scholarly journals Wind farms and rural tourism: A Portuguese case study of residents’ and visitors’ perceptions and attitudes

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 248-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luís Silva ◽  
Ana Delicado
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Medieval Architecture ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
Perceptions And Attitudes ◽  
Local Actors ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Clear Majority

Abstract Residents’ and visitors’ perceptions of and attitudes towards existing wind farms, as well as the perceived impact of wind farms on tourism, are examined in this article with reference to a built heritage site in the Portuguese countryside. Based on a set of semi-structured interviews, the paper sheds light on the positive impact that the community’s or local actors’ involvement in the constitution, management and decision-making processes has on the residents’ perceptions and attitudes regarding wind farms, and also on the trade-off with the perceived effect of wind farms on local tourism. Moreover, it shows that although most visitors criticised the proximity of wind turbines to medieval architecture, a clear majority of them accepted their presence and virtually all of them stated that these facilities had no impact on their choice of destination.

Participatory management of an urban world heritage site

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathieu Dormaels
Keyword(s):  
Methodological Approach ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Participatory Management ◽  
General Context ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
Local Actors

Purpose – Within the general context of the Historic Urban Landscape approach and the promotion of community involvement in heritage site management, the purpose of this paper is to describe and to understand the case of Old Québec in order to analyse the management tools put in place, so as not only to grasp the issues and challenges, but also to find out how these tools are perceived by the local actors directly involved. Design/methodology/approach – The conceptual approach of this study is twofold. On the one hand, the author has adopted a phenomenological perspective of heritage, where heritage is understood as a social construction. On the other hand, because the goal of this study is to understand an initiative produced by local actors, the author chose an empirical approach that fosters first a descriptive and then an interpretive analysis of a phenomenon with potentially complex dynamics. To do so, the author chose to conduct the research by carrying out a case study, by using three methods of data collection: non-participating observation, semi-structured interviews and document analysis. Findings – By analysing this case in its context, this research gives a better understanding of this community based initiative of participatory management in the world heritage site of the historic district of Old Québec. It demonstrate how these processes involves issues and challenges, even in a 20 years old inscribed site. It also highlights key elements for this type of initiative that, beyond this case, may be useful to be considered by site managers. Research limitations/implications – As with any case study, this research is highly dependent on the context, and that constitutes the main limitation. Consequently, the findings of this analysis can only be generalized as recommendations. Other case studies should be conducted to better understand the influence of context, and to bring out similarities between various initiatives. Originality/value – More than “best practices”, whose relevance may be questionable for their lack of consideration of the context, this paper aims to provide an example of participatory management and to indicate some key elements that seem to be useful for this kind of initiatives. It also raises important questions on the relevance of such management tools in context less experienced or without previous involvement of local communities. Finally, it proposes a conceptual framework and a methodological approach for the study of such cases.

scholarly journals Beyond the Rhetoric of Participation: A Case Study of Participatory Practices and Power in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Cynthia Ecclestone
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Filial Piety ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
Participatory Development ◽  
Power Dynamics ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Local Ngo

<p>This study looks critically at the practices of participatory development by a local NGO in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. In doing so, the Life Skills Training programme is chosen as a case study of potentially participatory development. By exploring people’s experiences, perceptions, and feelings about their participation, the study examines the power dynamics in the programme. To gather data, the study used semi-structured interviews and observations. Interviews were conducted with 14 research participants, who were purposively selected from different backgrounds.   The study finds that the approaches of the programme point to lower-level forms of participation, with local people having both minimal involvement and little role in decision-making. Despite the use of the rhetoric of participation, doubts about the quality of participation are raised particularly in relation to gender, age, and religious differences. By scrutinising the ways in which issues of power manifest in the programme, the study demonstrates that issues of power and power relations in participatory development are quite complex. Using the frameworks of power analysis, I argue that issues related to inequalities of power are manifested in the NGO’s domination of decision-making processes, and that these issues were also contributed to by a patriarchal culture and filial piety. More importantly, I argue that people’s participation in the programme is less likely lead to meaningful outcomes if the issues of power imbalances are not addressed.  The study provides useful insights into ways to improve the practices of participatory development. An increased understanding of various forms of power and their implications will be useful for development practitioners to exercise their power to make a difference. Moreover, efforts to reduce power imbalances in participatory development will be inadequate without critically examining and attending to power and its dynamics. Without a deeper understanding of power, development programmes that make claims about participation may be less effective in achieving transformative goals for the intended beneficiaries.</p>

scholarly journals Mind the Gap: Towards a Typology of Climate Service Usability Gaps

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Raaphorst ◽  
Gerben Koers ◽  
Gerald Jan Ellen ◽  
Amy Oen ◽  
Bjørn Kalsnes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Climate Services ◽  
The North ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Climate Service ◽  
North And South

