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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
201

A comparison of computational methods for estimating estuarine production and respiration from diel open water dissolved oxygen measurements

Tassone, Spencer 01 January 2017 (has links)
Diel dissolved oxygen (DO) data were used to characterize seasonal, inter-annual, and longitudinal variation in production and respiration for the James River Estuary. Two computational methods (Bayesian and bookkeeping) were applied to these data to determine whether inferences regarding DO metabolism are sensitive to methodology. Net metabolism was sensitive to methodology as Bayesian results indicated net heterotrophy (production < respiration) while bookkeeping results indicated net autotrophy (production > respiration). Differences in net metabolism among the methods was due to low seasonal variation in respiration using the Bayesian method, whereas bookkeeping results showed a strong correlation between production and respiration. Bayesian results suggest a dependence on allochthonous organic matter (OM) whereas bookkeeping results suggest that metabolism is dependent on autochthonous OM. This study highlights the importance in considering the method used to derive metabolic estimates as it can impact the assessment of trophic status and sources of OM supporting an estuary.
202

A legal analysis of prohibition of marine pollution

Bapela, Mpho Paulos January 2016 (has links)
Thesis (M. Dev.) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / This mini-dissertation deals with the legal analysis of the prohibition of marine pollution. It is found that the harmful effects of marine pollution on the marine ecosystem, human health and the economy is a problem that needs to be solved immediately. International Conventions and different legislation have been drafted in order to regulate, reduce, mitigate or stop marine pollution. Despite the existence of these conventions and legislation, this problem continues unabated. Large numbers of marine species are known to be harmed and killed as a result of marine pollution. Marine pollution did not receive much attention until many species in the sea and the marine ecosystem faced adverse consequences resulting from marine pollution. Although it has become a global concern, most nations are still producing huge pollution loads. This mini-dissertation analyses the legal framework and the sources of marine pollution, the effects of marine pollution on the marine ecosystem and human health. Furthermore, it makes a comparative analysis between South Africa as developing country and Australia as a developed country in order to determine what South Africa could learn from Australia. The study makes recommendations on how marine pollution can be solved, mitigated or combatted. / National Research Foundation (NRF)
203

Effects of experimentally-altered hydrology on ecosystem function in headwater streams

Northington, Robert M. 03 May 2013 (has links)
Forested headwater stream ecosystems are important integrators of terrestrial and aquatic systems and their function depends greatly on water availability. In the southern Appalachians, models of future climate change predict alterations to the timing and intensity of storms such that most precipitation may be relegated to winter and spring. During the summer and fall, relatively less precipitation will translate to lower stream flows in systems that rarely experience such a lack of water. Given these predicted changes to the hydrologic cycle, I experimentally reduced flow to downstream sections of three streams at the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory in NC to assess changes to function in perennial ecosystems. The questions that I addressed included: 1) How is organic matter decomposition regulated by changes to the availability of water? and 2) How does the relationship between nutrient uptake and metabolism change under conditions of varying water availability? The availability of water (as discharge) was shown to be a major control of ecosystem function throughout these studies. Rates of leaf decomposition varied between red maple (Acer rubrum L.) and white oak (Quercus alba L.) with lower discharge in the early autumn regulating the breakdown trajectories of leaves through facilitation of colonization by microbes and macroinvertebrates. The return of water during the winter accelerated decomposition rates in the diverted sites such that mass of leaves remaining were similar to those in upstream sections. Colonization of decomposing organic matter by heterotrophic microbes (especially fungi) increased N immobilization leading to an increase in respiration per unit leaf standing stocks during the fall. Nitrification was detectable during summer low flows when leaf standing stocks were low. Changes in the timing and intensity of precipitation and thus discharge may in turn alter the temporal dynamics of ecosystem function. Leaves may remain in the stream unprocessed which will change the availability of food for macroinvertebrates, the production of which provides nutrition to higher trophic levels. Local-scale differences in organic matter processing and nutrient immobilization may translate to regional differences in food availability over both time and space. Hydrology not only acts as a local control of endogenous processes but acts also regionally through the transport of resources and nutrients to downstream reaches. / Ph. D.
204

