The strategic challenges of cooperation and competition in British Voluntary Organizations: Toward the next century

The interrelationships between public, private, and voluntary sectors in Britain have witnessed increasing levels of change in recent years. This article argues that there have recently been identifiable trends within the voluntary sector, namely, increased levels of competition between sectors, increased competition between voluntary organizations, and increased pressures toward professionalization in voluntary sector management and organization. Predominantly competitive strategies and modes of professionalization have often been borrowed uncritically from commercial “best practice” by voluntary organizations. Thompson's (1967) typology of strategies is used as a basis for proposing cooperation as an alternative to competition in the British voluntary sector.     

A quest for certain linear spaces on thirty points

We investigate the structure of linear spaces on 30 points which have no lines of sizes 2, 3, 6, 30.     

Response from a policymakers' perspective

The case in point (Tellado, 1984) needs to be defined in terms of a client for the research. The research may also have implications for early intervention to mitigate the problems uncovered in the case study. An important element in the development of problem-solving skills may be linguistic skills. Further research about this variable seems warranted.     

Future patterns of support for sociology

An organization like the Consortium operates not only as a watch-dog over current problems in Washington and as one voice in communicating priorities, but as a monitor of long-term trends in the federal/university relationship, the relationship of social and behavioral science to other science, and the general reputation of these fields. The marked improvement of the research situation from about 1950 to 1970 in part reflected a better regard for social science research, but was primarily part of a general increase in science and university support. A reversal for these fields began about 1970. It has affected fundamental and applied research, and the perceived utility of research in the conduct of government. University-based researchers should not view relative deprivation as attack, but should work to improve gradually the entire system of research, teaching, and communication with the broader public. The author is executive director of a Washington-based organization dedicated to representing the interests of the social science research community through lobbying and educational programs directed at federal policymakers. Trained as a biobehavioral scientist, Jenness was formerly executive associate of the Social Science Research Council.