Sustainable Development Indicator Frameworks and Initiatives

Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Production Economics,

A conceptual model for the development of indicators for informal markets

Informal markets are recognised as presenting lucrative business opportunities for the private sector. However, informal markets function by a different set of rules when compared to the formal sector, and so require a different paradigm altogether. The approach proposed in this report sees the convergence of conventional micro economics with development economics and the theories of sustainable development.A community is used as the unit of analysis for the informal market. A model is proposed that uses the sustainable livelihoods framework to describe the various elements of the community as a system, and how these interact to produce desired outcomes. This study was designed from the perspective of measuring the informal market. Measurement allows quantification and qualification of the phenomenon of the informal market and allows for more effective decision making. The conceptual model was therefore developed to gain a theoretical understanding of the phenomenon to be measured. A systems perspective is taken to develop a high-level framework for indicator selection. This is considered to be the first, in a series of steps, towards developing indicators for the informal market, and even a single composite indicator for the informal market.A small sample of experts was interviewed to explore the informal economy from their own observation and experience. The insights shared in the interviews pointed to the applicability of the proposed model to informal markets, and demonstrated the complexity of these markets. A number of further research opportunities can be explored to further develop this concept.Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010.Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)unrestricte

How will the sustainability aspiration of the 2007 constitution of Montenegro be realised in the developing architectural and urban form of the Boka Kotorska region?

This thesis examines the potential to establish a resilient model of urban development in the Boka Kotorska region of Montenegro (Figure. 1) against a backdrop of dynamic adjustment to economic models, urban form and the cultural identity of local communities. As such, it examines the role of vernacular architecture, ecologies and philosophies as a stimulus for a more indicative model of facilitating healthier ecosystems within a region that proclaims its ecological ambitions in its post independence constitution of 2007. Developers in the study appear to be quick to market the vernacular as a marker of sustainability based on tradition and supposed innate relationships with cultural heritage. However, the concept of vernacular is founded on its etymological origins, therefore open to interpretation, which can result in ambiguous depictions of vernacular architecture and landscapes within urban developments. The traditions and cultural heritage of Montenegro and by extension the Boka Kotorska is complex. Montenegro is geopolitically wavering between closer relationships with the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and historic connections with Serbia, Russia and the Eastern Orthodox religion. Additionally, Montenegro is a selfdeclared eco state, on the face of it committed to ecological values, but the objective of creating this will be compromised if the population is not empathetic to environmental objectives. Examining areas in transformation within the Boka region this thesis considers the reshaping of urban form and the consequential effect on cultural identity. Accordingly, the primary objective of this thesis is to examine the suitability of existing sustainable and resilience models to the long-term ecological health of the region. Additionally, a pragmatic and accessible sustainable development tool is initiated as a more culturally sensitive marker of ecosystem health. The Vernacular Ecology Index (VEI) is a newly designed assessment method for sustainable urban development. It is composed of five elements (energy, culture, systems, placeness and vernacular) that are indicative of the spirit of the subjective and objective within the context of the urban ecosystem. Within the components there are integrated indicators that aim to reflect and measure the viability of the individual element. When synthesized with their counterparts the index indicates strengths and areas in need of improvement within the designated study subject. Most importantly the index acts as a visual illustration of ecological progress as it is a critical intention to involve communities in the process of ecological appraisal, or put simply ‘mutual interaction’. One of the primary purposes of the Vernacular Ecosystem Index (VEI) tool is to establish networks of benchmark practice in order to stimulate feedback loops to complimentary regions, ultimately benefitting the broader bioregion. Applying the index to a number of projects in a stipulated locality effectively offers an overview of the urban ecosystem’s health that could potentially pinpoint ecological strengths and weaknesses of the identified region. If ecological values are to be embedded within the cultural experiences of local communities there should be a collective understanding of what that means regarding urban development. It is therefore a foundational aspect of this thesis to offer a more systematic approach to ecosystem health by identifying a model of system appraisal based on vernacular conceptual foundations