Literature on climate services presents a large diversity of different services and uses. Many climate services have ‘usability gaps’: the information provided, or the way it is visualized, may be unsuitable for end users to inform decision-making processes in relation to adaptation against climate change impacts or for the development of policies to this end. The aim of this article is to contribute to more informed and efficient decision-making processes in climate adaptation by developing a typology of usability gaps for climate services. To do so, we first present and demonstrate a so-called ‘climate information design’ (CID) template with which to study and potentially improve the visual communicative qualities of climate services. Then, two climates services are selected for a further, qualitative explorative case study of two cases in the north and south of the Netherlands. A combination of focus group sessions and semi-structured interviews are used to collect data from Dutch governmental stakeholders as well as private stakeholders and NGOs. This data is then coded to discover what usability gaps are present. We then present twelve different types of usability gaps that were encountered as a typology. This typology could be used to improve and redesign climate services.

scholarly journals Evaluating visitor experience of digital interpretation and presentation technologies at cultural heritage sites: a case study of the old town, Zuoying

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Liu
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Digital Display ◽  
Visitor Experience ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Interactive Approach ◽  
Heritage Sites ◽  
Measurement Framework ◽  
Heritage Site

Abstract Digital technologies are increasingly used in the interpretation and presentation process at cultural heritage sites, shifting the manner of heritage display from previous ways, which tended to be monolithic and static, to a more diversified, experiential, and interactive approach and enabling new connections between heritage and the public. Digital experience is gradually becoming an important component of visitors’ heritage experience. However, little attention has been paid to the influence and effects that these technologies have on the visitor experience, and a corresponding measurement framework for the heritage digital experience is still lacking. To contribute to the design, implementation, and management of digital display systems at cultural heritage sites, this research aims to evaluate visitors’ expectations, acceptance, and experience of digital interpretation and presentation technologies. A mixed methodology, combining questionnaires based on a digital experience evaluation framework and semi-structured interviews, was adopted and used in Old Zuoying City (OZC), a typical heritage site for the application of digital display technologies in Taiwan. Our study indicates that digital display technologies received high acceptance from heritage visitors and had a positive impact on some specific aspects, such as encouraging their exploration of and further learning about the site, helping them better visualize the richness of heritage, and creating new experiences of perceiving, engaging, and communicating with history. In addition, based on the survey findings, a number of recommendations for the current stage of digital display design are presented. The survey results and evaluation framework can be used as a reference for other research on heritage visitors and to improve digital interpretation and presentation design.

University-Industry Linkage Through Business Incubation

2019 ◽  
pp. 223-244
Author(s):  
Dinis Caetano ◽  
Miguel T. Preto ◽  
Miguel Amaral
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Management Board ◽  
Top Managers ◽  
The University

This chapter focuses on the role played by business incubators in developing and facilitating knowledge transfer, networks, and business support to tenant firms through a sustainable ecosystem. The authors conduct an in-depth qualitative case-study of one tech-based business incubator in Portugal—IPN, created in 1991 by the University of Coimbra—to provide insight on how the incubator's direction/management board and a group of incubatees perceive incubation and its impact. Primary data was collected via participant observation/focus group involving the incubators' CEO and six team members. Semi-structured interviews were carried out among the CEOs and top managers from 11 companies supported by IPN whether as (1) incubates, (2) under acceleration, and (3) graduates. Results show a positive impact of incubation on internationalization and growth for incubatees and companies under acceleration. However, there is a need for new post-incubation follow-up mechanisms and a normative context promoting richer interactions with graduates.

scholarly journals Community Participation for the Use of Renewable Energies in Ciudad Ixtepec, Oaxaca (2008–2015)

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 167
Author(s):  
Wendy Sánchez-Casanova ◽  
Bendreff Desilus
Keyword(s):  
Wind Farm ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Energy Requirements ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Private Companies ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Study Methodology ◽  
Isthmus Of Tehuantepec

This paper aims to examine the redefinition of rural actors and practices in the context of the Wind Farm Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. That redefinition addresses issues such as the benefits of wind farms, the role of the land in the use of wind energy, requirements for the use of wind, arguments of disagreement with wind farms, manifestations of that disagreement, and the feasibility of community wind farms. Adopting a case study methodology from a qualitative perspective, and “worded” data collected through semi-structured interviews, it was detected that, despite the disapproval of residents of the Oaxacan Isthmus due to a dispossession claimed to the Federal Electricity Commission (Comisión Federal de Electricidad, CFE) and private companies, many of the landowners in Ciudad Ixtepec have decided to become wind entrepreneurs by a community wind farm, facing opposition and mistrust regarding their capacities.

scholarly journals Beyond the Rhetoric of Participation: A Case Study of Participatory Practices and Power in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Cynthia Ecclestone
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Filial Piety ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
Participatory Development ◽  
Power Dynamics ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Local Ngo