IMPLEMENTERING AV EKOSYSTEMTJÄNSTER I MILJÖPLANERING : En jämförelse mellan små och stora kommuner i Sverige

Öberg, Mimi January 2020 (has links)
Ecosystem services (ES) are highly important for the municipalities to work with since their function as decision-making authority decides about the exploitation of the commune. The degrading of biodiversity is at its highest speed and the ecosystems and the services they provide is at stake. The EU and the Swedish government have therefore decided on goals for ES which affect the municipalities. The purpose of this study is to investigate how Swedish municipalities are working with ES, focusing on the environmental planning, and whether there is a difference between larger and smaller municipalities. A survey was sent to all municipalities in Sweden and 135 of them participated. Comparison was done between three groups depending on population size. The results show that despite all the goals, guidelines and methods that exist, something is missing. Only half of them uses the guidelines and methods, and more than half of them says that knowledge partially is missing among them. There is a difference in this integration and knowledge when comparing large municipalities to smaller ones, which can be explained by lack of expertise, budget and time, but also lack of exploration in smaller municipalities. To achieve the goals and improve the work with ES, simple, user- friendly guidelines and methods is requested but also a widespread knowledge in the whole management. One big reason why not all municipalities are working with this is lack of legislation.
205

An Assessment of Ecosystem Services And Disservices in Urban Community Gardens in Berlin (Germany) and Cape Town (South Africa)

