Emergent Adaptive Systems

2019 ◽  
pp. 134-175
Author(s):  
Louise K. Comfort
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Seismic Risk ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Organizational Capacity ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Earthquake Response ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Response Systems ◽  
China Earthquake ◽  
Taiwan Earthquake

This chapter reveals the findings and analysis that characterize emergent adaptive systems. Four earthquake response systems are characterized as emergent adaptive systems: the 1999 Marmara, Turkey, earthquake; the 1999 Chi Chi, Taiwan, earthquake; the 2005 Pakistan earthquake; and the 2008 Wenchuan, China, earthquake. Regarding awareness of seismic risk, scientists and researchers had studied and mapped seismic risk in each case, but this knowledge was not widely transmitted to the local communities in which the earthquakes occurred, nor was it integrated into public policy and practice. Regarding technical infrastructure for communication, each of the four earthquake-affected communities had modest technical infrastructures for communication, but they were not yet widely distributed through the communities. Similarly, in each of the four earthquake response systems, some organizational capacity existed in the communities prior to the events. This capacity allowed responsible actors to mobilize resources to meet immediate needs generated by the earthquakes, but in all four cases, the local capacity was easily overwhelmed by the size, scope, and severity of the events experienced and could not be sustained by the operational system that was generated.

Risk in Practice

2019 ◽  
pp. 59-75
Author(s):  
Louise K. Comfort
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Risk ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Path Dependence ◽  
Extreme Event ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Cultural Dimension ◽  
Moderate Degree ◽  
Different Types ◽  
New Ideas ◽  
Response Systems

This chapter examines the four different types of response systems that were identified by degree of adaptation to the problem of seismic risk. Auto-adaptive systems are those that are high on technical infrastructure, high on organizational flexibility, and high on cultural openness to new ideas and strategies of action. Operative adaptive systems are those systems that demonstrate awareness of seismic risk and a moderate degree of professional planning and preparedness to reduce risk of losses. Emergent adaptive systems are those systems that are low on technical structure but show some degree of flexibility in organizational processes and beginning openness to new information and new strategies of action in the cultural dimension. Meanwhile, nonadaptive systems are those systems unable to mobilize effective response operations independently after an extreme event, and virtually all assistance comes from external sources. In practice, initial conditions influenced the formation of response systems following earthquakes in all 12 cases, leading to different types of adaptation. The path dependence that follows from each distinctive set of initial conditions illustrates both the promise and the challenge of shaping communities that are resilient to seismic risk.

Operative Adaptive Systems

2019 ◽  
pp. 92-133
Author(s):  
Louise K. Comfort
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Earthquake Response ◽  
Major Earthquake ◽  
Local Functions ◽  
Recovery System ◽  
Response And Recovery ◽  
Response Systems ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Initial Category

This chapter details the findings and analysis for operative adaptive systems. Four earthquake response and recovery systems included in this study fall in this initial category of operative adaptive systems: the 1999 Duzce, Turkey, earthquake; the 2009 Padang, Indonesia, earthquake; the 2011 Tohoku, Japan, earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear breach; and the 2015 Nepal earthquakes. All four response systems share the characteristic of seeking to adapt rapidly to an environment suddenly altered by a major earthquake. Yet, the capacity of each governmental system to extend the process of adaptation beyond the immediate response into a newly re-stabilized recovery system varied markedly, depending on the scale of the destruction incurred, the scope of reconstruction required, and the rate of change over time needed for recovery. Moreover, while each of these four cases exhibited some capacity in technical and social areas, none had strong midlevel networks that could bridge national and local functions easily.

