scholarly journals Demolitions of Informal Business Structures in Harare, Zimbabwe Under the Guise of COVID-19 City Clean Up

2021 ◽  
pp. 002190962110588
Author(s):  
Gift Mwonzora
Keyword(s):  
Informal Sector ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Urban Spaces ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Qualitative Research Methodology ◽  
Business Structures ◽  
The Veil ◽  
Harare City

Recent research on the informal sector has devoted considerable attention in examining how informal traders have been affected by the coronavirus in different temporal and spatial settings. However, less well understood is the extent to which central and local governments can cunningly use the veil of COVID-19 pandemic to regulate and re-shape the informal sector. Seeking to remedy this shortcoming in the prevailing accounts and utilising a qualitative research methodology including observations, discourse analysis, critical review of policy pronouncements, by-laws, legislation, video evidence from city officials, government, health authorities, vendors associations, newspapers articles and through a case study analysis of Harare City in Zimbabwe. The article contributes to the academic and policy discussions on how law, disease outbreak, policy and governmentality of African urban spaces intersect.

scholarly journals Social reports of an Italian provincial government: a longitudinal analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 580-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Farneti ◽  
James Guthrie ◽  
Marcello Canetto
Keyword(s):  
Voluntary Disclosure ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Provincial Government ◽  
Financial Information ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
Environmental Disclosures

Purpose This paper aims to examine the non-financial information disclosed in social reports by an Italian provincial government over time to determine its relevance, contribution and evolution. Design/methodology/approach Through a case study analysis, the authors examine 10 years of social reports by one “best practice” Italian provincial government. The authors use content analysis to quantify the level of social and environmental disclosures and use a coding instrument based on the GRI guidelines. The authors use legitimacy theory as a framework. Findings The level of disclosure increased over the 10-year period, and the type of disclosures became more detailed. However, many of the economic, social and environmental elements set out in the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines were not disclosed. Moreover, the social report was contingent on a few key factors. The authors find that there has been a decline in interest in social reports by local governments in Italy, suggesting that voluntary disclosure was perhaps a fad that no longer is of interest in Italian local government. Research limitations/implications This research is one case study so the findings are not generalisable. The findings suggest that there is a need for regulation in non-financial information disclosures, as the disclosures in the case study organisation were very much at the discretion of the organisation. This has implications for policymakers. Originality/value Unlike prior studies, this study takes a longitudinal approach to voluntary disclosure of non-financial information and focusses on the under-explored context of public sector organisations.

Exploring the effectiveness of unassigned workspaces: a case study analysis of two workplaces

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Patel ◽  
Sarah M. Angne Alfaro
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Physical Environment ◽  
Qualitative Method ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Research Methodology ◽  
Lack Of Control ◽  
Spatial Attributes

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to understand how unassigned workspaces translate into an effective workplace. This is achieved by examining employees and their understanding of how unassigned workspaces impact their engagement, satisfaction and desire to stay with their workplace.Design/methodology/approachTwo workplaces designed on the strategy of 100% unassigned workspaces are analyzed as case studies to understand this phenomenon. Mixed methodology, primarily qualitative method with a survey nested within is used for this study. Grounded theory, one of the strategies of qualitative research methodology is applied as a method for analyzing the data. The study is aimed to reveal the participants' perspectives and interpretations of their actions and physical environment on effectiveness in relation to the unassigned work environment.FindingsThe information afforded the development of an overarching theoretical scheme for integrating spatial categories and describing the employees' experiences of their work environment from the various perspectives. The research reveals that unassigned and flexible spatial attributes contribute positively to employee satisfaction, engagement and retention. However, some of the goals surrounding the culture of trust and autonomy such as privacy, personalization and lack of control are compromised in these environments.Research limitations/implicationsThe insights obtained from this study will provide designers, architects, facility planners and managers a new design tool to aid in making the unassigned workspaces model more effective.Originality/valueThis study bridges the gap while documenting how unassigned workspaces translate into an effective workplace for the employees to be productive, engaged and satisfied.

scholarly journals A Case Study of a Case Study: Analysis of a Robust Qualitative Research Methodology

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Snyder
Keyword(s):  
Study Analysis ◽  
Stem Fields ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
Detailed Explanation ◽  
Qualitative Research Methodology ◽  
Study Methodology ◽  
Methodological Aspects ◽  
Transformative Journeys ◽  
Robust Framework

A unique multi-part qualitative study methodology is presented from a study which tracked the transformative journeys of four career-changing women from STEM fields into secondary education. The article analyzes the study’s use of archived writing, journaling, participant-generated photography, interviews, member-checking, and reflexive analytical memos. An exploration into the interconnectedness of the methodologies used reveals a robust framework from which the first stages of grounded theory emerged. A detailed explanation of the methodological aspects of conducting the study is discussed with the purpose of making this combination of qualitative methods replicable.

