scholarly journals Explore, Design and Act for Sustainability: A Participatory Planning Approach for Local Energy Sustainability

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Fouché ◽  
Alan Brent
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Participatory Planning ◽  
Problem Structuring Methods ◽  
Local Energy ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Energy Sustainability ◽  
Problem Structuring ◽  
Planning Approach ◽  
Starting Point

This paper focuses on the development of a participatory planning approach for local energy sustainability. The characteristics of a complex problem were reviewed to establish that the problem of sustainable energy at a local government level is complex. In order to better manage complex problems, the literature shows that soft operational research or problem-structuring methods need to be applied, and hence these methods were used as a starting point for developing a participatory planning approach. The requirements for a planning approach were elicited, namely that the approach must be participative and inclusive, holistic, simple and transparent. In addition, the approach must include the identification and assessment of risks as part of the deliberation process, the development of a realistic action plan must be attainable at the end of the stakeholder engagement, the approach must be dynamic, and should be formalised with clear institutional arrangements. A novel participatory approach, namely EDAS—to Explore, Design and Act for Sustainability—was then developed, applied, and evaluated as part of a case study with a local municipality in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The insights are relevant not only for local governments, but for any institution on a journey towards sustainability.

Entrepreneurship Management at the Local Government Level: The Experience of the Cities for Entrepreneurs Program

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 388-407
Author(s):  
Patricio Gigli ◽  
◽  
Donatela Orsi ◽  
Marisel Martín Aramburú ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
National Level ◽  
Development Issue ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Local Government Level ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
Government Level

This paper aims at describing the experience of the Cities for Entrepreneurs Program (Ciudades para Emprender or CPE) of the National Directorate of Community and Human Capital (which belongs to the SEPYME), National Ministry of Production. This paper starts from the premise that entrepreneurship takes place at the most micro level of the offer and, therefore, is a concept associated with the characteristics of the environment closest to that offer: the local territory. However, there is little history in the country of public policies relating the issue of entrepreneurship with the local management. That is why we take as a starting point the conceptualization of the chosen framework: local governments and the development issue, seen from the perspective of entrepreneurships. Moreover, an overview is given on the structural characteristics of municipalities in Argentina. In addition, some international experiences and attempts to promote entrepreneurship at a national level are analyzed. Finally, the Cities for Entrepreneurs Program (CPE) is outlined, based on a summary of the diagnoses of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystems of the selected cities and the tools used and their execution status at the time of publication of this paper.

Measuring the perception of Malaysian SME towards e-commerce as an innovation

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 83
Author(s):  
Juliana Hamka Kamaroddin ◽  
Dianne Lee Mei Cheong ◽  
Azlin Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Relative Advantage ◽  
Demographic Information ◽  
Related Services ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Strongly Agree ◽  
Self Administered Questionnaire

This paper presents a quantitative study in measuring the perception of Malaysian SME towards ecommerce as an innovation and factors affecting the adoption of it. It is concerned with initiatives that are intended to help SME in Malaysia to adopt E-commerce as an innovation. The research has two main emphases: First, it presents some preliminary findings on the perception of Malaysian SME towards E-commerce as an innovation; and the level of confidence towards E-commerce as an innovation. Second, it streamlines various initiatives by Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Small and Medium Industries Development Corporation (SMIDEC), BankNegara Malaysia and local governments in accelerating the acceptance of E-commerce by Malaysian SME. The study engaged 38 SME participants through a survey using a self-administered questionnaire. 32% of the surveyed SME are from the Type 1 Industry; comprising manufacturing, manufacturing related services, and agro-based services and about 68% are from Type 2 Industry comprising services, primary agriculture, and ICT. The self administered questionnaire consists of two sections. Section I contains demographic information and SME specification while Section II contains 37 items: 31 items utilised Likert Scales items ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5(strongly agree), and six items utilised defined interval scales. Rogers' attributes of innovations (2003): relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trial ability and observability were used in the construct of the research instrument. This research emphasizes on Rogers'framework, as it was found useful where the study sought to understand the diffusion and use of Ecommerce by Malaysian SME in the investigation. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse and present empirical data of the 38 SME. The results from the quantitative data provided information on addressing barriers to SME, and confirmed the characteristics of Rogers' adoption categories. The study shows that the instrument which was designed with seven constructs lacked internal consistency in two determinants: relative advantage and observability. Findings interpreted through Rogers' theory suggest that an action plan should include initiatives to help SME towards E-commerce as an innovation.

scholarly journals Sustainable Spatial Energy Planning of Large-Scale Wind and PV Farms in Israel: A Collaborative and Participatory Planning Approach

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 551
Author(s):  
Sofia Spyridonidou ◽  
Georgia Sismani ◽  
Eva Loukogeorgaki ◽  
Dimitra G. Vagiona ◽  
Hagit Ulanovsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Field Investigation ◽  
Participatory Planning ◽  
Energy Planning ◽  
Environmentally Sustainable ◽  
Selection Processes ◽  
Planning Framework ◽  
Planning Approach ◽  
Near Future

In this work, an innovative sustainable spatial energy planning framework is developed on national scale for identifying and prioritizing appropriate, technically and economically feasible, environmentally sustainable as well as socially acceptable sites for the siting of large-scale onshore Wind Farms (WFs) and Photovoltaic Farms (PVFs) in Israel. The proposed holistic framework consists of distinctive steps allocated in two successive modules (the Planning and the Field Investigation module), and it covers all relevant dimensions of a sustainable siting analysis (economic, social, and environmental). It advances a collaborative and participatory planning approach by combining spatial planning tools (Geographic Information Systems (GIS)) and multi-criteria decision-making methods (e.g., Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)) with versatile participatory planning techniques in order to consider the opinion of three different participatory groups (public, experts, and renewable energy planners) within the site-selection processes. Moreover, it facilitates verification of GIS results by conducting appropriate field observations. Sites of high suitability, accepted by all participatory groups and field verified, form the final outcome of the proposed framework. The results illustrate the existence of high suitable sites for large-scale WFs’ and PVFs’ siting and, thus, the potential deployment of such projects towards the fulfillment of the Israeli energy targets in the near future.