Fielding Design, Design Fielding:Learning, Leading & Organising in New Territories

A framing question; What does (meaningful) collaboration look like in action? led to the search for and identification of a polycontext, a site where advanced collaborative activity is intelligible. This research aims to explore how the epistemic foundations of learning and design theory can adapt to collaborative approaches to organizing, learning and leadership as the macro-economic transition of digital transformation proceeds. Through embedded ethnographic engagement within a learning organization facilitating group-oriented, design-led collaborative learning experiences, a case study investigates multiple sites within a global organizational network whose distinctive methodology and culture provides a setting emblematic of frontier digital economic activity. The organization’s activity generates environments which notionally act as boundary sites where negotiation of epistemic difference is necessitated, consequently distinctive forms of expertise in brokerage and perspective-taking arise to support dynamic coordination, presenting a distinct take on group-oriented learning. Comprising interacting investigation of communities of facilitators and learning designers tasked to equip learners with distinctive forms of integrative expertise, with the objective of forming individuals adept at rapid orientation to contingent circumstances achieved by collaborative organizing. In parallel, investigating narratives of an organization’s formation led to grounded theory about how collaborative activity is enabled by shared reframing practices. Consequently, the organization anticipates and reshapes the field it operates within, the research discusses scalar effects of learning communities on industry work practices. The inquiry interrogates design-led learning and expertise formation apt for transformative activity within and beyond the digital economy. Exploring how methodological innovations within collaborative learning organizations are enacted and scaled, primary perspectives on design-led, group-oriented learning are evaluated alongside relevant secondary theoretic perspectives on collaborative organizing, learning and leading. The study synthesizes contributions that point to expansions of existing learning paradigms and anticipates how collaborative learning by design intervenes with the schematic assumptions at work in individuals, communities and fields. Observational insight, systematic analysis and theoretical evaluation are applied to problematize assumptions underlying social theory to anticipate generational expansions to the design methods field which responds to inadequacies in planning and organizing approaches applied by design. The research attempts to habituate understanding from outside design methods to better equip an explanatory understanding of contemporary design-led learning and expertise formation occurring in modern professional structures, especially in the creative industries. Together, the research investigates how learners navigate challenges of organizing, learning and leading into unseen territories

The spirit of exhibition and visual pedagogy in the work of Charles and Ray Eames

This project examines the ways in which Charles and Ray Eames promoted visual pedagogy in their exhibitions and new media experiments. Through cooperative efforts with various artists, designers, educators, scholars, museums, corporations, and institutions, the Eameses refined methods of visual communication to create effective experiential learning spaces. Within these spaces, the Eameses developed strategies that sought to unite art, science, and technology as well as underline the value of visual literacy within the new media landscape. By analyzing the Eameses' collaborations, interdisciplinary educational initiatives, exhibition designs, multimedia presentations, and didactic films, I reveal the ways in which the designers constructed pedagogical environments through the experimental use of new media. This dissertation seeks to ground Charles and Ray Eames in their historical moment, illustrating the ways in which the Eameses' work anticipated, engaged, and reflected contemporary theoretical developments in vision, media, and interdisciplinary education. The Eameses believed new media had the potential to dissolve the artificial categorization of academic disciplines: film could be used to teach mathematics; toys could provide insight into fine art; and technology could help to create a visually literate populace. Consequently, the Eameses combined traditional display models and new media in highly choreographed spaces that relied on objects and images to communicate cultural histories, ideas, and values.Includes bibliographical references (pages 304-318)

Assessing the Influence and Effectiveness of Watershed Report Cards on Watershed Management: A Study of Watershed Organizations in Canada

