Successful Projects - What Makes Them Work? A Cross-National Analysis

[Excerpt] This cross national analysis is based on national studies made by research teams in India, Kenya, Romania and South Africa. It aims to draw out the lessons learnt from successful social development processes in these countries. In each country, studies have been made of projects identified as interesting, successful and/or outstanding in the way they have improved the quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities. In national reports, the respective teams have made their own national conclusions. This comparative report briefly describes the national studies. It then continues with a cross national analysis attempting to identify circumstances or factors that are common to these successful projects. Finally, the report summarises the conclusions and their implications. We hope that the findings presented in the report will be used as inspiration in future planning, implementation and funding of projects aiming at improving life conditions of groups that are marginalised in society. Chapter 1 and 2, describing the research process and the national reports have been written by Annika and Lennart Nilsson. Anders Gustavsson and Johans Sandvin are responsible for the cross national analysis in chapter 3 to 7. The conclusions and implications in chapter 8 have been written jointly. The study has been commissioned by Inclusion International and financed by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida)

How to enhance walking and cycling instead of short car trips

The EU-DG VII (Urban Sector) project WALCYNG, which has the goal to enhance walking and cycling instead of short car trips, has taken the non-profit-marketing concept, as basis for the research work. According to this concept, changes in road user behaviour shall be achieved by improving preconditions for walking and cycling in the physical sense (product policy); by improving the image of walking and cycling (communication policy); and by giving the road users who do not yet walk and cycle incentives to make them try these modes (incentive policy). All this should be done on basis of extensive knowledge about the status quo about the needs, wishes and perspectives of different groups of road users (information policy). To start with, one should focus on those, who already walk and cycle and on those who shall be convinced to start walking and cycling instead of using the car for short trips. WALCYNG was divided into 12 different work packages. The first seven work packages covered the information and product policy part. The last work packages dealt with communication and incentive policy. In the paper some of the results will be presented

ReWork-Stroke : content and experiences of a person-centred rehabilitation programme for return to work after stroke

The process of return to work (RTW) after stroke is complex, less than half of those having stroke in working ages RTW. Guidelines targeting RTW in Sweden is lacking. The overall aim was to enhance the knowledge regarding rehabilitation for return to work after stroke and to explore how the person-centred rehabilitation programme ReWork-Stroke was translated into practice, for people who worked before their stroke, as well as the experiences of the involved stakeholders. Additionally, the aim was to explore changes in work potential and work performance while participating in the rehabilitation programme. Methods: Study I used a descriptive case study design to explore and describe the core elements of the ReWork-Stroke programme as they were documented by the coordinators, and their experiences of providing the programme to people who had had a stroke. The two interviews with the coordinators and their logbooks were analysed using content analysis. Study II applied a grounded theory approach in order to explore and describe how people that had had a stroke experienced the RTW process while participating in a person-centred rehabilitation programme focusing on RTW. Seven persons with mild or moderate stroke were interviewed twice at their work place during their work-trial. Study III was inspired by grounded theory aiming to explore and describe how co-workers and managers experienced the RTW process involving a colleague who had had stroke and participated in a person-centred rehabilitation programme focusing on RTW including a work-trial. Sixteen interviews were conducted with seven co-workers and four managers during the work-trial of a colleague who had had stroke. Study IV used a mixed method approach with an explanatory sequential design in order to explore changes in work potential and work performance while participating in a person-centred rehabilitation programme for people who worked before their stroke. Results: Time use, place and format for elements in the programme varied between clients. Core elements identified were: make aware of consequences of stroke; provide information to stakeholders; use of strategies to handle work tasks; assessments, goalsetting and evaluation of work ability; planning/follow up of work trial. The coordinators experienced their role to build an alliance between stakeholders and to give support and guidance during the RTW process. Knowledge of stroke, strategies and a straightforward communication facilitated the possibility to adapt to the situation for the persons that had had stroke. The co-workers and managers experienced various challenges; the emotional challenge of being a supportive co-worker or manager, the challenging experience of having too much responsibility and the challenge of being supportive despite lack of knowledge. Changes in work potential and work performance varied among the participants and were mostly in a positive direction. Various strategies were used by the coordinators in cooperation with those involved at the work place to handle the different needs. Conclusion: The ReWork-Stroke programme included various elements adapted to the needs of the individuals. The involvement of the coordinator seemed to facilitate the RTW process and collaboration among the different stakeholders. Establishing a commitment between the employer and all involved stakeholders was of importance

