on decentralisation in the NHS according to the main health policy and management texts (see also Peckham et al, 2005). It summarises the results of a literature review. The search strategy focused on authored (rather than edited) texts that covered a wide period of time from 1948 onwards. Although it was not a 'systematic review' of journal articles with search terms and inclusion criteria (in part because few texts have 'decentralisation' in the title), it was fairly wide-ranging. The aim was to provide a crude content analysis of decentralisation in the texts, but it quickly emerged that decentralisation (or cognate terms) rarely appeared in the indices, which meant that the texts needed to be read in full. It is clear that, while decentralisation and devolution tend to be the dominant terms, they are rarely defined or measured, or linked to the conceptual literature. Also, the terms tended to be used interchangeably. The discussion is presented by broad period.

ABSTRACT http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/\_\_data/assets/pdf\_file/0005/64292/FR-08-1618-125.pdf

Managers are continually under pressure to measure the performance of their organisation, but the... more Managers are continually under pressure to measure the performance of their organisation, but there is little empirical evidence about the impact of measurement on performance. Furthermore, many measurement tools and techniques lack clear theoretical foundations. This paper proposes investigations into neglected aspects of organisational performance measurement, reflecting the concern of managers and illustrating the potential impact of theoretical developments on practice. Issues about theory, epistemology and methodologies that accompany such a research agenda, are also raised. '… being able to make a holistic judgement on the probity of [working or management practices]; a judgement which considers consumers and shareholders, and the wider social fabric to which the work in question contributes.' (p.343) Thus I'm back to the 'rudimentary knowledge' stage, as the agenda I am developing includes a number of bodies of theory which are relatively new to me, together with some old friends such as a bit of systems and contingency theory. Issues such as the extent to which a pluralist agenda can be defended, and the role of theories (competing, complementary, or developmental) need early attention. The main purpose of this paper is therefore to elicit support, critique, pointers and warnings, to help make the agenda worthwhile.