scholarly journals Critical factors that affect the functioning of a research and evaluation capacity building partnership: A causal loop diagram

PLoS ONE ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e0262125
Author(s):  
Rochelle Tobin ◽  
Gemma Crawford ◽  
Jonathan Hallett ◽  
Bruce Richard Maycock ◽  
Roanna Lobo

Introduction Public health policy and practice is strengthened by the application of quality evidence to decision making. However, there is limited understanding of how initiatives that support the generation and use of evidence in public health are operationalised. This study examines factors that support the internal functioning of a partnership, the Western Australian Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Applied Research and Evaluation Network (SiREN). SiREN aims to build research and evaluation capacity and increase evidence-informed decision making in a public health context. Methods This study was informed by systems concepts. It developed a causal loop diagram, a type of qualitative system model that illustrated the factors that influence the internal operation of SiREN. The causal loop diagram was developed through an iterative and participatory process with SiREN staff and management (n = 9) via in-depth semi-structured interviews (n = 4), workshops (n = 2), and meetings (n = 6). Results Findings identified critical factors that affected the functioning of SiREN. Central to SiREN’s ability to meet its aims was its capacity to adapt within a dynamic system. Adaptation was facilitated by the flow of knowledge between SiREN and system stakeholders and the expertise of the team. SiREN demonstrated credibility and capability, supporting development of new, and strengthening existing, partnerships. This improved SiREN’s ability to be awarded new funding and enhanced its sustainability and growth. SiREN actively balanced divergent stakeholder interests to increase sustainability. Conclusion The collaborative development of the diagram facilitated a shared understanding of SiREN. Adaptability was central to SiREN achieving its aims. Monitoring the ability of public health programs to adapt to the needs of the systems in which they work is important to evaluate effectiveness. The detailed analysis of the structure of SiREN and how this affects its operation provide practical insights for those interested in establishing a similar project.

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. e026706
Author(s):  
Rochelle Tobin ◽  
Jonathan Hallett ◽  
Roanna Lobo ◽  
Bruce Richard Maycock

IntroductionPartnership models that bring researchers, policymakers and service providers closer together are gaining traction as a strategy to improve public health practice. Yet, there is little evidence of how these models work, or indeed if they do work. The Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Applied Research and Evaluation Network (SiREN) is one such model. SiREN is a partnership between researchers, policymakers and service providers that aims to develop the research and evaluation capacity and evidence-informed decision making capability of professionals working to address sexual health and bloodborne virus issues in Western Australia. This study will use a systems approach to identify the mechanisms of action, impacts and outcomes of SiREN and inform the development of evaluation tools.Methods and analysisData will be collected from organisational documents, surveys, in-depth interviews and a workshop. It will be analysed using a complex adaptive systems lens and findings will be used to inform the development of a type of qualitative systems model called a causal loop diagram. The causal loop diagram will illustrate the: contextual factors influencing engagement; mechanisms of action; and impacts and outcomes of SiREN. Evaluation tools will then be developed that can be used to assess the indicators identified in the causal loop diagram.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval was obtained from the Curtin University Human Research Ethics Committee (approval number: HRE2017-0090). Participants will be free to withdraw from the study at any point and confidentiality will be maintained by de-identifying participant responses in any published or shared data. The findings from this study will be shared in conference presentations, reports, peer-reviewed journals and online through websites and social media.


2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 114
Author(s):  
Novie Andri Setianto

ABSTRAK. Pemerintah telah mengimplementasikan banyak program untuk meningkatkan populasi sapi di Indonesia, namun untuk memenuhi kebutuhan daging nasional Indonesia masih tergantung pada impor. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengkaji dampak bantuan pemerintah terhadap kinerja kelompok peternak sapi potong, terutama pada aspek sosial ekonomi. Pemodelan kualitatif menggunakan Causal Loop Diagram (CLD) dipilih untuk memetakan hubungan antar elemen yang terkait. Penelitian dilakukan dengan observasi langsung, wawancara semi-terstruktur, dan lokakarya pada dua kelompok ternak di Kabupaten Banjarnegara dan Banyumas. Diagram menunjukkan bahwa dalam di dalam sistem teridentifikasi enam buah loops yang terbagi atas tiga loops penyeimbang dan tiga loops saling memperkuat. Berdasarkan studi ini dapat diketahui bahwa program pemerintah yang pada awalnya didesain untuk memacu populasi sapi potong, pada kenyataanya di level peternak tidak sepenuhnya teradopsi dengan baik. Peternak hanya mengadopsi aktifitas yang dinilai lebih mudah dan lebih cepat mendatangkan keuntungan. Besarnya nilai bantuan berupa uang tunai yang langsung masuk ke rekening kelompok memicu keinginan peternak untuk dapat memperoleh keuntungan secepat-cepatnya, sehingga peternak lebih memilih penggemukan yang memiliki siklus lebih cepat. (Qualitative modelling of the impact of government grant on beef cattle farming performance) ABSTRACT. The Government of Indonesia has introduced various programs to increase the cattle population. However, Indonesia still relies on imports to meet national demand. This study aimed to explore the impact of government program on the performance of farmer groups, particularly in socioeconomic aspect. Qualitative modelling using Causal Loop Diagram (CLD) of System Dynamics methodology was applied to connect the linkages among elements. A series of observations, semi-structured interviews, and workshops were undertaken involving two farmer groups from two districts; Banjarnegara and Banyumas. CLD showed a total of 6 loops; 3 balancing and 3 reinforcing loops. Each loop represented certain behaviour of the system. The study revealed that the program which initially designed to build engine of growth to boost population from farmers’ group level were not entirely implemented as it is. There were indications of selective adoption and side tracking. Farmers tended to prefer activities which more profitable and generate cash fasterly. A large amount of cash flow into farmers bank account provoked farmers to get immediate benefit, thus farmers choose the fattening over breeding which considered having shorter production cycle and disregarding the breeding which took longer time to produce cash.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 071
Author(s):  
Ivonne Ayesha