IKEA: Crossing Borders

The organizational culture differs widely among the countries in the world. IKEA has a very special culture which is one of its competitive advantages and used in their organizations in the countries they are situated in. This research is about how IKEA handles their organizational culture in the border crossing and what problems that may come in the way. It is mainly focused on the implementation strategy and the cultural differences that have created both success and obstacles when IKEA with its “culture carriers” are expanding their organization into other countries

Transformational Change and Regime Shifts in the Circumpolar Arctic

The Arctic is changing rapidly, and there are many indications that the region is in the midst of transformational change. While some of the focus relates to impacts of climate change, rapid economic development and the potential for shifts in political and social structures in the region have also been in the limelight. This article looks at the circumpolar Arctic as a potential case of a regime shift in a large-scale social–ecological system that includes reinforcing feedbacks. A special focus is placed on governance structures, as these play an important role in social negotiations on the relationship between societies and the environment. While climate change is often portrayed as a driver of social change in the Arctic, it does not appear that the ongoing changes in the biophysical features of the Arctic region have rocked current circumpolar governance structures out of kilter. On the contrary, the ongoing climate-related changes, in particular sea ice decline, appear to have reinforced political commitment to existing legal structures. Major past social regime shifts have mainly been related to access to resources and national identity ideology, with political dynamics reinforced at times by military security considerations

Toward sustainable goods flows: A framework from a packaging perspective

Purpose of this paper The purpose of this paper is to explore the role and potential of packaging in order to obtain more sustainable goods flows. Design/methodology/approach An explorative research approach based on case survey methodology in which description, exploration and analysis of 34 reported cases are made. The empirical focus is goods flows in fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) supply chains. Findings The insights presented highlights and provides guidance on the pros and cons packaging provides for sustainable goods flows in the FMCG industry. Research limitations/implications (if applicable) Based on knowledge and insights about the flows of goods and tomorrows requirements on sustainable societies, this paper reports on insights for making the goods flows in the FMCG industry sustainable based on a packaging perspective. The research has focused on FMCG goods flows, starting with the inbound flow of packaging at the product filler and ending at the retail outlet. Practical implications (if applicable) The insights can guide organisations to consider and reflect on how and when packaging enables or hinder sustainability aspects of goods flows. Extra effort should be on designing packaging system solutions that mitigate the negative effects of non-consumed products. What is original/value of paper While several studies have reported on the sustainability impact of logistics, transportation or supply chain structures, the perspective of packaging is rarely treated, neither in theory nor in practise. With a packaging perspective, the assessment of goods flows in supply chains is integrative, since packaging is naturally built on the intersection of logistics, marketing, sales, ergonomics and environmental considerations

Group assessment challenges in project-based learning – Perceptions from students in higher engineering courses

Industry and society want to recruit students who can work in team-based projects. Thus the task for educators in higher education is to prepare and provide such learning environments. However, assessment is one major challenge associated with enacting these learning environments. The literature advocates active team learning but then supports individual assessment modes. The purpose of this paper is to identify and elaborate on group assessment challenges for students and educators in project-based learning. The research is based on a literature review in the field of project-based learning and group assessment. It is empirically supported by action research in three classes of university engineering students. The findings point to an assessment dilemma, which requires a change in mind-set from individual to team/group grading. The students prefer group learning over written exams. However, when it comes to assessment, the majority want individual grading. Individual assessment is perceived as more fair but unnecessary for learning. Furthermore, a challenge identified by educators is to ensure that all individuals have achieved the learning outcomes. At the same time, they find it frustrating to make individual assessments when the course is based on group learning

