Student mobility in the area of Higher Education (HE) is gaining more attention nowadays. It is one of the cornerstones of the Bologna Process being promoted at both national and international levels. However, currently there is no technical system that would support student mobility processes and assist users in authoring educational curricula involving student mobility. In this study, the problem of student mobility programmes generation based on existing modules and programmes is considered. A similar problem is being solved in an Intelligent Tutoring Systems field using Curriculum generation techniques, but the student mobility area has a set of characteristics limiting their application to the considered problem. One of main limiting factors is that mobility programmes should be developed in an environment with heterogeneous regulations. In this environment, various established routines and regulations are used to control different aspects of the educational process. These regulations can be different in different domains and are supported by different authors independently. In this thesis, a novel framework was developed for generation of student mobility programmes in an environment with heterogeneous regulations. Two core technologies that were coherently combined in the framework are hierarchical planning and policy-based management. The policy-based planner was designed as a central engine for the framework. It extends the functionality of existing planning technologies and provides the means to carry out planning in environments with heterogeneous regulations, specified as policies. The policy-based planner enforces the policies during the planning and guarantees that the resultant plan is conformant with all policies applicable to it. The policies can be supported by different authors independently. Using them, policy authors can specify additional constraints on the execution of planning actions and extend the pre-specified task networks. Policies are enforced during the planning in a coordinated manner: situations when a policy can be enforced are defined by its scope, and the outcomes of policy evaluation are processed according to the specially defined procedures. For solving the problem of student mobility programme generation using the policy-based planner, the planning environment describing the student mobility problem area was designed and this problem was formalised as a planning task. Educational processes valid throughout the HE environment were formalised using Hierarchical Task Network planning constructs. Different mobility schemas were encoded as decomposition methods that can be combined to construct complex mobility scenarios satisfying the user requirements. New mobility programmes are developed as detailed educational processes carried out when students study according to these programmes. This provides the means to model their execution in the planning environment and guarantee that all relevant requirements are checked. The postponed policy enforcement mechanism was developed as an extension of the policy-based planner in order to improve the planning performance. In this mechanism, future dead-ends can be detected earlier during the planning using partial policy requests. The partial policy requests and an algorithm for their evaluation were introduced to examine policies for planning actions that should be executed in the future course of planning. The postponed policy enforcement mechanism was applied to the mobility programme generation problem within the descending policy evaluation technique. This technique was designed to optimise the process of programme components selection. Using it, policies for different domains can be evaluated independently in a descending order, gradually limiting the scope for the required component selection. The prototype of student mobility programme generation solution was developed. Two case studies were used to examine the process of student mobility programmes development and to analyse the role of policies in this process. Additionally, four series of experiments were carried out to analyse performance gains of the descending policy evaluation technique in planning environments with different characteristics.