Duthie, Tristan 06 December 2018 (has links)
Background: Ecosystem services and disservices research from urban ecological infrastructure currently remain under-explored areas in global literature. Community gardens comprise an even rarer part of this research with few previous studies, as emphasis in research is placed on the ‘big and tangible’ urban green spaces like urban forests and parks, and more recently allotment gardens. Community gardens, however, are an important ecological infrastructure as they provide a range of ecosystem services to urban residents, and act as key spaces for meeting social and environmental objectives in urban development plans and policies. Considering cities are the predominant domain of human habitation, it is important that more research goes into better identifying ecosystem services and disservices from urban green space types, in light of global and local sustainable urban development goals. Methods: Using the cities of Berlin and Cape Town as case studies, this study inventories the range of ecosystem services and disservices provisioned by urban community gardens. A total of 26 gardens across both cities were assessed using in-depth field surveys based on indicators derived from the literature and a ranked-scale questionnaire was answered by 46 participants. Results: Community gardens provide important ecosystem services such as food provisioning, local climate regulation, high species richness of vascular plants, are valued highly by gardeners and local residents for their numerous recreation, tourism and social activities, and foster new principles of socio-environmental thinking and practice in neighbourhoods. Gardens are also found to deliver a few disservices that may influence human health like increasing potentials for allergy problems caused by the spread of pollen from the urban nature in them, and can cause economic impacts if the vegetation damages garden infrastructure. It is important to recognise both the benefits and detriments from these urban green spaces so as to better manage them and minimise their impacts and trade-offs to human well-being. Conclusion: Outcomes of this research identify new ecosystem services and disservices inventories and make the net benefit of community gardens explicitly known, which gives credence to their value as a legitimate urban land-use by planners and related decision-makers. Findings show community gardens have a very relevant place in German and South African urban ecosystems research, and this project can significantly impact future work by strengthening the foundation from which we base our understanding – the collection and interpretation of new data. Finally, conclusions show that community gardens can contribute to sustainable urban development in local contexts, and promote Great Transition thinking.:Table of Contents Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………...i Declaration………………………………………………………………………………….ii Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………..……...iii Table of Contents…......…………………………………………………………………..iv List of Tables……………………………………………………………………………….xi List of Figures …………………………….……………………………………………..xiv Chapter One: Introduction……………………………...………………………………...1 1.1. Problem contextualisation …………………………………………..………………1 1.1.1. The changing environment ……………………………………………….....…...1 1.1.2. Ecosystems as the foundation of life ……………………………………………1 1.1.3. Century of the city …………………………………………………………………2 1.1.4. Sustainable Development and the Great Transition ………………………..…4 1.2. Problem statement ……………………………………………….………………….7 1.2.1. Ecosystem services …………………………………………………......………..7 1.2.2. Ecosystem disservices ………………………………………………......……….9 1.2.3. Urban ecosystems and ecological infrastructure .....………………………….11 1.2.4. Aim and objectives ……………………...…...…………………………………..13 1.3. Thesis overview …………………………………………………………..………..14 Chapter Two: State of Research …………………………………………………...….16 2.1. Introduction ……………………………………………………...………………….16 2.2. The role and function of community gardens as urban ecosystems ………....16 2.2.1. Definition of community gardens …………………………………………….....16 2.2.2. Historical context and multi-functional purposes of community gardens …..17 2.2.3. Ecosystem services in community gardens ………………………………......18 2.2.4. Community gardens as the assessment unit for this project ……………......19 2.3. Integrating ecosystem services and disservices concepts into urban planning, environmental management and governance …………………………………….....19 2.3.1. The role of ecosystem services and disservices in urban planning ………..20 2.3.2. The role of ecosystem services and disservices in urban environmental management …………............................................................................................21 2.3.3. The role of ecosystem services and disservices in urban governance …….23 2.4. Research on urban ecosystem services and disservices …………….......…...25 2.4.1. Urban ecosystem services research ……………..………………………........26 2.4.1.1. Categories of ecosystem services in the literature …………………….......26 2.4.1.2. Types of ecological infrastructure in ecosystem services research ……...29 2.4.1.3. Research perspectives in ecosystem services literature ……………….…29 2.4.1.4. Methodology used in ecosystem services research ……………….....…...31 2.4.2. Urban ecosystem disservices research ………………………..……………...33 2.4.2.1. Categories of ecosystem disservices in the literature ………………..……33 2.4.2.2. Types of ecological infrastructure in ecosystem disservices research ......34 2.4.2.3. Research perspectives in ecosystem disservices literature ………………35 2.4.2.4. Methodology used in ecosystem disservices research …………..………..37 2.4.3. Summary of results ………………………………………………………………38 2.5. Research on urban ecosystem services and disservices: Germany and South Africa ……………………...................................................................................…...39 2.5.1. Germany ……………………………………………………..……………………39 2.5.2. South Africa ………………………………………………………………….…...42 2.5.3. Summary of results ………………………………………………………………44 2.6. Research on ecosystem services and disservices from urban gardens with an emphasis on community gardens ……………………………………………………..45 2.6.1. Allotment gardens ………………………………………………………………..45 2.6.2. Home gardens ……………………………………………………………………47 2.6.3. Community gardens ………………………………………………………...…...48 2.6.4. Synthesis ………………………………………………………….………………50 2.7. Conclusions …………………………………………………..…………………….51 Chapter Three: Methods ……..………………………………………………….....…..53 3.1. Introduction ………………………………………………………………………….53 3.2. Case study analysis ………………………………………………………………..55 3.2.1. Case study design ………………………………..……………………………...55 3.2.2. Case study selection …………………………………...………………………..55 3.2.3. Case study methods ……………………………………..………………………56 3.3. Quantification of community garden share ………………………………….…..57 3.3.1. GIS methods ……………………………....……………………………………..57 3.4. Ecosystem services and disservices assessments …………………………….58 3.4.1. Indicator analysis ………………………………………………………………...58 3.4.2. Field protocol ……………………………………….....………………………….65 3.4.2.1. Site walkover procedure and field protocol checklist …………….………...66 3.4.3. Questionnaire …………………………………………………………………….67 3.5. Data-synthesis, -results and -conclusions …………....