Local Food Systems (LFS) is a relatively new concept in geographical and planning research. Academic, professional, and public interest in LFS is in part a reaction against the social, environmental, and economic effects of a dominant Production Agriculture paradigm (Lyson, 2004), and growing concern with the potential impacts of climate change on the food supply (Ostry, Miewald, and Beveridge, 2011). While there is a growing public and policy interest in making transformative change in LFS, there is a lack of theoretical work that addresses how change processes in food systems occur. In this study, a classic Glaserian grounded theory research project investigated the subject area of local food system planning. The primary research goal was the development of a theory grounded in the experience of practitioners, elected officials, and members of the public. The emergent theory, called Transformative Incrementalism (TI) describes the social process underlying planning initiatives focused on achieving significant (transformative) change in local food systems. The data for this research project are drawn from interviews with 29 elected officials, public stakeholders, and planning staff in five communities with local food system initiatives. In addition, 10 member checking interviews were also conducted. The core category identified in the emergent TI theory was Power, with Values, Praxis, and Outcomes being other main themes. From this research, Power could be defined as the ability, through authoritative and non-authoritative influence, to have an effect on a person, process, action, or outcome. Values act as sources of power to the extent that they motivate and drive the actions of individuals and groups. Praxis includes activities designed to create, use, and maintain power, such as building relationships with other people that will give ongoing support for food planning initiatives. Outcomes include broader system and social changes resulting from local food system planning processes and activities. The main findings from this dissertation underscore the fact that the role of power has been largely ignored in the planning literature (Friedman, 2011; Flyvbjerg, 2012; Assche, Duineveld, and Buenen, 2014). Power is the main driver of change; therefore, a lack of understanding about what power is and how it operates would seem to compromise the ability of planning efforts to be effective. This research identifies and illustrates the interrelationship between the political, public, and bureaucratic spheres of actors, and examines how values, praxis, and outcomes are pivotal to transformative change in food planning initiatives. Transformative change is achieved through a long process of incremental efforts (programs, policies, and actions) by actors within the public, political, and bureaucratic groups whose values and beliefs converge and align over time. The incremental efforts are intended to support a transformative change goal. / Graduate

Researchers have examined ways in which policy makers develop their decisions. The literature has not explored, however, the methodologies used by county managers to arrive at decisions, or whether they consider the medium- and long-term policy implications, or second and third order effects, of those decisions. The purpose of this study was to identify the methodologies and decision-making processes used by county managers in North Carolina. The theoretical framework was Lindblom's theory of incrementalism in decision making. Data for this phenomenological study were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 purposefully selected county managers, and were coded and categorized to identify themes and patterns. Results indicated that county managers tended to rely on multiple methodologies, rather than one consistent methodology, when deciding public policy issues, and that they overwhelmingly considered the second and third order effects of their decisions on public policy outcomes. The implications for positive social change include informing country managers and the public about policy decisions and their effects on the long-term well-being of their local community.

Housing is one aspect of architecture and urban planning that has constantly been improved and redefined to suit the needs of people during the time periods they have been living in. People have taken significant steps in establishing how they want to live in retrospect to the times, according to their values and needs. Today, more architectural research may address the understanding and production of a healthy way of living than any other aspect of placemaking. It is no surprise that so much effort supports this spatial concern, which contributes to a fundamental building block of shared cultural definitions. The COVID-19 pandemic has simply underscored the importance of this movement. In human terms, these times have indicated that when the going gets tough, people turn to their own cocoons for shelter, safety, and storage, while this so-called place of safety becomes a focal point around which they can develop their life and subsequently their communication to the outside world. With the growing challenges in everyday urbanism, and the population of the world reaching new peaks every year, one must question if the issues of the past such as the scale and speed of construction can coordinate with the critical timelines that society now faces. On top of that, disasters and climate change simply heightens these challenges. Providing housing for all may not be a viable solution in the long term. People often see housing as a product or the result of the process, and this idea needs to be given significant thought so that the discourse of housing and eventually urban living reflect a world of comfort and social utopia. The thesis also narrowly touches on the fact that housing is a form of architecture that is ever changing. Once this idea has been accepted, urbanism can begin to address things that affect the environment, health, and other aspects of value which are now loosely attached to one’s living conditions. This thesis explores the various ways of establishing comfortable living space, in particular the notion of “Hygge” and its parallels across the world, and identifies “incrementalism” as a common framework to support health, facilitate safety, and build comfort for a large audience.