Moving the National Institute of Justice Forward: July 2010 through December 2012

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-174
Author(s):  
John H. Laub
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Research Evidence ◽  
Evaluation Agency ◽  
Department Of Justice ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Policy Initiatives ◽  
National Institute Of Justice ◽  
Rigorous Research ◽  
Criminology And Criminal Justice ◽  
New Strategies

Criminologists are often frustrated by the disconnect between sound empirical research and public policy initiatives. Recently, there have been several attempts to better connect research evidence and public policy. While these new strategies may well bear fruit, I believe the challenge is largely an intellectual one. Ideas and research evidence must guide public policy and practice. In this article, I present highlights from my tenure as the Director of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the research, development, and evaluation agency in the Department of Justice. One of the ideas that I emphasized at NIJ was “Translational Criminology.” I believe translational criminology acknowledges NIJ’s unique mission to facilitate rigorous research that is relevant to the practice and policy. I also discuss the challenges I faced in bringing research to bear on public policy and practice. I end with a call for my colleagues in criminology and criminal justice to become more involved in government.

scholarly journals A Transdisciplinary Complex Adaptive Systems (T-CAS) Approach to Developing a National School-Based Culture of Prevention for Health Improvement: the School Health Research Network (SHRN) in Wales

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Murphy ◽  
Hannah Littlecott ◽  
Gillian Hewitt ◽  
Sarah MacDonald ◽  
Joan Roberts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
School Health ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Health Improvement ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Complex Adaptive ◽  
Culture Of Prevention

AbstractThe paper reflects on a transdisciplinary complex adaptive systems (T-CAS) approach to the development of a school health research network (SHRN) in Wales for a national culture of prevention for health improvement in schools. A T-CAS approach focuses on key stages and activities within a continuous network cycle to facilitate systems level change. The theory highlights the importance of establishing transdisciplinary strategic partnerships to identify and develop opportunities for system reorientation. Investment in and the linking of resources develops the capacity for key social agents to take advantage of disruption points in the re-orientated system, and engagement activities develop the network to facilitate new social interactions and opportunities for transdisciplinary activities. A focus on transdisciplinary action research to co-produce interventions, generate research evidence and inform policy and practice is shown to play an important part in developing new normative processes that act to self-regulate the emerging system. Finally, the provision of reciprocal network benefits provides critical feedback loops that stabilise the emerging adaptive system and promote the network cycle. SHRN is shown to have embedded itself in the system by securing sustainability funding from health and education, a key role in national and regional planning and recruiting every eligible school to the network. It has begun to reorient the system to one of evidence generation (56 research studies co-produced) and opportunities for data-led practice at multiple levels. Further capacity development will be required to capitalise on these. The advantages of a complex systems approach to address barriers to change and the transferability of a T-CAS network approach across settings and cultures are highlighted.

scholarly journals Bridging the policy-implementation gap in federal health systems: lessons from the Nigerian experience

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Mckenzie ◽  
Emmanuel Sokpo ◽  
Alastair Ager
Keyword(s):  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Global Alliance ◽  
Programme Design ◽  
Complex Adaptive ◽  
State And Local ◽  
The Government

The Partnership for Reviving Routine Immunization in Northern Nigeria - Maternal, Newborn and Child Health initiative supports efforts by the government of Nigeria to bridge primary health care (PHC) policies and services at three levels of government: federal, state and local. The paper suggests that understandings informed by complexity theory and complex adaptive systems have been helpful in shaping policy and programme design across these levels. To illustrate this, three initiatives are explored: <em>Bringing PHC under one roof</em>, enhancing access to funding provided by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, and strengthening the midwives service scheme. These initiatives have demonstrated how concepts and experience developed at subnational level can influence national policy and practice, and how work at subnational levels can add value to nationally conceived and nationally driven plans for PHC.

scholarly journals 160 DILEMA KEBIJAKAN YANG PRO RAKYAT (Peraturan Gubernur Kalimantan Tengah No 15 Tahun 2010 tentang Pembukaan Lahan dan Pekarangan Bagi Masyarakat)

KRITIS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-176
Author(s):  
Brian L Djumaty ◽  
Nina Putri Hayam Dey
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Provincial Government ◽  
Central Kalimantan ◽  
Policy Relevance ◽  
The People ◽  
The Government ◽  
Food Needs