The concept and practice of watershed management have evolved since the early twentieth century and continue to change. Contemporary watershed management, as a means to improve environmental, social, and economic well-being, is generally accepted world-wide and is gaining popularity. Recognition of the ever-changing, complex, conflicting, and unpredictable nature of the forces that influence ecological and human systems has given rise to concepts and principles related to ecological or watershed health, sustainability, and good governance. Numerous terms have emerged to describe and explain contemporary watershed management processes that incorporate these concepts and principles, including ‘integrated’ and ‘sustainable’ watershed management. While there is growing consensus that integrated or sustainable watershed management should be practiced, there is little agreement on what these two terms mean and how they differ. The rational comprehensive or synoptic model is a widely-accepted normative framework to guide watershed management processes. This model presumes a ‘top-down’ linear, systematic, and logical sequence of steps characterized by complete knowledge of the issues and consequences of actions and dominated by rational decision making – circumstances that rarely happen in real life. Implementation gaps between theory and practice exist because of persistent and common challenges relating to complexity, conflict, uncertainty, and change in human and ecological systems. Failure to account for these factors has restricted the utility of this model for guiding watershed management processes, prompting questions about how the model might be adjusted to incorporate concepts and principles associated with watershed health, sustainability, and good governance. In response to the need to demonstrate progress towards watershed health and sustainability, a growing number of watershed organizations in Canada are pioneering the development of indicator-based assessment reports. The actual versus anticipated outcomes of watershed indicator reports and their existing and potential role in the watershed management process have not been systematically assessed or compared. A review of academic and professional literature and a mixed methods research approach comparing 13 case studies from 7 provinces across Canada were used to explore these knowledge gaps. A more in-depth investigation of two of the case studies, the Fraser Basin Council and the Humber Watershed Alliance, was also completed. Contextual factors influencing the practice of watershed management and the process used for developing watershed report cards are identified through an analysis of available documents. This information is supplemented with opinions gathered from 109 in-depth and semi-structured interviews/questionnaires. In addition, informants provided viewpoints regarding the usefulness, effectiveness, benefits, and value of watershed report cards, along with ideas about how they can be improved. This study concludes that while sustainable watershed management (SWM) and integrated watershed management (IWM) are closely aligned concepts, the distinguishing factor is scope. The primary goal of SWM is environmental, social, and economic sustainability within a watershed unit, whereas the central focus of IWM is the protection and/or restoration of water and land resources within a watershed to sustain human well-being. In Canada, IWM rather than SWM is generally pursued. Nevertheless, sustainability is an ultimate goal of IWM. Sustainability principles are acknowledged, valued, and applied. This study concludes that IWM can play a significant role in supporting a broad sustainability agenda. This study contributes to a growing body of knowledge seeking to enrich the theory of watershed management and improve and streamline practice. To improve the utility of the rational comprehensive model for guiding contemporary watershed management, modifications are presented which include separate phases for visioning and learning and couch the process within an overall conceptual framework that balances management, research, and monitoring activities. These adjustments reflect the concepts of integration, collaboration, and shared learning and acknowledge the shift away from ‘command and control’ bureaucratic processes to collaborative ‘middle ground’ polycentric governance structures. Rather than focusing strictly on a sequence of steps and a prescribed process, the consideration of a series of context-specific questions is advocated to help scope and streamline processes to match stakeholder capacity, address issues of greatest concern, and sustain interest and enthusiasm. However, concerted effort is required to counteract competing and entrenched socio-political and economic doctrines and traditions. Monitoring, evaluating, and reporting are key components in the IWM process. Study findings reveal that watershed report cards in Canada are a fledgling tool and no standard approach exists. Each case-study watershed organization has a unique approach to selecting, organizing, and presenting indicators. As a result, report card styles and formats vary. Despite a general consensus that watershed report cards are worthwhile, expectations often exceed outcomes, and common traits which challenge their effectiveness exist. The usefulness and effectiveness of watershed report cards are hampered by several common shortfalls: (1) universal lack of consistent, spatially-specific, and timely data, (2) inconsistent measures and indicators between successive watershed reports, (3) ambiguous or non-existent goals, objectives, targets, and benchmarks, and (4) messages that are unclear, difficult to understand, or fail to resonate with the target audiences. The ‘lessons learned’ from an assessment of the attributes and perceived benefits of watershed report cards parallel those discovered for community indicator initiatives. Building on this research, recommendations for improvement include (1) focus on stakeholder issues of prime concern, (2) use consistent measures and indicators, (3) limit the number of indicators and simplify report card styles and formats, (4) select spatially explicit, temporally relevant, and science-based indicators and measures, (5) explain and illustrate major cause-effect linkages, (6) use the report card process to build a constituency of support, (7) incorporate marketing and outreach activities, and (8) introduce performance measures to assess efficiency and how well collective practice demonstrates sustainability principles. This study concludes that opportunities exist for improving watershed report cards and boosting their multi-purpose role as a predominant planning, assessment, advocacy, communication, learning, and research tool in support of IWM, and ultimately, sustainability