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk membangun pemahaman (understanding) tentang fenomena ekonomi rumah tangga petani penggarap secara clear dan distinct, dan menyusun model ekonomi rumah tangga petani penggarap yang dapat menjelaskan faktor-faktor yang penentu dan interaksi variabel-variabel yang saling terkait. Penelitian ini bersifat kualitatif dengan jenis studi fenomenologi. Responden dalam penelitian ini adalah petani padi yang tidak punya lahan (penyakap) yang melakukan usahatani di Kabupaten Indramayu, Provinsi Jawa Barat, sebanyak 7 orang dengan lokasi yang berbeda, namun masih dalam kabupaten yang sama. Di samping itu, responden juga diambil dari perangkat desa, tokoh masyarakat, dan PPL. Responen ditetapkan secara sengaja (purposive), sesuai dengan kebutuhan penelitian ini. Data yang digunakan adalah data primer, sedangkan analisis data menggunakan cara berfikir sistem (system thinking). Hasil analisis data ditampilkan dalam bentuk diagram sebab akibat (causal loop diagram), dengan menggunakan program Vensim PLE. Hasil penelitian menyimpulkan: 1) Rumah tangga petani penyakap sebagai unit ekonomi terkecil yang memiliki sumber pemasukan dan pengeluaran rumah tangga, baik dari dan untuk memenuhi kebutuhan usahatani maupun non usahatani. Meskipun nilai penerimaan yang diperoleh sangat sedikit, namun petani penyakap tetap melaksanakan usahatani padi dari musim ke musim. Kekurangan uang dalam rumah tangga diatasi dengan melakukan pinjaman ke para pelepas uang (rentenir) dan tengkulak. Sedikit sekali petani yang memanfaatkan jasa keuangan formal dalam mengatasi masalah ekonomi rumah tangga. Pola hidup konsumtif sering menyebabkan petani terjebak dalam lingkaran hutang, dan 2) Model ekonomi rumah tangga petani penyakap yang disusun mengandung 2 lingkar sebab akibat positif dan satu lingkar sebab akibat negatif. Lingkar sebab akibat positif terdapat pada struktur pinjaman usahatani dan struktur pinjaman non usahatani. Lingkar sebab akibat negatif terdapat pada struktur pengeluaran. Model ini menunjukkan bahwa uang dalam rumah tangga bertambah dengan adanya pemasukan dan berkurang dengan adanya pengeluaran. Variabel pemasukan merupakan akumulasi dari penghasilan bersih, pinjaman usahatani dan pinjaman non usahatani. Variabel pengeluaran ditentukan oleh total pengeluaran rumah tangga. Total pengelaran rumah tangga merupakan akumulasi dari: pengeluaran usahatani, pengeluaran non usahatani, pembayaran iyuran desa, biaya sosial, konsumsi rumah tangga, dan pembayaran hutang non usahatani


2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 295-309
Author(s):  
Joyce Cheah Lynn-Sze ◽  
◽  
Azlina Kamaruddin ◽  