…………………………70 3.5.1. Quantitative data …………………………………………....……………………70 3.5.2. Qualitative data …………………………………………………………………..70 3.5.3. Burkhard-type matrices ………………………………………………………….71 3.6. Data reliability ………………………………...…………………………………….72 3.7. Data validity …………………………………………………………………………73 3.8. Ethical considerations ………………………………………….………………….73 3.9. Conclusions ……………………………………......……………………………….74 Chapter Four: Case Study Cities ………………………………….……….......……...75 4.1. Introduction …………………………...…………………………………………….75 4.2. Case study: Berlin ………………………..………………………………………...75 4.2.1. Geographical location and demographic set-up ……………………..……….75 4.2.2. Landscape and climate …………………….....………………………………...76 4.2.3. Administrative structure and governance …………………………...………...77 4.2.4. Socio-economic contextualisation …………………………………..………….78 4.2.5. Urban green …………………………………....………………………………...79 4.2.6. Urban gardening regulations ……………………………………….…………..80 4.3. Case study: Cape Town …………………………………………………………...81 4.3.1. Geographical location and demographic set-up …………………………..….81 4.3.2. Landscape and climate ……………………………..…………………………...82 4.3.3. Administrative structure and governance …………………………...………...84 4.3.4. Socio-economic contextualisation ……………………………………..……….85 4.3.5. Urban green ……………………………………....……………………………...85 4.3.6. Urban gardening regulations ……………………………….…………………..86 4.4. Conclusions ………………………..……………………………………………….87 Chapter Five: Results ………………………………………………………….………..88 5.1. Introduction ………………………………………………………………………….88 5.2. Community garden share ………………………………………………………….88 5.3. Ecosystem services assessments ……………………………………....……….92 5.3.1. Provisioning services …………………………………………………………….92 5.3.1.1. Food …………………………………………………………………....……….92 5.3.1.1.1. Crops ……………………………………………………….....……………...92 5.3.1.1.2. Livestock …………………………………………………….....…………….96 5.3.1.2. Raw materials ………………………………………………………......……...98 5.3.1.3. Fresh water supply ………………………………………………….…………99 5.3.1.4. Medicinal resources …………………………………………….....…………102 5.3.2. Regulating services ………………………...…………………………………..104 5.3.2.1. Local climate regulation ………………………………………………….….104 5.3.2.2. Local air quality regulation ……………………………………………….….109 5.3.2.3. Moderation of extreme events: rain and wind storms, flood prevention........................................................................................................…..112 5.3.2.4. Water flow regulation and runoff mitigation ……………....………………..114 5.3.2.5. Erosion prevention and maintenance of soil fertility ……………………...116 5.3.3. Habitat/Supporting services …………………………………..……………….118 5.3.3.1. Maintenance of genetic diversity ……………………………………………118 5.3.4. Cultural services ………………………………………………………………..128 5.3.4.1. Recreation and mental and physical health …………………....………….128 5.3.4.2. Tourism………………………………....……………………………………...131 5.3.4.3. Aesthetic appreciation and inspiration for culture, art, design …......……133 5.3.4.4. Spiritual experience and sense of place ……………………………...…...135 5.3.5. Discussion of major ecosystem services findings …………………..………138 5.4. Ecosystem disservices assessments ……………………...…………………...142 5.4.1. Ecological impacting disservices ……………………………….....………….142 5.4.1.1. Displacement of native by invasive species that cause harm …………...142 5.4.2. Economic impacting disservices …………………………………….………..145 5.4.2.1. Damage to infrastructure by nature ………………………….....………….145 5.4.2.2. Costs associated with repairs and maintenance of urban vegetation/nature ………...................................................................................................................146 5.4.3. Health impacting disservices ……………………………..…………………...148 5.4.3.1. Allergies/respiratory problems caused by the spread of pollen …….…...148 5.4.3.2. Wild or semi-wild animals in urban green spaces that cause anxiety over fear of attack, safety or inconvenience ……………………………………………...151 5.4.4. Psychological impacting disservices …………………………………………153 5.4.4.1. Certain smells, sounds or behaviours from people, plants and animals may be considered a nuisance or cause annoyance ………………………………........153 5.4.4.2. Aesthetic and hygiene impacts due to animal excrement …………….…155 5.4.4.3. Aesthetic unpleasantness due to dense/overgrown vegetation …………156 5.4.4.4. Psychological feelings of insecurity/fear associated with overgrown or dark urban green spaces ………….………………………………………………………..157 5.4.4.5. Vegetation blocking views ………………………………….....…………….159 5.4.5. General impacting disservices on human well-being ……………….……...161 5.4.5.1. Presence of protected species can restrict the uses of an area, hindering benefit of those seeking to enjoy nature ………………………….…………………161 5.4.6. Discussion of major ecosystem disservices findings ……………….………162 5.5. Final assessment of results using Burkhard-type matrices …………….…….165 5.5.1. Ecosystem services …………………………......……………………………..166 5.5.2. Ecosystem disservices ……………………………..………………………….168 5.5.3. Synthesis ………………………………………………………………………..169 5.6. Conclusions ………………………..……………………………………………...170 Chapter Six: Discussion…………….………………………………………………….172 6.1. Introduction ……………...………………………………………………………...172 6.2. Meeting objectives ……………………………………..…………………………172 6.2.1. Calculate the quantitative share of urban community gardens in Berlin and Cape Town ………................................................................................................173 6.2.2. Identify suitable sampling community gardens in Berlin and Cape Town from which to assess existing ecosystems services and disservices ………………….174 6.2.3. Identify and assess which ecosystems services and disservices are provided by the chosen sampling community gardens in Berlin and Cape Town …….…...175 6.2.4. Demonstrate the relevance and contribution of community gardens to sustainable urban development and the Great Transition ……..………………….176 6.3. Limitations of the study …………….....………………………………………….178 6.3.1 Methods …………………………………..………………………………………178 6.3.2. Field work ……………………………………………..…………………………179 6.4. Outlook …………………………………………………………………………….180 6.4.1. Implications for research ………………………………………..……………..180 6.4.2. Implications for policy and practice ………………………………………..….182 6.5. Conclusions …………………………………………..…………………………...184 Chapter Seven: Conclusions …………………………………………………..……..186 7.1. Summary of thesis …………………………………………………….………….186 7.2. General conclusions …………………………………………………….………..187 7.3 Final insights …………………………………………………...…………………..189 References ………………………………...…………………………………………...190 Appendices ……………………………………………………………………………..223 Appendix A – Comprehensive lists of ecosystem services and disservices indicators derived from the literature ……………….………………………………..223 Appendix B – Field Protocol: site walkover procedure (A) and field protocol checklist (B) ……………...............................................................................…….231 Appendix C – Questionnaire disseminated in this study .………………………….238 Appendix D – Additional information for results of ecosystem services and disservices assessments …….........................................................................…..251 Appendix E – Full calculations of final assessment scores used in Burkhard-type matrices ……………….....................................................................................….320
206