The pornographical: a mimetic ethics of bodies

This thesis is situated across the fields of contemporary political philosophy, critical theory and feminist/gender studies. It argues that the notion of an ‘ana-aesthetic’ is required in order to provide a fuller sense of the conceptual nuances regarding pornography. The ‘ana-aesthetic’ is suggested as the ground and surface economy for this ‘unsayable something’ that is so much a part of the everyday common senses of contemporary life and art. Distinct from the ‘anti-aesthetic’, the ‘ana-aesthetic’ utilises a discursive methodology, and in sidestepping the usual moral entanglements found in attempts to analyse sexually explicit and often misogynistic pornographies, this thesis shows how the ‘ana-aesthetic’ surface of ‘the pornographical’ generates a mimetic and bodily ethics. ‘The pornographical’ is discussed in terms of its techne of comic humour, as a way of creating substance without lapsing into abyssal logics of lack; and the manner in which sexual meaning of fantasy is pleasurable, forming compressed data. The comic is suggested as something found, a cultural ‘ready-made’ gesture, of pleasure, produced through an economic expenditure of ideational mimetics (upon cathexis). This thesis suggests that through the comic, ‘the pornographical’ creates mimetic economies of witnessing. ‘The pornographical’ occupies a strange cultural position in its relationship to both the body and to technology. It is this relationship that gives ‘the pornographical’ its paradoxical ‘ana-linguistic’/’a-radical’ (without a ‘root’) structure, that generates a way of thinking that is related to and also embodies and mediates the body, without positing sexuality as an essentialism

Assessing sustainability performance of farms: an efficiency approach

Sustainability can be seen as a key element towards a profitable long-term future for farming and rural areas. Strong economic performance should go hand in hand with the sustainable use of natural resources. To assess sustainability, both a clear framework and empirical work measuring, explaining and evaluating contributions towards sustainability are needed. In the first part of this dissertation several existing definitions of sustainability are explained. An overview is also given of the different measurement methods of sustainability performance. Definitions of sustainability are inevitably vague but sustainability draws much of its power and creativity form this ambiguity. The second part of this dissertation presents several empirical applications of measuring farm performance. The first applications measure performance in a traditional economic way, while in the following applications environmental aspects are integrated to measure the sustainability performance of agricultural firms. As a general conclusion, we can summarize that the developed and used methodologies are useful to measure contributions of farms towards a more sustainable use of the available resources. This approach does not indicate whether the overall resource use is sustainable, but how much a company contributes to a more sustainable use of its resources. Not only traditional economic resources such as land, labor or capital are considered but also environmental resources such as direct and indirect energy use and nitrogen use. In this way, the realization of economic value of a farm using a combination of available resources can be analyzed. We can compare the performance of farms but we can also analyze the underlying determinants that can help to explain the difference in sustainable resource use between farms. Furthermore, a simple simulation shows that the approach can be used to compare policy tools or can be used to analyze the impact of certain policy measures to reallocate the resource use from farms realizing less value added to farms realizing more value added with their resources. This will be a challenging but interesting future research topic. A limitation of the current approach is that the total amount of available resources is remained constant at sector level