The Evaluation of Public Service Inspection: A Theoretical Framework

Boyne, George Alexander; Day, Patricia; Walker, Richard M.

doi:10.1080/00420980220135563

Cited by 94 publications

(93 citation statements)

References 26 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…So far, the specifi c approaches to measuring performance in inspection and enforcement bodies received insuffi cient attention, with the important exception of the framework proposed for measuring the performance of the best value inspectorate in the UK local government (Boyne et al 2002). Some possible approaches for measuring inspection reforms were developed by the World Bank (World Bank 2006) and OECD (Blanc 2012), as described in sub-section 3 of this article.…”

Section: Measuring Public Administration Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating Performance of Government Inspection Bodies: A Possible Approach

Dobrolyubova¹

2017

NISPAcee Journal of Public Administration and Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ensuring the public safety and limiting administrative barriers have been the two core objectives of most reforms in the area of business inspections and regulatory enforcement for the past decade. However, measuring these eff orts has proved quite challenging both in OECD countries and in Russia. Lack of attention to the results achieved or misinterpretation of progress may aff ect the success of the reform eff orts.Th e objective of this paper is to develop a framework for defi ning and evaluating both the eff ectiveness and the effi ciency of regulatory enforcement and to apply this framework to several areas of inspection activities (such as occupational and food safety) in Russia. Th e proposed framework advances the existing international approaches to measuring the performance of government inspection bodies and accounts for perspectives of citizens, businesses and governments as crucial stakeholders of inspection reforms. Th e paper is based on both qualitative and quantitative methods (sociological surveys and statistical research).Th e results suggest that evaluating the performance of business inspections should include all aspects of minimizing risks and losses in the controlled area -from prevention of violations (reducing risks) to ensuring the reimbursement, should the risk event happen. Various levels of results, including fi nal outcomes (impact), intermediate outcomes and outputs, are needed as they allow for detecting important inconsistencies and gaps in the performance of government inspection bodies. Th e use of various sources of performance data, independent from inspection bodies, is critical for the successful implementation of the proposed framework.

show abstract

Section: Measuring Public Administration Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating Performance of Government Inspection Bodies: A Possible Approach

Dobrolyubova¹

2017

NISPAcee Journal of Public Administration and Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This culminated in the 'Inquiry into Abuse and Neglect' that revealed a series of cases of maltreatment in the past (SOU 2009:99). Inspections are indeed one of the most powerful ways through which a state can control goods and services (Bemelmans-Videc, Rist, and Vedung 2010) and the underlying assumption is that given that different regulatory standards are met to a higher degree, the quality of the care will consequently increase (Boyne, Day, and Walker 2002). However, knowledge about how residential managers and staff (the 'auditees'), i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adjusting to standards: reflections from ‘auditees’ at residential homes for children in Sweden

Pålsson

2016

Nordic Social Work Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In recent years, state inspection of Swedish residential care for children has been reinforced. This study explores how inspections are perceived from the point of view of residential staff. The empirical material is based on interviews (n = 23) with residential staff and managers (n = 55) of residential homes subject to requirements from the Swedish Inspectorate. The material has been analysed using concepts shedding light on the different aspects of how audit affects 'auditees' . The results suggest that inspections have mainly shaped the administrative part of care; that compliance with regulatory standards bring about stability in the work performed; that the standard-setting sometimes creates tensions between professional judgment and formal authority; and that inspections play an accreditation role for the residential homes. The implications of this are discussed, e.g. that the regulatory standards seem to target aspects of care that are alternatives to those of evidence-based practice, that general standards to some extent challenge the possibilities of organising the care according to the individual needs of the children and that the receptiveness of professionals to inspection ideas entails both possibilities and obstacles for the development of a professional field.

show abstract

“…The judgement of the quality of provision relies heavily on a regime of regulation, audit and inspection (Boyne, Day & Walker, 2002) However despite the use of all these tools the level of customer satisfaction with key public services has been at best been steady if not in decline (Cabinet Office, 2004).…”

Section: The Quality Of Public Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There has been wide debate about the extent to which target setting and an audit and inspection approach actually leads to improvement in service quality in public services (Bouckaert & Peters 2002;Boyne, Day & Walker, 2002;van Thiel & Leeuw, 2002). When resources are constrained, a concentration on particular targets can lead to poor performance in others.…”

Section: The Quality Of Public Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%