Stockholm Fishmarket : A sustainable ecosystem for fish in Stockholm / Stockholm Fiskmarknad : Ett hållbart ekosystem för fisk i Stockholm

Kazantzidou, Maria-Thérèse January 2014 (has links)
The small scale fishery is almost disappearing on the Swedish east coast, meanwhile the demand for fresh fish increases. The project investigates the feasibility for a local fish market in Stockholm and the creation of a local food economy, mediating the challenges of the fishing industry. Located at the seashore of Djurgården, the building act as an information center, market hall and fish auction. Stockholm is Sweden's biggest city and surrounded by fishery. Yet it is almost impossible to get hold of fresh locally caught fish. The fish that after all are available for purchase may be up to a week old because it must first round-trip to Gothenburg to be sold at auction. This is also where the processing industries mainly are found. The County Board has for two years benn running a project to investigate the feasibility of a physical market in Stockholm for locally caught fresh fish. Transports to auctions take time, are costly and can also impair the quality of the fish before reaching the end consumer. The transportation costs are also often too large in relation to the income recieved from the sale of the catch. In order to get more money and increase profitability the east coast nead their own fishmarket.  The intention of the project has been to create a centrally located fishmarket for the citizens of Stockholm, tourists, restaurant/ and business owners, both retail and wholesale. Stockholm is a city on water and should profile itself more as one. A fishmarket would not only give the citizens of Stockholm a healthy and affordable food alternative, it would also help preserve the small-scale fish-industry on the east coast, helping the fishermen to make a better profit on their catch since transportation to fish auctions on the west coast no longer would be necessary. This would also mean a significant sustainable improvement for the fishindustry in Sweden. The market also works as an information and education-center which gives an opportunity to reach out to the general public with information concerning the current fish stock in Sweden and the Stockholm region in specific. / Det småskaliga fisket håller nästan på att försvinna på den svenska östkusten, medan efterfrågan på färsk fisk ökar. Examensarbetet undersöker möjligheten för en lokal fiskmarknad i Stockholm och implementeringen av en lokal matekonomi, som reflekterar utmaningarna för fiskeindustrin. Byggnaden huserar vid Djurgårdens strandkant och fungerar som ett informationscenter, marknadshall och fiskauktion. Intentionen med projektet har varit att skapa en centralt belägen fiskmarknad för stockholms invånare, turister, restauranger och matföretag, både detaljhandel och grossisthandel. Stockholm är en stad på vatten, vilket borde profileras starkare. En fiskmarknad skulle inte bara ge invånarna ett hälsosamt och prisvärt matalternativ, det skulle också hjälpa till och bevara den småskaliga fiskeindustrin på östkusten. Fiskarna skulle kunna göra en större vinst på fångsten om de långa transporterna till fiskauktionen på västkusten skars bort. Marknaden fungerar även som ett informations- och utbildningscenter vilket skapar en möjlighet att nå ut till besökarna med information om det aktuella fiskebeståndet i Sverige och Stockholm specifikt.
207