scholarly journals Towards a new framework for evaluating systemic problem structuring methods

2013 ◽  
Vol 229 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald Midgley ◽  
Robert Y. Cavana ◽  
John Brocklesby ◽  
Jeff L. Foote ◽  
David R.R. Wood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Problem Structuring Methods ◽  
Problem Structuring ◽  
New Framework

Structuring the water quality policy problem: Applying Q-methodology to explore perspectives in hydrology, government, and community

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Schuyler Houser ◽  
Reza Pramana ◽  
Maurits Ertsen
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Q Methodology ◽  
Knowledge Integration ◽  
Water Quality Management ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Problem Structuring ◽  
Policy Problem ◽  
Resource Governance ◽  
Starting Point

<p>Recognizing the interrelatedness of water management and conceptual value of IWRM, many water resource governance systems are shifting from hierarchical arrangements towards more collaborative and participative networks. Increasing calls for participation recognize the value of drawing on social, political-administrative, and other kinds of knowledge in addition to technical water expertise. Participatory mandates, coordination bodies, and science-policy networks have emerged to facilitate knowledge integration, promote adaptive capacity, and align organizations in poly-centric systems.</p><p>Since the maintenance and effectiveness of such arrangements are contingent on trust and alignment rather than command and control, and since diverse stakeholders are engaged to co-produce knowledge, collaborators must grapple with identifying shared goals, developing knowledge management strategies to organize inputs, and attaining early progress to promote ongoing cooperation. But guidance is limited with respect to how such integrative aims are to be accomplished.</p><p>This research explores how systematic (but not necessarily convergent) problem structuring can support the forming, reordering, and cohering of water resource networks, especially when a complex issue – in this case, water quality management – rises to prominence on the policy agenda. In the early stages of a water quality project in the Brantas River Basin, Indonesia, stakeholder discussions suggested divergent conceptualizations of water quality and ideas about what conditions ‘matter’. Thus, instead of taking hydrological data as the starting point, this research first asks: What Brantas River(s) are we talking about, and why? Q-methodology is used to identify alternative perspectives on water quality held by a diverse set of stakeholders, including hydrologists. The analysis explores which aspects of the policy problem are consistent, which are contested, and whether problems indicated by hydrological science overlap, conflict, or cohere with those perceived by other stakeholders.</p><p>The research posits that, if scientists, engineers, decision-makers, community leaders, and other participants can appreciate areas of convergence and divergence regarding the water quality problem itself, they can lay groundwork for knowledge co-production; recognize opportunities for cooperation; better locate science in the problem space; and identify potential early wins to secure commitment. The research also asks to what extent consensus in problem structuring is necessary, or whether it is sufficient to identify strategies that are acceptable to different ontological viewpoints.</p>

Community-Centred Infrastructure Design Process for Resilience Building in South African Informal Settlements: The “Genius of Space” Solid Waste and Greywater Infrastructure Project

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Lauren Hermanus ◽  
Sean Andrew
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Wastewater Management ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Water And Sanitation ◽  
Public And Private Sector

Due to a lack of adequate water and sanitation infrastructure, growing, unplanned urban settlements in South Africa and elsewhere have been linked to pollution of critical river systems. The same dynamics undermine local resilience, understood as the capacity to adapt and develop in response to changes, persistent social and ecological risks, and disasters. Water and sanitation challenges undermine resilience by causing and compounding risks to individuals, and to household and community health and livelihoods, in a complex context in which communities and local governments have limited capacity and resources to respond appropriately. Household and community resilience in informal settlements is drawing increasing policy focus, given the persistence of these kinds of neighbourhoods in cities and towns in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa, in particular. This case considers whether bottom-up responses that combine public and private sector resources, including community participation, and use an interdisciplinary approach can support the production of novel resilience-fostering solutions. This article presents an analysis of the case of Genius of Space waste and wastewater management infrastructure in the Western Cape, South Africa. While the process has been imperfect and slow to show results, this analysis reflects on the gains, lessons and potential for replication that this work has produced. The Genius of Space approach adds to a growing area of practice-based experimentation focussed on incrementalism and adaptive development practices in urban environments, particularly in developing countries.

scholarly journals Future vision

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 346-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Rogerson
Keyword(s):  
Action Plan ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Funded Research ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Global Action ◽  
History Of ◽  
Ict Ethics ◽  
Future Vision

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the world of information and communications technology (ICT) from its early days to the near future. The aim is to consider how successfully academia, industry and government have worked together in delivering ethically acceptable ICT which is accessible to those who might benefit from such advances. The paper concludes with suggestions of a fresh approach for the future. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws upon evidence from the history of computers, funded research projects, professional bodies in the field, the ETHICOMP conference series and reported ICT disasters. The author uses his experience as both an ICT practitioner and an academic in the ICT ethics field to synthesise the evidence so providing a foundation on which to build an outline global action plan. Findings – The paper lays out the findings that there has been much detailed observation and analysis of the ethical challenges surrounding ICT but the transformation of this into widespread practical positive action remains elusive. It explores why progress has been difficult. Originality/value – This review of the interconnecting landscapes of practical ICT, funded research and the ICT ethics community is new. The attempt to demonstrate what progress has been made and to identify the underlying factors which influence progress are valuable to future generations working in this area. The concluding suggestions for action offer a starting point for entering the next phase of ICT ethics.

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