James F. Gilsinan

Rethinking School Partnerships

This article approaches educational partnerships from two perspectives not dominant in the current literature. First, it adopts an organizational perspective, analyzing the participants in a school, corporate foundation, university, and college partnership from the institutional dynamics of each agency. Focusing on preexistent organizational characteristics rather than on the group dynamics created by various forms of partnering may provide a more parsimonious way of conceptualizing what is a very complex phenomenon. Second, because partnerships are by definition the creation of networks, success is examined by looking at the potential to create social capital. Following Putnam, social capital refers to dense networks of reciprocal social relations.

The role of private sector organizations in the control and policing of serious financial crime and abuse

Purpose – While the “Information Age” has provided the technological tools to “democratize” data and make it widely available to a vast audience of knowledge consumers, ironically it has also provided the materials for a tapestry of rules, regulations and processes that make it more difficult for individuals to access information relevant to both their public and private lives. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of the private sector in the control and policing of financial crime, and provide an empirical and theoretical framework for understanding the complex tensions created by the simultaneous expansion of both data sources and technologies to collect and format data to create marketable information “products.”Design/methodology/approach – Three primary methods were used to gather the data for this research. Extensive literature reviews were conducted together with an analysis of existing data bases. Finally, a number of interviews were done with various corporate managers to ascertain th...

Do not cry wolf until you are sure: The manufactured crises in evaluation research

This article argues that the so-called crisis in evaluation is phenomenological rather than empirical. That is, our statements about evaluation, the presentational strategies used to define our expertise, and the ceremonies surrounding the dissemination of results are more problematic than what it is we actually do. If we can avoid calling attention to imaginary wolves, people might well listen when we do have something to say.

Assessing the impact of the USA PATRIOT Act on the financial services industry

Outlines the requirements of the PATRIOT Act of October 2001; together with subsequent legislation, it has led to a dramatic increase in surveillance activities affecting both traditional financial institutions and the newer types known as Money Service Businesses. Lists its demands, that all financial institutions: establish a more formal anti‐money laundering programme with a compliance officer, implement an employee training programme, file Suspicious Activity Reports, verify new customers’ identities etc. Indicates the cost to the financial services industry of compliance. Concludes that, given the massive quantities of information collected, even the best technology may not ensure that the tiny minority of terrorist traces actually get followed up

Public policy and criminology: An historical and philosophical reassessment

This article briefly reviews the history of the relationship between criminological research and public policy in order to explore more fully the nature of the links between social science and policy. A postpostivist critique leads to the conclusion that the distinction between science and policy, fact and value has been overdrawn. This article presents a methodology for accommodating postpostivist thought, thereby linking policy with criminology more effectively. Viewing criminology as part of a policy hermeneutic provides a way of managing the tension involved in a science/policy link that moves beyond the debate among policy pragmatists (Wilson), scientific purists (Cressey), and methodological incrementalists (Gottfredson).

Who were the winners and losers in the Financial Crisis of 2008: it depends

Purpose – This paper aims to address the question of who gained and who lost in the financial crisis of 2008. Design/methodology/approach – Gains and losses were identified by groups ranging from bankers to homeowners to taxpayers. Findings – Gains and losses are not neatly split by a main street/Wall street dichotomy. Major financial institutions and their chief executive officers made huge gains followed by bigger losses, a substantial portion of which were shared by taxpayers. Homeowners and taxpayers consistently lost. Workers and real estate developers experienced a mixture of gains and losses. Practical implications – Financial legislation is affected by questions of who won and who lost. The complex mixture of gains and losses must be fully grasped if winners and losers are an important consideration in the design of legislation. Originality/value – The detailed analysis and model of winners and losers provide important lessons for legislators and regulators in all countries.

The conundrum of legislating risk reduction through financial regulatory reform: The case of Dodd-Frank and FASB accounting changes

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the legislative process, in order to determine the likely effectiveness of financial reform efforts in the USA. Design/methodology/approach - Case study of the legislative process, particularly the less visible parts such as rule making, that shaped the passage and implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act and the failed Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) reform. Findings - It is found that the process of financial reform legislation is structured in such a way as to thwart major reform, at least in the short run. Practical implications - The passage of a particular piece of legislation may be the least important element in the process of reform. Rule making and the decisions as to how a law will be implemented, can advance or significantly defeat the quest for change. Social implications - Much of what occurs in the legislative process is invisible, or appears arcane, to the ordinary citizen but can have major impact on their lives. Originality/value - The paper provides a road map to understanding the least visible parts of financial reform efforts and suggests ways of achieving reform outcomes.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: a case study in the politics of financial reform

Purpose – The desirability of financial reform to avoid another financial melt‐down is widely accepted, but the likelihood of reform is uncertain. The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of evolution and reform attempts at US mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and provides an instructive model of the likely long‐term success of attempts to reform the financial system.Design/methodology/approach – A model of the legislative and regulatory change process is first developed, considering the range of influences that arise. The history of reform attempts for US government sponsored mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are examined in the context of this model.Findings – The model predicts that reform will often be thwarted. US government sponsored mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac helped fuel the housing bubble and required a government bail‐out. Sentiment for reform was high, but what happened next was – nothing. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have a long history of successful ...

Creating A Reform Environment: A Case Study In Community Corrections And Coalition Building

This article focuses on the environment of a criminal justice reform. Specifically, it examines the creation of an organizational climate. Such a climate precedes the actual implementation of a policy, and results from the coalitions formed during the phase of policy creation. Casper and Brereton (1984) state that original coalition structures must be examined to understand the process of reform implementation. This article therefore presents a descriptive case study of the conceptualization, context, and coalition building that preceded the implementation of a community corrections act. The article describes the odyssey of community corrections in Missouri, from its initial introduction into the state by a group of reformers, through its passage by the state legislature, to the beginning of its implementation. To aid in understanding these processes, a perspective from organizational theory is adopted.