Thesis (M.C.R.P.) -- University of Texas at Arlington, 2008.

Thesis (Master of Arts in Security Studies (Homeland Security and Defense))--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2009. / Thesis Advisor: Rollins, John. Second Reader: Woodbury, Glen. "December 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on January 29, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Public private partnerships, private sector, private business sector, collaboration, coordination, emergency management, local government, continuity of community, challenges to partnering, emergency preparedness, emergency response. Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-88). Also available in print.

In recent years it has become way more important for organizations to use their brand to market themselves as an employer. In a market where organizations are competing for labor it has been known that the brand can make it possible for organizations to differentiate themselves as unique and attractive place of work. The concept is called Employer Branding and if an organization wants to suceed they have to have a clear and defined structure. The concept is well known among private organizations and not as common with the public sector. The purpose of this study was to examine how a small municipality in northern Sweden is working to be an attractive employer. The following questions were aimed to be answered: How do the municipality get their staff to work towards common goals and values? How is the municipality working to create a good management that promotes a friendly workforce? How is the municipality working to enhance their image? Semi-structured interviews were conducted to get the purpose of the study answered. Six employees were interviewed. The results showed what the municipality needs to focus on if they want to become an attractive employer. Evidence in the results showed that weak goals and values exists, there is a need for a clearer management, and that competence is neglected because of the municipality economy. The results are discussed and analyzed in relation to previous research and finally proposals is conducted for the studied municipality.

published_or_final_version / Economics and Finance / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Public Private Partnership (PPP) procurement has developed in many countries, as an effective way for governments to allay their financial burden and/or improve the efficiencies of public services. However, PPP has also experienced many ups and downs in its applications. As a collaborative venture between public and private sectors, the quality of the relationship between them has been shown to be a key contributor to the success of a PPP project. However, no study has, as yet, conceptualized and tested an integrative framework for modeling and addressing the relational aspect in PPP projects. This study aims to fill this gap. Moreover, the revamping of PPP in the above direction, would align with what is found to be a much larger trend, in moving from traditional management to relationship approaches in project management in general and on built infrastructure projects in particular. The general purpose of this study is to make an original contribution to relationship research in PPP, by addressing the importance of this intangible side of PPP, through developing a strategic relationship management framework for parties engaged in PPP projects. Having examined relational research in joint ventures, alliancing and inter-organisational collaboration, it is found that game theory, transaction cost analysis and relational contracting have a direct bearing on inter-organisational relationships in infrastructure projects. Consequently, they are adopted as the theoretical foundations for this research. This study first investigates the ‘hard side’ of PPP relationships, analyzing their variables based on semi-structured interviews with PPP experts. Further, the ‘soft side’ of PPP relationships, is found to be influenced mainly by inter-organisational trust and commitment. This is also investigated in this research by intensive literature review of inter-organisational relationships. A relational variables and indicators model for PPP projects is then developed. Quantitative research data was collected from two questionnaire surveys, targeting international experiences. The first survey was aimed to examine the intensifying and/or moderating effects of various relational variables. The second survey was designed to identify the Critical Success Factors of relationship management in PPP context. Qualitative research data was consolidated from a case study and follow-up structured interviews. Findings from surveys, case study and interviews were then triangulated to develop a strategic framework for better relationship management for infrastructure PPP projects. The findings from this research make a specific contribution to relationship management research; while the ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ sides provide lenses for both PPP parties to examine their relationship with their respective partners. The proposed strategic framework consists of a Relationship Management Scheme and Guidelines to be implemented in different PPP phases, through addressing the sustainability of the relationship. It provides an initial scheme or base approach for project parties to manage the relationships proactively rather than reactively. Besides, this research also helps to identify relevant relational components that can be incorporated or directly used in criteria for pre-tender selection. Such screening and special attention to these critical components can also help to develop more sustainable relationships and attain better value for money through PPP procurement in practice. / published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Public Private Partnership (PPP) is a kind of cooperative venture between the government (public sector) and business sector (private sector). Over the past decades, the Hong Kong Government intends to expand the use of PPP in delivery of development projects and public services, such as the Hong Kong Disneyland, the Cyberport, the construction of public infrastructures and management and operation of infrastructures. The shift in using PPP to deliver public services from traditional service delivery by government departments and non-government organizations imposes a significant implication to the governance in Hong Kong as well as in its financial and revenue aspect. The dissertation consists of four Sections. Section 1 is the introduction. In Section 2, I will conduct a literature review on the PPP in the aspects of its definition, concept, history and underlying theories. There are different forms of private sector involvement in public project, depending on the degree of private participation and involvement from the public sector. For example outsourcing in providing public services, build-operate-transfer (BOT) mode for providing infrastructure, service PPP. The various forms of PPP and the common usage of different forms on different aspects would be discussed. The considering factors, benefits and potential risks of adopting PPP will also be examined in this section. Though there exist various forms of PPP, there are common elements which must be included for a successful PPP, namely, common goal between the private and public, efficiency, transparency in selection of partner, risk sharing and accountability etc, which I will discussed in this section. In addition, the conditions for effective PPP and some recommended good practices of PPP will be detailed in this section. In Section 3, I will focus on 2 major forms of PPP adopted in Hong Kong and evaluate the performance of such applications through case study. The first PPP form is the BOT in which HK Government has adopted for providing numerous infrastructures like Cross Harbour Tunnel. The second one is the service PPP through which the Government contracts out the service provision to a contractor who works as a partner with Government. This form is widely used in the management and maintenance for road network and public lighting system. I will evaluate the above application of PPP (“Cross Harbour Tunnel” case and “Management and maintenance of road network and public lighting system” case) based on the principle and elements mentioned in Section 2. In the last part of the dissertation, recommendations are made for better development of PPP, in particular the ways for minimizing the ambiguity in accountability and responsibility between the public and private parties as well as increasing transparency to public. Finally, conclusion is drawn according to the whole study. / published_or_final_version / Politics and Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