Since the enactment of decentralization local government have been granted the authority to organize, protect society etc. Given the authority that Central Kalimantan provincial government issued a policy (Pergub No. 15 tahun 2010 on guidelines for land clearing and yard for the people) to protect the local community in the tradition / habit of farming by burning forests to customary provisions. The aim of this study is to describe and analyze the extent to which public policy relevance since the issuance of the policy in 2010-2015 and to what extent these policies protect the local wisdom. the method used is descriptive qualitative study, using the study of literature in the process of data collection. Results and discussion of these studies show that 1) in 2015 created a policy that is no longer relevant because the whole area of Central Kalimantan is 15.3 million hectares, 12.7 hectares (78%) is controlled by plantation companies. 2) goodwill by the Government of Central Kalimantan to protect local communities need to be given appreciation. But this policy could apply / relevant if it is done before the 90s because many forests and local people still farming to meet food needs.

The Politics of Paternalism: Adult and Youth Perspectives on Youth Voice in Public Policy

2016 ◽  
Vol 118 (8) ◽  
pp. 1-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerusha O. Conner ◽  
C. Nathan Ober ◽  
Amanda S. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
New Media ◽  
Youth Voice ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Community Forum ◽  
Field Notes ◽  
Axial Coding ◽  
The Impact

Background/Context Over the last two decades, youth involvement in policy advocacy has increased sharply, through youth councils, organizing coalitions, and new media forums. Currently 12 states and 140 American cities have youth councils or commissions established to advise policymakers on the impact of their legislation on youth. Despite their growing presence, we know little about what these councils do, how they are viewed, or how, if at all, they influence policy-making processes. Purpose This study explores manifestations of adultism during the first 4 years of the Ballou City Youth Commission (BCYC) from the perspectives of 22 youth members and adult allies. Research Design Though primarily interview-based, this study also draws on field notes collected during a BCYC meeting and a BCYC community forum and organizational artifacts to explore the nature and dynamics of adultism as they played out in BCYC. Data Collection and Analysis In-depth, individual interviews were conducted with 11 current and former youth commissioners and 11 adults who represented the target audience for BCYC's work or who partnered with the commission on various initiatives. The theoretical framework of adultism guided the analysis, which included open and axial coding, memo writing, and the construction of matrices and charts to track emergent patterns. Findings/Results Using a critical theory lens, we find that adultism has played a prominent role in limiting BCYC from achieving the goals laid out in its charter. We identify a “roller coaster of adultism” that illustrates how weak initial structures coupled with deeply entrenched views of youths’ limited capacity adversely impacted the functioning of BCYC and propelled a cycle of externalized and internalized adultism. Conclusions The study adds to the scant literature on youth voice in public policy, raises six clear implications for policy and practice, and extends theory by illustrating the complex ways in which external and internalized forms of adultism interact with and reinforce each other.

Reassessing the Effect of Public Policy on Family Functioning

1978 ◽  
Vol 59 (8) ◽  
pp. 451-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shirley L. Zimmerman
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Family Functioning ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
The Family

The primacy of the family must be reflected in both policy and practice if families with socially dependent members are to be served effectively

Contested Country

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cathy Robinson ◽  
Bruce Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Public Policy ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Natural Resources Management ◽  
Critical Examination ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
The Past

In Contested Country, leading researchers in planning, geography, environmental studies and public policy critically review Australia's environmental management under the auspices of the Natural Heritage Trust over the past decade, and identify the challenges that must be met in the national quest for sustainability. It is the first comprehensive, critical examination of the local and regional natural resources management undertaken in Australia, using research sourced from all states as well as the Northern Territory. It addresses questions such as: How is accountability to be maintained? Who is included and who is excluded in decentralised environmental governance? Does the scale of bottom-up management efforts match the scale of environmental problems? How is scientific and technical fidelity in environmental management to be maintained when significant activities are devolved to and controlled by local communities? The book challenges some of the accepted benefits, assumptions and ideologies underpinning regional scaled environmental management, and is a must-read for anyone interested in this field.

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