The effects of the macroalga Gracilaria gracilis and increasing temperatures on the performance of the endemic Cape eelgrass Zostera capensis

Beltrand, Maeva Mereana Marion January 2017 (has links)
Rising temperature caused by global warming alters physiology, phenology and/or distribution in a wide array of plant and animal species, which has dramatic knock-on effects at different levels of organisation. This study investigates the individual and interactive effects of temperature (18ᵒC, 22ᵒC and 30ᵒC) and additions of the macroalga Gracilaria gracilis (high and low) on the performance of the seagrass Zostera capensis, which occurs in Langebaan Lagoon, South Africa over a seven-week period. Results from the laboratory experiment revealed that G. gracilis did not significantly affect the performance of Z. capensis although temperature did result in greater leaf width, fouling and senescent biomass, as well as marginally greater leaf area and lower below-ground biomass at 30ᵒC. Increasing temperature also increased G. gracilis biomass, percent cover and fouling by microalgae. In addition, there was no interaction between temperature and the additions of Gracilaria. The overall findings of this study indicate that Z. capensis abundance is likely to decrease while G. gracilis will conversely increase in abundance in response to warming. Changes in abundance of those two ecosystem engineers highlight the possibility of a phase shift from a seagrass- to macroalgal-dominated state in Langebaan Lagoon.
208

Enhancing Coastal Community's Disaster and Climate Resilience in the Mangrove Rich Indian Sundarban / インド・スンダルバン マングローブ豊穣地域における沿岸域コミュニティの気象災害対応力向上に関する研究

Rajarshi, Dasgupta 23 March 2016 (has links)
京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(地球環境学) / 甲第19875号 / 地環博第149号 / 新制||地環||30(附属図書館) / 32911 / 京都大学大学院地球環境学舎地球環境学専攻 / (主査)教授 藤井 滋穂, 教授 岡﨑 健二, 准教授 西前 出 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Global Environmental Studies / Kyoto University / DFAM
209

Narratives of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Cambodia and Its Impact on Entrepreneur’s Decision-making