Post-conflict army reconstruction is an important element of security sector reform (SSR), tracing its origins to at least 1980, before the SSR concept itself was formulated. Reconstruction of security forces is an important element in wider postconflict reconstruction, and for political reasons, an army has almost always deemed necessary. Since 1998, SSR itself has been increasingly conceptualized, with principles for SSR having been laid down by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) since 2004. Yet SSR faces a host of philosophical and practical problems, perhaps the greatest being the gap between theory and practice (Chanaa's 'conceptual-contextual divide'). To make SSR efforts more successful, the underlying principles need to be revised and amended. Post-conflict army reconstruction experience since 1980, and associated academic study, military doctrine, and work by international organizations (particularly the OECD) can provide a basis for such revision. This thesis aims to survey post-conflict army reconstruction activities since 1980, draw overall lessons from that review and field study in Liberia, and propose amendments to the SSR principles on that basis. / © Cranfield University, 2011

Background:   The importance of creating social and economic value through social entrepreneurship has gained recognition in recent decades. However, the concept has mostly been studied within the Western world, contributing to a skewed perspective of social entrepreneurship, as it also occurs within other contexts. Moreover, the lone actor has been emphasized as the drive for social change. Still, it is argued that it is through several actors within cross sector collaborations that great social impact can be reached.  Purpose of the study: The purpose of this Master Thesis is to explore and broaden the understanding of the phenomenon of social entrepreneurship within a developing country. Moreover, the aim of this Master Thesis is to contribute with insights in how cross sector actors are collaborating in order to enable social entrepreneurship.  Methodological framework: In order to carry out this Master Thesis a qualitative research approach was chosen. A single case study in the western highlands of Guatemala was carried out. The empirical data was gathered through observations and 18 semi structured interviews. Conclusion: The conducted study acknowledges six contexts: the business, the social, the spatial, the formal institutional, informal institutional and the international influence, which are both enabling and constraining social entrepreneurship. Furthermore, the study reveals four factors of how organizations across sectors and nations are collaborating in order to enable social entrepreneurship: forging initial agreement, building leadership, continuous communication and generation and utilization of resources.  The study also reveals the connection of context, cross sector collaboration and social entrepreneurship.

In June 1988 the five-year, £350 million Alvey programme for advanced information technology is scheduled to terminate. This study is a critical appraisal of the decision-making associated with all aspects of the formulation, approval, implementation and operation of the Alvey policy programme. The study analyses why a government that preaches public sector disengagement from the market has channelled funds into one of the fastest growing sectors of British industry, why a government committed to competition endorsed a programme based on collaboration between firms, and why a government opposed to picking 'winners' implemented a programme aimed at a few selected technologies. It describes the intricate advisory mechanisms which support decision-making by powerful but technologically ill-informed government departments and the British core executive. The study questions the wisdom of the government Insisting that industry should frame industry policy - for when a sector dominated by defence contractors did so, the result was an increased dependence on government. When the government engaged in a meso-corporatist policy-making arrangement with Industry, it did so from a position of weakness. Industry had the technical expertise, operational control of major projects, and a dominant role within the Alvey directorate. The result was a pattern of self-interested and short-sighted policy-making biased towards the interests of large firms In the defence and telecommunications fields. By divorcing itself from the mainstream of information technology developments and concentrating on selected narrow niches, the British information technology industry has set itself a difficult task for survival in the years ahead.