Health opinion leaders have widely embraced social media for health promotion and public health communication which can make a strong influence on the public decision making. However, despite the growing relevance of public health threats such as infectious diseases, pandemic influenza and natural disasters, research has paid little attention to the qualities of opinion leaders. Moreover, there is limited evidence that public health organisations use social media appropriately to engage in meaningful conversations with audiences. Thus, the aims of the study are to describe principles of communication practised by online opinion leaders to promote health issues, to discuss the strategies of social media used, to explain the opinion leaders’ influence attributes in health decision making and finally to develop a model of online opinion leader in the contemporary health promotion era. Content analysis was conducted on Facebook postings of five selected health opinion leaders. In addition, semi-structured interviews with 10 followers were conducted. The findings of the study revealed that there are three principles of communication practised by online opinion leaders, which are language, interaction and themes. There are three strategies opinion leaders use to influence the public: social connectivity, social support and social consultation. Furthermore, there are five opinion leaders’ attributes that influence the public’s decision making, namely personality, authenticity, trust/credibility, professional knowledge and social position. The model would be beneficial in educating and guiding the current public health opinion leaders in order to establish health and social well-being. Keywords: Online opinion leader, online health communication, public health, two-step flow theory, decision making.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-94
Author(s):  
Pragya Arya ◽  
Manoj Kumar Srivastava ◽  
Mahadeo P. Jaiswal

Purpose Research on sustainability has progressed from a singular focus on one aspect to a simultaneous focus on more than one aspect of the triple bottom line. However, there is a dearth of research that explains why sustainability-related decisions in business often do not bear the expected results. Research that provides managers with a tool to achieve environmental sustainability of logistics without compromising the economic sustainability is scarce. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to bridge the above gaps and to explore the factors that affect investment in technology to balance environmental and economic sustainability of logistics. A model based on system dynamics approach explains the simultaneous interplay of these factors. Simulating the model helps the managers of logistics function decide the size of investment in technology, to achieve environmental efficiency without negatively influencing the economic performance. Design/methodology/approach A model based on system dynamics approach explains the simultaneous interplay of these factors. Simulating the model helps the managers of logistics function decide the size of investment in technology, to achieve ecological efficiency without compromising with the economic performance. Findings Collaboration with regulatory authorities and with players within the same industry and across industries is a must so that eco-logistics does not become an economic burden for businesses. The decision to invest in technology for eco-logistics is further accentuated if the technology promises some added economic benefits. Research limitations/implications From a theoretical perspective, the research has added to the less extensive literature on system dynamics modelling, which is a mixed methodology, combining both qualitative and quantitative techniques. The research is also one of the few attempts that have attempted to simultaneously study more than one aspects of sustainability in business, quantitatively through simulation. Simulation was demonstrated through a single case study, Future works can aim to apply the causal loop diagram to firms in varied sectors. Practical implications The managers can use the causal loop diagram to assess the environmental performance of logistics and decide on appropriate level of investment to balance ecological and economic performance of logistics. Originality/value The causal loop diagram has been developed through primary data collection via semi-structured interviews. The results were validated by presenting them to respondents to ensure they represent their view points. The results are, therefore, practical and original. This research does not build upon an existing data set or aims to test the applicability of any existing model. The model for this research has been developed from the grass-roots level.


Kybernetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xie Kefan ◽  
Yu Song ◽  
Sishi Liu ◽  
Jia Liu

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the crowd stampede risk mechanism from the perspective of systems thinking. Design/methodology/approach Causal loop diagram is drawn to outline the non-linear interactions among complex factors across the whole system and dissect the contributory factors of crowd stampede accident. To systematically construct the theoretical framework and find fundamental solutions, co-word analysis with Citespace is used to get the critical data. An agent-based simulation using Pathfinder is conducted to develop a spatial model for the Shanghai Stampede Accident that happened in 2014. Findings The causal loop diagram is formed to not only illustrate the symptomatic solutions with a quick fix but also dissect the fundamental solutions through an underlying systemic analysis. The simulation shows that crowd stampede experiences an interactive process of accumulation, trigger, delay, break and diffusion of risk factors within the crowd system. A linkage effect among the multidimensional characters of individuals and the system accelerates the stampede risk deterioration. There exists delay of the result of effect from the deep-level measure. Practical implications A top-down approach is offered to policymakers for crowd stampede risk protocol design and synergic emergency control that may reduce the risk of the stampede. Originality/value In this study, SDFT paradigm is proposed as the critical solution for the crowd stampede accident. In addition, a chain effect of energy and a linkage effect within the crowd system is illustrated for in-depth understanding of crowd stampede risk.


2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 706-715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinsuke Kondoh ◽  
◽  
Hitoshi Komoto ◽  
Yusuke Kishita ◽  
Nobuo Nakamura ◽  
...  

The objective of this study is to seek a pattern language in the domain of eco-business design. A pattern language is first proposed in the field of architecture. By using patterns as the basis for a shared agreement in a community, users and stakeholders in the community can design buildings and their surrounding environment in a cooperative manner. This paper first discusses key features of the language that enables a cooperative eco-business design among multiple stakeholders. It goes on to describe how to formulate the language by using a causal-loop diagram as well as rules that were established by analyzing 130 eco-business cases in Japan. A simplified case study is also provided to illustrate how to use the language.


2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamid Reza Lashgarian Azad ◽  
Hadi Akbarzade Khorshidi ◽  
Seyed Hossein Hosseini ◽  
Saeed Mirzamohammadi

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