Roundtables

Comment

• Nudge, nudge, say no more

  Shadow chancellor George Osborne wants to embed 'behavioural economics' throughout government. This says that policy-makers should 'nudge' people to make particular choices

• Reach Higher for more equality on local councils

  Reach Higher is a new initiative aimed at representing more black and ethnic minority staff at senior management level in local government. Simon Ighofose, the first black voluntary director in Leicester city council, explains its mandate

• Executive stress in the NHS

  Keeping a cool head when others around you are in panic-mode takes a certain type of personality. NHS chief executives, by their nature are resilient creatures - and the best are also good at creating a 'pressure positive' in their organisations

• Consultancy: look at the benefits as well as the cost

  Consultancy fees are often the focus of discussion, especially when public sector managers have to be accountable for every penny they spend. A new comprehensive report from the Management Consultation Association claims the industry is delivering 'significant value' to its clients

• Something old, something borrowed, something blue?

  Are the Conservatives attempting to steal Labour's clothes with new initiatives that encourage third sector organisations to take over services usually delivered by the state - or have they got a new trick up their sleeves?

• Young high-flyers required for a fresh challenge

  Good ideas and funding abound in social enterprise; so who will make it all happen? It's time to invest in a new generation of managers if it is to fulfil its potential, says Tom Rippin

• The challenge of charity partnership

  Partnerships with large companies can make a big difference to charities. But should there be a better way of choosing which charity to support?

• Independently working together

  No one solution will fit all and local authorities need to structure services to meet citizens' needs, however shared services can, and does improve efficiency while reducing costs - as long as correct structures are in place

• Equal opportunities have never been more relevant

  In the past ethnic minorities have viewed public appointments as not something for 'us', but for 'them'. Following on from the Parekh report, which looked at ethnic diversity in Britain, the status quo is changing, but change also needs to happen from within

• Shared ownership? Yes please

  Ken Hesketh from Benenden Healthcare Society, a mutual organisation, welcomes the trend back towards shared ownership, but wonders why it ever went out of fashion in the first place