Transcript AN APPRECIATIVE STUDY OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENT …

IMPROVING LOCAL DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS THROUGH THE SYSTEMS OF
INNOVATION APPROACH: A Case Of Townships in South Africa
Geci Karuri-Sebina, PhD Candidate, [email protected]
SARCHi Research Seminar
12 November 2011, SARChI – IERI – TUT - IDRC, Pretoria
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Acknowledgement:
Prof Muchie, for his continued support and encouragement to me,
even to participate in this seminar in absentia.
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Research Objectives
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
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To
explore
theelements
developmental
and be
elements
that are
What
main
and dimensions
patterns can
observed
and
considered
key to understanding
contexts and realities
describedtoasbedefining
a township the
socio-economy
in
of
township
socio-economies;
South
Africa?
To determine and describe the conceptual framework(s) and
How has planning
conventional
approached
and LDA
defined
underlying
theoriesLDA
informing
conventional
of
these township
socio-economies?
township
socio-economies
for purposes of township
transformation;
What differences or gaps exist between the township
By
comparing these,observations
to determine whether
socio-economy
and thethere
LDAare any
differences
or gaps in how the conventional LDA reflects and
representations?
analyses township socio-economies for purposes of informing
How cantransformation
the systemsprogrammes;
of innovation
township
and approach contribute
to model
(supplement,
complement,
or combine
To
how the systems
of innovation
approachwith)
can beplanning
applied
LDA
to give
enhanced
explanatory
/ analytical
to
address
theseangaps
and/or offer
value-adding
conceptual frames
for
improving for
LDAtownship
in planning,socio-economies?
and the prospects for township
framework
transformation.
3. Research Design: Appreciative Theorisation
Qualitative study using the case study method with an application to South
African townships.
Figure: An approach to appreciative study (adapted from Nelson & Winter, 1982; Nelson, 1997; Patrucco, 2005)
Figure: Adaptation of the appreciative study framework (by Author)
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3. Research Design: Conceptual framework
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3. Research Design: Methods
(cont.)
Description
Data Processing
Research Methods
Question
1) What main elements and patterns can be observed and described as defining a township socio-economy in South
Africa?
Appreciative
1.1) The study would begin by essentially “walking the Field diary and photographs
observations
area” to observe and take note of socioeconomic: organized into an “area file” to be
activities, roleplayers, context, etc. Minimum 2 x 7- systematically analysed to determine
day weeks per area (14 days)
key and interesting features of the
local area context
Storytelling
1.2) Collect local stories and narratives through inNarrative inquiry using narrative
depth, unstructured interviews with various
categories to understand the local
community roleplayers. These will be identified
issues and values (Riley and Hawe,
through snowballing around a set of appreciative 2005 adapted from K.G. Young 1984).
questions intended to establish and speak with the
key persons / institutions who can help us
understand the area’s development past, present,
and future. ~3 interviews per area
Interviews, Surveys, 1.3) Leads generated from the general observations
Addition of qualitative and quantitative
Documentary
and narratives will be followed up with more
data to “area file”, analysed to
analysis
detailed investigations to collect specific data.
elucidate key findings about what
These may include follow-up interviews, tallies (to emerges as being important about the
quantify particular phenomena), short surveys,
local socio-economic development
acquisition and review of specific documents,
context: E.g. actors, elements,
review of local media articles, etc. TBD
structures, institutions, discourses,
dynamics, visions, agency, etc.
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3. Research Design: Methods
(cont.)
Description
Data Processing
Research Methods
Question
2) How has conventional LDA approached and defined these township socio-economies?
Content analysis
2.1) Interrogate, as “LDA” proxies, the Status Quo
Thematic content analysis (manual or
analyses and resultant Business Plans submitted to using Atlas.ti software)
NDPG for the 2 areas to identify: aims, process,
results (analysis : response), [theoretical
foundations ] 2 sets of programme documentation
Key informant
interviews
Thematic content analysis
2.2) Semi-structured interviews with the planning
professionals involved in the 2 LDAs to further
establish their LDA: aims, process, results (analysis
: response), [theoretical foundations ]. 2 interviews
2.3) Supplementary interviews with the ostensible
“clients” of the LDA will be conducted, if necessary,
to clarify any influences or specifications affecting
the LDA methods employed or outputs. 2 interviews
Thematic content analysis
2.4) Managers of 2 other long-ranging area-based
initiatives will also be interviewed to establish their
LDA approach in order to determine any significant
differences with the LDA of the 2 cases chosen. .. 2
interviews
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Review of secondary 2.5) Other related documentation will be reviewed to
data / documents
further clarify the conventional LDA approach(es).
This is envisaged to include: NDPG planning
guidelines, programme evaluations, related
academic works.
Thematic content analysis
3. Research Design: Methods
Research Methods
Question
(cont.)
Description
Data Processing
3)
What differences or gaps exist between the township socio-economy observations and the LDA representations?
Comparative concept 3.1) The products of the thematic analyses from
Manual / Atlas.ti / other mindmapping
software
mapping and
Questions 1 & 2 above will be examined and
analysis
compared
4)
Can the systems of innovation approach contribute to planning LDA to give an enhanced explanatory framework for
township socio-economies?
Document review
4.1) Derive key conceptual and analytical constructs
Manual / Atlas.ti / other mind-mapping
software
from innovation systems literature, and compare
with the findings of Question 3
4.2) Theoretical exposition of the potential contribution
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Narrative and modelling
Preliminary Findings
Little innovative activity
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Tendency to fad-driven businesses (internet cafés, Cell C containers,
public payphones, recycling) ; markets get saturated and negatively
competitive
Market is only local, but supply chains mainly external (little local
procurement or value add); a reproductive economy
Unique activities are mainly cultural and social (but are thereby
discretionary and occasional rather than essential services, and have
a culturally specific market)
Not much evidence of expansion / scaling / adaptation innovation
Weak human capital formation
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Little reference to education and training (only 1 FET college in area)
Most skills-based enterprises are run by immigrants
Entrepreneurial activity mainly informal and micro-scale
Preliminary Findings
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A challenge with informality
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Co-exist, but the formal draws higher value / profitability. Many
informal have very small margins and view growth as formalizing (at
least in terms of ownership of facilities)
High cost of formality. Traders say they’re willing to pay, but there are
issues of clarification of / satisfaction with what exactly is being paid
for, and also of affordability. CoT says they refuse to pay because “it’s
our government, why should we?”
Most formal businesses surveyed have been running for 10-30 years;
Informal ones have been 6-24 months; higher turnover?
CoT claims to view informal trade positively, however has
consistently clashed with the sector & accused of displacing it.
High level of conflict between City and communities around
housing allocations, handling of traders, land issues.
Informal trade association in Sauslville disbanding is interesting
– no organized structure for engagement now, and some sense
of intimidation by officials.
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Preliminary Findings -3
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Land [control] issues are a major factor in townships
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Methods of LDA employed seem to be technocratic, silodriven, and focused on physical developments.
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Politics (councilors, party politics, organizational politics in
municipality) seem to be affecting effectiveness
Economic and socail development are handled separately. What
is the role of planning?
Little focus on the role of LDA as playing a role
communicatively – using planning to engage with negotiating
plans and futures.
No engagement with structural and institutional issues. Even
where identified, not identified / prioritised for action.
Even re: economic dev - No reference to role of SET,
training, or research; focus more on entrepreneurship,
employment, or public service delivery
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