South Korea has been one of the most successful newborn republics since 1948, and yet, since the new millennium, it has been embroiled in a controversy over the issues of constitutionalism and successful government, with the public expressing concerns about transparency, democracy, and competitiveness. Of particular concern is the public's perception of constitutional government. The purpose of this study was to better understand the elements of governmental success and best practices for constitutionalism in the country's framework of democratic experimentalism. Three prongs of inquiry rooted in the democratic experimentalist tradition (lessons learned from private governance, national institutions, and new concepts of rights) were examined. Dorf and Sabel's theory of constitution of democratic experimentalism was used to help answer the research question, which was, how democratic experimentalism supports constitutional government in South Korea. Data were collected through interviews with 16 legal/government professionals under the age of 40, and then coded and thematically analyzed. Findings identified 9 identified key themes as vital for the success of constitutional government in South Korea. Results suggest that constitutionalism and democratic experimentation need to be considered together when seeking to understand the South Korean constitutional government. Implications for positive social change include helping future investigators to better interpret the Korean constitutional system and supporting decision makers and public servants in making better informed decisions to further more democratic and transparent government.

This study examines the evolution of the Common European Security and Defence Policy (CESDP) of the European Union before and after the Saint Malo Declaration of December 1998. The co-operation in foreign policy and security matters has always been a corollary element to the economic co-operation since the beginning of the European Integration process. Within this context this study argues that the conducting of co-operation in this field within the framework of European Community/European Union (EC/EU) was dependent on the national actors, the internal community/union factors, and the external dynamics. It is also asserted that, the European political co-operation is based on, on the one hand, the intergovernmentalist method of decision-making and implementation process, and on the other to the incrementalism through which the Member States could reconcile their diverging interests, which represent continuity within the EC/EU. The Saint Malo constitutes one of the momentous events in the trajectory of European foreign policy, security and defence co-operation, which launched the essentials of the CESDP. Within this framework, this study will analyse how a legally unbinding document has been incorporated into the legal framework of the European Union and consequently became the part of the acquis. Furthermore, the policies of France, Britain, and the United States within the process of establishment of the CESDP will be examined. Then, this thesis argues that, Saint Malo has initiated a ground for renegotiation of the terms of transatlantic relationship, which culminated in the redefinition of global roles and responsibilities of Americans and Europeans.

Incrementalism is a growing movement within multiple design disciplines that approaches design with sustainable, social, and resilient aims structured around participatory, infrastructural, and phased approaches to design. Carefully considered structural and independent infrastructural frameworks allow infill and accretion according to the demands and needs of individuals and communities. This paper outlines the theories, case studies, and conditions driving incrementalism. My research has informed my project proposal for an incremental upgrade of a slum located in Jakarta using a phased, soft infrastructural, resident facilitated upgrade and development strategy creating new housing units, productive landscapes, and urban form. Incremental development will foster the social aims of my project, while affordably, equitably, and efficiently upgrading the standards of living for slum dwellers within the Waduk Pluit community.

[pt] O dinamismo das inovações tecnológicas e as constantes mudanças nos cenários geopolíticos mundiais têm causado crescente turbulência na maior parte dos ambientes em que as organizações da indústria do petróleo estão inseridas. Assim, torna-se vital para o crescimento e sobrevivência dessas organizações o estabelecimento de um processo de planejamento e gestão capaz de oferecer respostas flexíveis às diversas exigências ambientais. Nesse contexto, a presente Dissertação objetiva avaliar os sistemas de gestão e planejamento da Unidade de Negócio Refinaria Duque de Caxias - UN-REDUC, da Petrobras, analisando-os à luz dos princípios do Planejamento Adaptativo e sugerindo a implementação de ações que os aprimorem. Para atingir esse objetivo, foi realizado, além de revisão bibliográfica, um estudo de caso nessa refinaria, que subsidiou as análises do trabalho. Os principais instrumentos de pesquisa utilizados nesse estudo de caso foram a análise documental e a realização de entrevistas semi-estruturadas com os principais atores envolvidos no processo de formulação e implementação dos processos de planejamento e gestão da empresa, além da observação direta desses processos. O trabalho forneceu subsídios para ações já implementadas e para apresentação de propostas visando a tradução dos princípios do Planejamento Adaptativo no cotidiano da UN-REDUC. Como resultado desta pesquisa, produziu-se não apenas a análise pretendida, mas também a proposição e implementação de ações que visam o aperfeiçoamento dos processos considerados. / [en] The dynamism of the technology innovation and the constant changes in the worldwide geopolitical scenarios are contributing to develop a increasing turbulence in a great deal of the environments in which the petroleum organizations are situated. Therefore, the unique way for a growing future and a survival perspective for these organizations is the establishment of a management and planning process capable of disposing flexible answers to the unclear exigences of the environments. In this context this Dissertation intends to analyze the management and planning systems of the Duque de Caxias Refinery Unity - UN-REDUC, of Petrobras, comparing them with the Adaptive Planning principles and suggesting and implementing actions in order to improve these systems. This objective has been conquered with a bibliographic review and a case study in this Refinery in which the analysis of the survey has been realized. The principal survey instruments used in this case study are documental analysis and interviews with the protagonists of the management and planning Refinery processes, besides the direct observation of these processes. The job supported actions already implemented and proposals that aim a reproduction of the Adaptive Planning in the UN-REDUC daily activities. The result of the concluded survey reached not only the intended analysis, but also the proposal and the implementation of actions that desire the development of the considered processes.