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research analyses traditional public sector delivery impediments and the resultant reforms which have emanated from these impediments, how the reforms have been implemented in the developed and developing countries and the challenges facing rural local government structures, which must implement alternative service delivery mechanisms at the grassroots level in South Africa. The research further explores external and internal issues affecting public service delivery in general, and then concludes by exploring the local government and rural development realities in South Africa. The developmental divide between developed and developing countries is increasing for various reasons, among them, the public management reforms that have enhanced performance in developed countries, but cannot do the same in developing countries due to the overwhelming constraints. Developing countries experience constraints which include vague definitions of what performance entails in a developing context, unresponsive organisational cultures, unclear performance indicators, a resilient ethos of governance, unfavourable organisational factors, incorrect use of resources and unsuccessful policy initiatives. A literature review has shown that ideological contradictions, lack of a common vision and policy process constraints are also hampering South African public sector service delivery processes. Although local government legislation and reforms have freed municipalities from many impediments to improve delivery, the huge service backlog, infrastructure neglect, lack of integration with other spheres of government, lack of capacity, the impact of HIV/AIDS and the culture of non-payment are still eroding that ability, especially in rural areas. In addition, rural areas have even greater levels of underdevelopment, poverty and service backlogs and consequently municipal structures in deep rural areas carry less legitimacy. The ethnographic research chapter focuses on a rural municipality in South Africa, Engcobo, and on how effectively it will be able to deliver the required municipal services in the absence of resources and amid a culture of non-payment for services, a huge unemployment rate and escalating HIV/AIDS in the area. Local economic development will be hard to realise because the municipality faces the constraints of finance, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, lack of institutional skills and inadequate infrastructure to foster and drive developmental local government. The premise, that such a municipality cannot deliver the expanded local government designated services while it faces the above internal constraints and external ones that emanate from the traditional public sector context, the global economic set up and the South Africa national government constraints, is qualified in this research. Amid the magnitude of the service backlogs, delivering the basic services in Engcobo Municipality will require sustainable funds and skills currently lacking. Engcobo Municipality does not have the required capacity to deliver the designated services for local government and neither will this capacity be built up in the short term. A number of recommendations for improving on the prospects are nevertheless made. These recommendations focus on institutional development and capacity building, improving financial viability, harnessing profit in service delivery, public participation, partnership arrangements, dealing with HIV/AIDS, infrastructure development as well as waste and environmental management. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing analiseer die tradisionele hindernisse vir openbare sektor dienslewering en die hervormings wat daaruit voortspruit, hoe die hervormings uitgevoer is in ontwikkelde en ontwikkelende lande en die uitdagings van landelike plaaslike regeringsstrukture wat die implimentering van alternatiewe diensleweringsmeganismes op voetsoolvlak in Suid Afrika in die gesig staar. Die navorsing ondersoek verder die eksterne en interne aspekte wat openbare sektor dienslewering oor die algemeen beïnvloed, en ondersoek dan plaaslike regering en landelik ontwikkelingsrealiteite. Die ontwikkelingsskeiding tussen ontwikkelde en ontwikkelende lande vergroot vir verskeie redes, insluitend die openbare bestuurshervormings wat prestasie in ontwikkelde lande verbeter het, maar wat nie dieselfde doen in ontwikkelende lande nie, weens oorweldigende beperkings. Ontwikkelende lande ondervind beperkings wat vae definisies oor wat prestasie in 'n ontwikkelende konteks behels, insluit, onresponsiewe organisatoriese kulture, onduidelike prestasie-indikatore, 'n elastiese karakter van regeerkunde, ongunstige organisatoriese faktore, verkeerde gebruik van hulpbronne en onsuksesvolle beleidsinisiatiewe. 