The evolution of the packaging logistics research area

Logistics can be regarded as an established research area containing publications in renowned scientific journals and which covers several related fields. One of them, packaging logistics, is a relatively new research area, established at only a few universities and institutes. Consequently, the packaging logistics area is characterised by scattered theoretical frameworks and publications are scarce. Theory in packaging logistics is often delimited to packaging, focusing either on technological aspects e.g. packaging features, or on marketing aspects, e.g. branding. The holistic view of packaging logistics related to overall business systems is however, neither covered by researchers, nor included in related scientific journals. The aim of this paper is to describe the evolution of the packaging logistics research area based on an evolution model by Reid (1997). Based on that model the paper illustrates reasons for establishing the research area and further inspired the description of the present framework of packaging logistics ten years after its establishment at Lund University. The paper also specifies where current research is heading. The process used facilitates better understanding of the evolution of the research area, both in the local community and in the discipline. The research area develops from an interaction between the subjects of logistics and packaging, into the present cross-disciplinary research, integrating several theoretical fields. Intensified research and publication, although still inconsistent, indicate the increased awareness and dissemination of the research area. Finally, packaging logistics is proposed as being included as an integrated part in logistics research and practice

Arctic Geopolitics, Media and Power

Arctic Geopolitics, Media and Power provides a fresh way of looking at the potential and limitations of regional international governance in the Arctic region. Far-reaching impacts of climate change, its wealth of resources and potential for new commercial activities have placed the Arctic region into the political limelight. In an era of rapid environmental change, the Arctic provides a complex and challenging case of geopolitical interplay. Based on analyses of how actors from within and outside the Arctic region assert their interests and how such discourses travel in the media, this book scrutinizes the social and material contexts within which new imaginaries, spatial constructs and scalar preferences emerge. It places ground-breaking attention to shifting media landscapes as a critical component of the social, environmental and technological change. It also reflects on the fundamental dilemmas inherent in democratic decision making at a time when an urgent need for addressing climate change is challenged by conflicting interests and growing geopolitical tensions. This book will be of great interest to geography academics, media and communication studies and students focusing on policy, climate change and geopolitics, as well as policy-makers and NGOs working within the environmental sector or with the Arctic region

Språkförändring i ortnamn

Den här uppsatsen handlar om språkförändring i några utvalda bebyggelsenamn i socknarna Allerum, Kattarp och Kropp i Luggude härad. Syftet är att undersöka vilka strukturellt respektive socialt betingade orsaker till förändring som förekommer i bebyggelsenamnen med utgångspunkt från namnens tidigaste skriftliga belägg, vilka ordelement som ingår, analys och tolkning av dessa samt hur de utvecklats. Det undersökta materialet består av excerpter dvs. utdrag ur äldre källor. Det historiska källmaterialet är förenat med vissa brister vilket innebär att det är spåren som materialet lämnat efter sig som undersöks. Analysen har begränsats till bebyggelsenamn som har de första skriftliga beläggen före 1400-talet eftersom det är en språkhistoriskt viktig tidpunkt. Resultaten visar att de strukturellt orsakade förändringarna som förekommer i fler än ett av namnen är variation mellan y och io/iu samt förändring av det danska finala -æ/-e till det svenska -a. De socialt orsakade förändringar som förekommer i fler än ett av namnen är ortnamnsmarkör, försvenskning samt omtolkning. Dessutom förekom en kategori stabila namn som inte förändrades nämnvärt. Ett annat namnurval hade underlättat generaliseringar. Avslutningsvis diskuteras begreppen strukturell och social varav det sista förslagsvis preciseras ytterligare i underbegreppen samhällelig och kommunikationsbetingad individuell. Omständigheterna då två språk möts orsakar brott mot språkförändringskriterierna varför detta fenomen förslagsvis hellre benämns kommunikativ anpassning eller sporadisk variant/variation och inte en språkförändring