Denna uppsats behandlar kommunal samhällsplanering, med fokus på handelsetableringar. Uppsatsen tar avstamp i den utveckling med externalisering och koncentration av detaljhandeln som pågått under de senaste decennierna. Denna utveckling är såväl lokal som regional och har inneburit att detaljhandeln koncentrerats till centralorternas stadskärnor och externa stormarknader. Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka vilken aktör som bestämmer över denna utveckling. De aktörer som undersöks är dagligvaruhandeln och samt kommuner. Från dessa aktörer intervjuas ett antal informanter: etableringschefer på Axfood, Coop och Ica, samt kommunalråd och kommuntjänstemän från Borlänge, Säter och Örnsköldsviks kommuner. Dessutom intervjuas ett antal personer från en lokal intresseförening i Husum. Materialet visar att dagligvaruföretagen är aktiva och trendsättare, medan kommunerna är relativt passiva och försöker klara sig så bra som möjligt utifrån sina förutsättningar. I slutändan finner uppsatsen att det är handeln snarare än kommunerna som bestämmer över utvecklingen med externalisering och koncentration av handel. Detta aktualiserar bland annat frågan om framtida samarbete över kommungränserna i detaljhandelsfrågor kan bli nödvändigt. / This paper deals with municipal planning, with special focus on retail localisation issues. The paper takes its inspiration from the process of externalising and concentration that has characterised the past few decades of the retail industry. This development is both local and regional, and has meant that retailers have concentrated their localisations to the important city centers and out-of-town shopping centres. The purpose of this paper is to explore which agent that controls this development. The agents examined are the retail grocery industry and municipalities. From these agents a few people are interviewed: managers at Axfood, Coop and ICA, as well as municipal politicians and officials from Borlänge, Säter and Örnsköldsvik municipalities. Furthermore, a number of people from a local interest group in Husum are interviewed. The material shows that retail grocery companies are active and trendsetting, while the municipalities are relatively passive and trying to cope as well as possible based on their current situations. In the end, the paper finds that retail rather than the municipalities are in charge of the process of externalisation and concentration. Amongst other things, this raises the question of whether future cooperation in retail policy may be necessary across municipal borders.

[pt] O trabalho tem por escopo analisar a compatibilidade do Planejamento Inovador com uma empresa da área de comércio eletrônico. Inicialmente, estudam-se os conceitos do processo de inovação visando à ambientação da área de comércio eletrônico. Em seguida, o Planejamento Inovador é apresentado e analisado, revelando-se as peculiaridades do enfoque sociotécnico e do Planejamento Adaptativo, essenciais em sua composição. Nessa etapa, apresentam-se ainda os princípios da sustentabilidade que, embora não constituam a base do Planejamento Inovador, são características imprescindíveis em uma empresa de inovação no século XXI. Em seguida, procede-se à avaliação do planejamento estratégico em uma empresa de comércio eletrônico ao longo de sua existência, o que possibilita a visualização da aplicabilidade de tais conceitos. Por fim, ressalta-se ser o Planejamento Inovador uma forma eficaz de levar a empresa em estudo à excelência em sua área de atuação, considerando os princípios de sustentabilidade. / [en] The work aims to evaluate the relation between Innovatory Planning and an ecommerce company. Initially, the concepts of the innovation process are studied to enhance the understanding of ecommerce. Next, Innovatory Planning is presented and analyzed, thus disclosing the essential peculiarities of the sociotechnical approach and adaptive planning in its structure. In this stage, the principles of sustentability are presented and it is realized that, although not explicit in Innovatory Planning, they are important characteristics in an innovative company from the century XXI. Then, the analysis of the strategical planning in an e-commerce company, throughout its existence, makes it possible to comprehend the applicability of such concepts. Finally, presenting the choices made by the company, it is revealed that Innovatory Planning makes the organization able to reach the excellence in its area of performance, taking into consideration the sustentability principles.

There is a lack of a unified definition for what “sustainability” means and what is a “sustainable activity”. The EU Sustainability Taxonomy is the EU’s recent attempt in developing “a science-based unified EU classification system for sustainable activities” with the aim to create a “shared understanding of what ‘sustainability’ means”. This study aims to explore the EU Sustainability Taxonomy policy, its functions and history, using public policy process analysis as its framework and method. The EU taxonomy was defined, and its impacts were discussed, the taxonomy was used to define a sustainable activity and demonstrate the taxonomy in action to calculate the taxonomy alignment of a fictional automotive manufacturer. Using the public process analysis the taxonomy was traced back to its origin with the identification and discussion of the key events and milestones, which led to the creation of the EU Sustainability taxonomy. These findings were analysed and explained using the Lindblom (1959) theory of “successive limited comparison” and the theory of incrementalism (Bevir, 2007).