The Influence of Clientelism on the Informal Sector in Zimbabwe : A Case Study of Glen View 8 Complex, Harare

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Justin Tandire
Keyword(s):  
Informal Sector ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Major Drawback ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Qualitative Research Methodology ◽  
Political Patronage ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Poor Infrastructure ◽  
Big Men

This study focuses on the influence of clientelism in the informal sector of Zimbabwe in Glen View 8 (Complex). The study used the case of Glen view 8 (complex) in Harare Province. The study focused on political dynamics in the informal sector; livelihood strategies employed by informal sector operators; manifestation of “Big Men”, social networks in the informal sector; and different strategies employed by operators to overcome the problems of political manipulation, clientelism and patronage. It employs a qualitative research methodology to enable a nuanced comprehension of the clientelistic relationships that take place in the informal sector of Zimbabwe. Through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, narratives and in-depth interviews with key informants, the study explored the clientelistic nature of the informal sector. The major findings of the study are that the informal sector in Zimbabwe is influenced by political patronage. It was established that patronage influences the informal sector in Zimbabwe in general and at Glen View Complex 8 in particular. Some of the operators revealed that patronage negatively affects their business as they are sometimes forced to attend political party meetings either at the complex or at ZANU-PF star rallies in town. The operators experience a plethora of problems such as lack of security, poor sanitation, stiff competition, poor infrastructure, lack of insurance and fire outbreaks. It has been revealed that most of the problems experienced at the complex are a result of the politicisation of the informal sector particularly by the ZANU-PF party. Operators at the complex have described the politicisation of the informal sector as a major drawback to their efforts of realising maximum benefits from their work. Therefore, the thrust of this thesis is premised on the de-politicisation of the informal sector as the starting point in the transformation of the activities of the operators.

scholarly journals The impact of eThekwini municipality policies on informal traders: a case study of the northern regions of eThekwini

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Trisha Ramsuraj
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Informal Sector ◽  
Informal Economy ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
National Level ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Primary Research ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Informal Traders

The informal economy contributes about 5.2% of the gross domestic product of South Africa. It is estimated that it employs more than 2.6 million people which represents about 10% of the total employment in the country. However, this is considered to be low if it is compared to other African countries, despite the high unemployment in the country. Therefore, there may be some constraints hindering the growth of the informal sector. The apartheid government that was in place before 1994 enacted laws and policies that hindered the growth of the sector. In recent times the South African government has been revising the laws and putting in place policies that encourage the growth of the informal economy. A number of studies have shown that eThekwini Municipality has one of the best policies which target the informal economy in South Africa. Some of the policies that have been launched include National Informal Business Upliftment Strategy at national level and Durban’s Informal Economy Policy. The current Integrated Development Plan for eThekwini Municipality has sections specially dedicated to the informal economy. Despite the efforts of the national, provincial and local governments, the policies have been failing to be more effective to achieve the intended results due to several issues. This study aims to assess and analyse the municipality’s policies that impact on the growth and prosperity of informal traders as well as the challenges that they encounter as a result of these policies. This study also monitors and evaluates the policy and implementation at municipality level. The informal traders located in the northern parts of eThekwini are focussed on as a case study. The study involved use of both secondary and primary research. In the secondary research literature review on both the informal economy and the policies that affect the people that operate within this sector was done. In the primary research structured interviews were used to gather primary data required for this study backed up by onsite observations. The results from the study show that there is lack of awareness of the informal sector policies by the informal traders. Most of the informal traders are not registered and they do not see any benefits of doing so. There is still hostility between the informal and formal traders. Informal traders highlighted a number of challenges they face every day, such as lack of shelter, storage space and running battles with law enforcers. The study showed that there was lack of involvement of the informal traders in planning such that some of the stalls that were built by the municipality remain vacant due to several issues they pointed to such as low numbers of customers in the area. The study makes some recommendations based on the findings and other studies.