<p>This study looks critically at the practices of participatory development by a local NGO in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. In doing so, the Life Skills Training programme is chosen as a case study of potentially participatory development. By exploring people’s experiences, perceptions, and feelings about their participation, the study examines the power dynamics in the programme. To gather data, the study used semi-structured interviews and observations. Interviews were conducted with 14 research participants, who were purposively selected from different backgrounds.   The study finds that the approaches of the programme point to lower-level forms of participation, with local people having both minimal involvement and little role in decision-making. Despite the use of the rhetoric of participation, doubts about the quality of participation are raised particularly in relation to gender, age, and religious differences. By scrutinising the ways in which issues of power manifest in the programme, the study demonstrates that issues of power and power relations in participatory development are quite complex. Using the frameworks of power analysis, I argue that issues related to inequalities of power are manifested in the NGO’s domination of decision-making processes, and that these issues were also contributed to by a patriarchal culture and filial piety. More importantly, I argue that people’s participation in the programme is less likely lead to meaningful outcomes if the issues of power imbalances are not addressed.  The study provides useful insights into ways to improve the practices of participatory development. An increased understanding of various forms of power and their implications will be useful for development practitioners to exercise their power to make a difference. Moreover, efforts to reduce power imbalances in participatory development will be inadequate without critically examining and attending to power and its dynamics. Without a deeper understanding of power, development programmes that make claims about participation may be less effective in achieving transformative goals for the intended beneficiaries.</p>

scholarly journals Path dependency when prioritising disaster and humanitarian response under high levels of conflict: a qualitative case study in South Sudan

2022 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Mena ◽  
Dorothea Hilhorst
Keyword(s):  
Political Process ◽  
South Sudan ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Humanitarian Action ◽  
Humanitarian Response ◽  
Security Challenges ◽  
Local Actors ◽  
Path Dependent ◽  
Priority Needs

AbstractIn high-conflict scenarios, humanitarian needs often surpass resources, and humanitarians are faced with ongoing challenges of whom to prioritise and where to work. This process is often referred to as ‘targeting’, but this article uses the concept of ‘triage’ to emphasise how prioritisation is a continuous and political process, rather than a one-off exercise to find the best match between needs and programme objectives. This study focused on South Sudan, exploring the formal and informal dynamics at the national, regional and local levels of humanitarian decisions. The article is based on semi-structured interviews and multiple meetings and observations of programmes over four months of fieldwork in 2017. This fieldwork was beset by many of the problems that humanitarians also encounter in their work, including complicated access, logistics difficulties and security challenges. Humanitarian action is meant to be flexibly deployed to respond to priority needs resulting from conflict or disasters, and agencies have multiple tools and policies to facilitate this. However, in reality, we find humanitarian action largely locked into path-dependent areas of intervention because agencies must rely on logistics, trust and local partners, all of which take years to develop, and because local actors’ commitment to see programmes continued.

scholarly journals Exploring the development of the accounting profession in Kuwait: an institutional work analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-301
Author(s):  
Awwad Alnesafi ◽  
Ahmad Al-Omari
Keyword(s):  
The State ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Institutional Work ◽  
Accounting Profession ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Local Actors ◽  
The Creation ◽  
The State Of Kuwait

Purpose – this paper investigated the development of accounting profession in Kuwait by examining the processes involved in creating, maintaining and disrupting the development of accounting profession in Kuwait.Design/methodology/approach – this paper adopted a qualitative case study to examine the institutional work associated with the development of accounting profession in the State of Kuwait. The study employed semi-structured interviews and analysis of documents to generate insights into the institutional work involved in the development of accounting profession in Kuwait.Findings – the studies revealed political, technical and cultural institutional work engaged by various actors, individually and collectively in the creation, maintenance, and disruption of the development of accounting profession in Kuwait. The British imperialists, the Asians, Egyptians, other Arabs, the state actors, professional accountants in foreign accounting firms, and local actors in the Kuwait Accounting and Auditing Association, all engaged in various institutional work in the creation and transformation of the accounting profession in Kuwait.Practical implications – this paper demonstrates how different types of institutional work influence the development of institutions. Also, it brings to the table how some forms of institutional work could be deployed to counteract others in “creating”, “maintaining”, and “disrupting” the institutions.Originality/value – the paper adds to extant literature on institutional work, in which it has been realized that “denial” of training could be construed as an institutional work, in which theorization and rhetorical appeals are used to privilege one group of actors over others; and how “political” institutional work seemed to dominate the creation, maintenance and disruption of institutions within a wider social setting in Kuwait.

scholarly journals Zoom Sessions in Distant Learning: Algerian EFL Students’ Perceptions and Attitudes

2021 ◽  
pp. 264-280
Author(s):  
Benmansour Souheyla
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Asynchronous Learning ◽  
Learning Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Web Conferencing ◽  
Distant Learning ◽  
Perceptions And Attitudes ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Efl Students

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when classroom instructions are interrupted, teachers and students approach digitalization and become familiar with web conferencing. The present research aims to examine Algerian EFL students’ motivation about the use of Zoom, as an asynchronous learning approach, to help ‘bridge the gaps’, and cope with the changes they encounter while exploring online learning. As such, the main questions that set the study are: How academically appropriate is the Zoom’s integration for enhancing EFL students’ motivation? How can the perceived obstacles be challenged for the proper integration of Zoom? To answer these problematic questions, the researcher conducted a case study with twenty EFL students at Oran university of Algeria. Informal, structured interviews and semi-structured questionnaires were employed. This study concluded that participant students have overall positive perspectives about using Zoom sessions with some limitations. Training students to use ICTs and developing positive perceptions about using online educational platforms and applications were the main recommendations for using zoom classes.

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