VUTHY, PISEY, REZAYI, MOSTAFA January 2022 (has links)
Title: Narratives of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Cambodia and Its Impact on Entrepreneur’s Decision-Making Logic Authors: Mostafa Rezayi and Pisey Vuthy Level: Master Thesis, 30 hp Background: Entrepreneurial activities are impacted by various elements in an entrepreneurship ecosystem (EE). The interplay of such factors produces narratives that display the condition of EEs. Moreover, ecosystem narratives (EN) have significant impacts on the advancement of EEs and can determine entrepreneurs' decisions in establishing and expanding new ventures. Entrepreneurs in environments with fast and continual changes use either effectual or casual logic to make decisions based on various factors such as uncertainty, culture, and resource availability. The impact of EN on the decision-making logic of entrepreneurs has been investigated in supportive and developed EEs, such research, however, has not been undertaken in less developed EEs. Considering that EEs operate differently due to the differences in their elements, this study aims to identify ENs and investigate their impacts on entrepreneurs’ decision-making logic in Cambodian EE, which is less developed than the regional and global competitors. Research questions: What are the narratives of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Cambodia? How do narratives of the entrepreneurial ecosystem hinder or encourage effectuation and causation in Cambodian entrepreneurs? Purpose: This study aims to (1) identify the narratives of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Cambodia and (2) explain how the narratives affect entrepreneurs’ decision-making logic, whether it leads to effectuation or causation.Theoretical framework: Articles used for this thesis were meticulously chosen, focusing on reliable sources and quality content that cover the theoretical background of EE, EN, and effectuation and causation. This chapter included theories and findings on EEs and their main elements, which formed the basis of the interview guide and themes used to analyze the collected data. Further, information about the causes and effects of narratives in EEs was provided. Lastly, the concepts of causation and effectuation were discussed following the elements in the EE. Method: This study adopted the interpretive approach to creating new, richer understandings and interpretations of issues related to the impacts of narratives on the decision-making logic of entrepreneurs. The Cambodian EE is studied as a case to obtain detailed data and answer the research questions. A qualitative method was implemented to conduct ENs, and adequate data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 key actors in the EE. The gathered data were analyzed through a thematic narrative analysis method. Lastly, this paper followed an abductive reasoning approach. Findings: The common narratives within the Cambodian EE were identified through 12 semi-structured interviews with Cambodian entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, angel investors, and business incubators. The identified narratives illuminated that Cambodian entrepreneurs rely more on the effectual logic than the casual one to establish and expand their firms. This is due to narratives about, for instance, poor developed physical infrastructure, lack of essential resources, low social and moral support, and underdeveloped training and education system. Originality/Value: This is the first research investigating the impact of common narratives in a nascent and underdeveloped EE on entrepreneurs’ decision-making logic. Keywords: Entrepreneurial ecosystem, Ecosystem narratives, Decision-making logic, Effectuation, Causation.
210

ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT : LEARNING FROM SUCCESSES

Owoade, Abbas January 2016 (has links)
The strengthening of the entrepreneurial landscape has been viewed as a means to national economic growth, wealth creation as well as job creation. Good examples exists where government deliberate actions have contributed to these kind of positive growth, yet this research exposes the rigour and hard work needed to bring about this success. The rigour stems from the pursuit of a holistic approach which involves the strengthening of the six domains of entrepreneurship ecosystem growth as posited in literature, while the hard work is related to the discipline and expertise required to pilot such initiative. Research has shown that many countries may be looking for entrepreneurship in the wrong places. Funding availability is only a part of a thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem, the strengthening of other domains can help an ecosystem grow more sustainably. The role of government in driving the entrepreneurship ecosystem can be restricted and channeled towards government performing it traditional role of providing the enabling environment and allowing the private sector drive the ecosystem. Where the growth of the entrepreneurship ecosystem is led by public initiative, it may be better to jettison the idea of the individual firm’s development and pursue the strengthening of the ecosystem in all it domains.

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