scholarly journals Dealing with density: an evaluation of density benefit incentives in the Metro Vancouver Region

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam J. Mattinson
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Policy Tools ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
Community Benefits ◽  
Metro Vancouver ◽  
And Function ◽  
Density Development

With increased demand for higher density development a key challenge for local governments is determining how to accommodate this growth while also addressing the pressure it places on local amenities and services. Density Benefit Incentives (DBIs) are a category of policy tools which address this issue by encouraging developers to provide much needed community benefits in exchange for increased density permissions. Due to flexible legislation pertaining to their use, however, the form and function of DBIs in practice can vary significantly. In order to understand the impacts of these policy tools this study investigates the use of three archetypical DBI frameworks commonly employed by municipalities within the Metro Vancouver region. A review of literature and policy in conjunction with case study analysis of three municipalities in the region identifies best practices for DBI implementation based on local context. The report culminates in a list of recommendations for local governments looking to implement their own DBI policy.

Beyond ERP Implementation

2010 ◽  
pp. 234-252
Author(s):  
Rafa Kouki ◽  
Robert Pellerin ◽  
Diane Poulin
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Of Innovations ◽  
Management Support ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovations Theory ◽  
Erp Implementation ◽  
Top Management Support ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
External Pressures ◽  
Qualitative Research Methodology ◽  
It Support

Research about ERP post-implementation and ERP assimilation is very limited. Similarly, scant research investigated ERP experiences in developing countries. Based on a qualitative research methodology grounded in the diffusion of innovations theory, the present study aims at investigating the determining contextual factors for ERP assimilation. A cross-case study analysis of four firms in a developed and a developing country suggests that in both contexts, the primary factor for encouraging a successful ERP assimilation is top management support. Other factors such as post-implementation training and education, IT support, organizational culture, managers and users involvement, strategic alignment, external pressures and consultant effectiveness are also identified as factors that influence ERP assimilation. Several assimilation impediments that should be watched are also specified.

scholarly journals Dealing with density: an evaluation of density benefit incentives in the Metro Vancouver Region

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam J. Mattinson
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Policy Tools ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
Community Benefits ◽  
Metro Vancouver ◽  
And Function ◽  
Density Development

With increased demand for higher density development a key challenge for local governments is determining how to accommodate this growth while also addressing the pressure it places on local amenities and services. Density Benefit Incentives (DBIs) are a category of policy tools which address this issue by encouraging developers to provide much needed community benefits in exchange for increased density permissions. Due to flexible legislation pertaining to their use, however, the form and function of DBIs in practice can vary significantly. In order to understand the impacts of these policy tools this study investigates the use of three archetypical DBI frameworks commonly employed by municipalities within the Metro Vancouver region. A review of literature and policy in conjunction with case study analysis of three municipalities in the region identifies best practices for DBI implementation based on local context. The report culminates in a list of recommendations for local governments looking to implement their own DBI policy.

Direct Mayoral Elections in Slovenia and England: Traditions and Trends Compared

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 697-718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simona Kukovič ◽  
Colin Copus ◽  
Miro Haček ◽  
Alasdair Blair
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Political System ◽  
Local Politics ◽  
The Political ◽  
Local Democracy ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
Mayoral Elections ◽  
Direct Election

Direct mayoral elections have in recent decades become an important and popular feature of many local governments across Europe. The direct election of the mayor enhances the accountability and transparency of local political leadership and gives voters the opportunity to gain important influence on local politics. This contrasts with councillors who choose the mayor in single-party private settings. This article provides a case study analysis of two directly elected mayors in contrasting political settings, namely England and Slovenia. Whereas England is regarded as the mother of all Parliaments, Slovenia’s democratic traditions are more recent. Yet nonetheless Slovenia displays all the features of a strong local democracy where an independent mayoral system operates within a nonpartisan political setting. By contrast, whereas England provides the longest-standing case of local democracy in Europe, directly elected mayors have only recently been introduced into the political system, the outcome of which has been mixed in terms of successfulness and acceptance by national political parties within municipalities.

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