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Bureaucratic power – the power derived from the formal authority of the bureaucratic organization – has become a central organizing mechanism in modern societies. In this study, we develop theoretical arguments to identify institutional sources as well as limitations of bureaucratic power. We argue that the very institutional sources of bureaucratic power also cultivate the countervailing forces that set limit to the exercise of bureaucratic power in formal organizations. These arguments and considerations are illustrated in two case studies of the “inspection and appraisal” processes in the Chinese bureaucracy. Our study raises issues about organizational isomorphism and calls for a closer look at the behavioral patterns in organizational processes.

This chapter reviews the new inspectorate, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, and the new Inspection Framework for Fire and Rescue Services in England. It will look at the antecedents of the inspectorate and the history of inspections in both the police and in the fire and rescue services. Prior to the Policing and Crime Act 2017, Fire and Rescue Services in England were without a dedicated independent inspectorate for almost 10 years and the government promised a new independent and a rigorous inspection regime. This chapter critically evaluates the government's response and the early development of the new regime.

Joint reviews are an approach to partnership working between those involved in inspection and regulation. They provide great opportunities and some challenges. This article describes a case study of the review of the National Service Framework for Older People. It discusses culture and commitment, organisational imperatives and governance.

This paper describes the piloting of an approach to social services inspection using a range of objective research evidence as part of the Social Services Inspectorate's inspection process in 1997, in eight local authorities in England. The Welsh Centre for Learning Disabilities Applied Research Unit worked with the Social Services Inspectorate to collect details on residential and day services in advance of the inspection process. The paper repeats the findings of this Report and of the collaboration.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the relationship between QSC (quality, service and cleanliness) inspection scores and financial performance in quick service restaurants.

Restaurant QSC inspection data were collected from 25 quick service restaurants of an international chain over a period of 18 months. Audited financial data were also collected for these participating restaurants. Using SPSS software, the data were analyzed for possible relationships between the restaurant QSC scores and the financial performance measured as total unit sales per week, revenues per available seat per week, and gross operating income for each month. Restaurant unit size is measured by total revenues per month.

Contrary to the commonly held belief, the relationship between QSC variable and restaurant performance is weak. This study found there was a “V” curve in QSC inspections and financial performance when restaurant size was chosen as the moderating variable.

The specific items measured in the QSC may differ across organizations, although the broad categories remain constant. Certain operational factors such as price changes, special promotions, additional restaurant openings in the specific area, and local economic conditions could have confounded the results.

The knowledge obtained from this study could help restaurant organizations determine the level of weighting given to a specific inspection variable. This study also suggests the use of FQSC inspections instead of traditional QSC to emphasize financial performance (F). This study demonstrates the liability and limitations of tying QSC inspections to merit raises and bonus plans as normally done in restaurants.

This paper is the first empirical study to analyze the QSC inspections of restaurants related to financial performance. In contrast to the past studies with food safety/health inspections, the current study focuses directly on QSC inspections conducted more frequently and in greater detail by the quick service restaurants with emphasis on operational and financial performance.

Despite increased resources devoted to food‐poisoning prevention, reported incidence of food poisoning continues to rise. Improvements in prevention strategies might therefore be necessary and there may also be opportunities for reducing the burden of regulatory control. Suggests that, of the two components of prevention, surveillance and control, control activities are returned to the private sector, allowing public sector agencies to concentrate on surveillance, the precursor to effective control. The Offices, Shops and Railways Premises Act, Hoists and Lifts Regulations model is offered as a means of devolving regulatory control.

For libraries, best value began by making judgements about the quality of services and the processes that underpin their delivery to local people. The inspections and value‐added work identified much that was good about libraries and much that needed to improve. Subsequently, the research report “Building better libraries” aroused national interest and offered a number of challenges to the profession on its present and future position in relation to changing national, regional and local contexts. Performance measurement and social impact have emerged as major factors in the Audit Commission's work on improvement in public services, and the paper focuses on the need to engage with the impact and outcomes of library services rather than its procedures, processes, aims and policies.

Probably the criticisms now most frequently heard about the House of Commons revolve around its loss of control over the Government. Debates, it is argued, are largely lifeless, for the matters under discussion have already been thoroughly thrashed out in private party meetings. Furthermore, the Parliamentary timetable and limitation of debate are largely at the mercy of the Government of the day.

Early years policy and services have been subjected to substantial and rapid reform over the past 20 years. This article provides a brief overview of legislative and policy changes over this period, with a particular focus on regulation and workforce issues, and traces the enduring influence of the Children Act 1989 to the present. It identifies a paradigm shift in early years services from a world view based on public health and care and on devolution of responsibility, to one in which promoting children's learning and development is core and centralised regulation and national standards are seen as essential. This is reflected in changed responsibilities at government department and regulatory body level. Despite these major changes, the article concludes that the key principles of the Act ‐ in terms of children's rights, parents' responsibilities, listening to children and inter‐agency co‐operation ‐ are still apparent.

This article reports on the findings of the inspections and consultations undertaken as part of the evaluation of the National Service Framework for Older People. It focuses on what was found about the implementation of adult protection systems, by synthesising the inspectors' findings, drawing on older people's comments in meetings and interviews concerning care in hospitals, as an illustration, and by reporting the results from a survey. Together these sources of information revealed that adult protection systems are in place, and that the majority of older people say that they know to whom they can report concerns, but that older people and their families weigh up the decision to make complaints carefully. Questions are raised about the interface between adult protection and concerns about dignity and quality of hospital care.