'n Literatuuroorsig het getoon dat ideologiese teenstrydighede, gebrek aan 'n gemeenskaplike visie en beleidsproses beperkinge ook Suid Afrikaanse openbare sektor diensleweringsprosesse aan bande lê. Alhoewel die wetgewing oor plaaslike regering en hervormings munisipaliteite bevry het van baie hindernisse om lewering te verbeter, veroorsaak die enorme diensagterstand, die verwaarlosing van die infrastruktuur, die gebrek aan integrasie met ander sfere van regering, die gebrek aan kapasiteit, die impak van HIV/VIGS en die kultuur van nie-betaling nog steeds dat diensleweringsvermoë aangetas word, veral in die landelike gebiede. Boonop, het landelike gebiede nog groter vlakke van onderontwikkeling, armoede en diensagterstande en dus geniet munisipale strukture in diep landelike gebiede minder legitimiteit. Die etnografiese navorsingshoofstuk fokus op 'n landelike munisipaliteit in Suid Afrika, Engcobo, en hoe effektief die munisipaliteit in staat is om verlangde munisipale dienste te lewer te midde van die afwesigheid van hulpbronne en te midde van 'n kultuur van niebetaling vir dienste, enorme werkloosheid en stygende HIV/VIGS in die area. Plaaslike ekonomiese ontwikkeling sal moeilik wees om te realiseer omdat die munisipaliteit die beperkinge van onvoldoende fondse, HIV/VIGS, 'n gebrek aan institusionele bekwaamhede en 'n onvoldoende infrastruktuur om ontwikkelende plaaslike regering te bevorder en te bestuur, in die gesig staar. Die premis dat so 'n munisipaliteit nie die aangewese uitgebreide plaaslike regeringsdienste kan lewer terwyl dit die interne gedwongendhede en eksterne beperkinge voortspruitend uit die konteks van 'n tradisionele openbare sektor, die globale ekonomiese opset en die gedwongendhede van die Suid Afrikaanse nasionale regering in die gesig staar nie, word met hierdie navorsing gekwalifiseer. Te midde van die omvang van diensagterstande, sal die lewering van basiese dienste in Engcobo Munisipaliteit genoegsame fondse en vaardighede wat tans ontbreek, benodig. Engcobo Munisipaliteit het nie die vereiste kapasiteit om die aangewese dienste vir plaaslike regering te lewer nie en ewemin sal hierdie kapasiteit oor die korttermyn opgebou word. 'n Aantal aanbevelings ter verbetering van die vooruitsigte word nietemin gemaak. Hierdie aanbevelings fokus op institusionele ontwikkeling en kapasiteitsbou, verbetering van finansiële lewensvatbaarheid, aanwending van die winsmotief in dienslewering, publieke deelname, vennootskapsreëlings, hantering van MIV/VIGS, infrastruktuur ontwikkeling sowel as afval en omgewingsbestuur.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 267-271).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2008. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 145-148).

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2016-09-06T13:21:44Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) TESE_PPGEO_UFPE_LUIZ_ARTHUR.pdf: 10205896 bytes, checksum: abd8746c7c413df16f5a876bae9f2c1a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-06T13:21:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) TESE_PPGEO_UFPE_LUIZ_ARTHUR.pdf: 10205896 bytes, checksum: abd8746c7c413df16f5a876bae9f2c1a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-26 / O presente trabalho aborda o potencial participativo das representações de bairro nas práticas recentes de gestão e planejamento urbano da cidade de Campina Grande/PB, sob as perspectivas da cidadania e da democracia geografizadas em seu cotidiano. A pesquisa traz a tese de que os modelos de gestão e planejamento urbanos da cidade de Campina Grande/PB, vigentes desde meados da década de 1990 até meados da segunda década do século XXI, intensificaram a desigualdade e a exclusão urbano-espaciais mediante o ideário mercadológico instituído nas legislações, políticas urbanas e parcerias envolvendo o Estado e o capital, depreciando os espaços políticos das representações de bairro e contribuindo para o estabelecimento de diferentes padrões territoriais de democracia-cidadania, além de dificuldades quanto à participação políticarepresentativa e cumprimento dos direitos (civis, políticos e sociais) da população frente ao poder local. O objetivo geral consistiu em compreender as relações e práticas socioespaciais entre o Estado, na figura do poder público local-municipal, e as representações de bairro, enquanto entidades político-espaciais da sociedade civil, na cidade de Campina Grande/PB mediante os atuais modelos de gestão e planejamento urbanos. No que tange aos objetivos específicos, esses foram analisar a adoção e desdobramentos dos vigentes modelos de gestão e planejamento urbanos campinenses, baseados no empresarialismo urbano e no desenvolvimento geograficamente desigual de cunho mesoescalar; elucidar espacialmente as relações de poder (aqui incluindo suas estratégias, práticas e instrumentos) de poder envolvendo as dinâmicas e os agentes sociais previamente elencados no espaço urbano campinense, enfatizando as instituições do poder público local e da sociedade civil; caracterizar as práticas participativas de representações de bairro da cidade enquanto espaços historicamente políticos de ativismo e resistência, bem como as relações que estabelecem com o poder público local; e abordar os usos e as dinâmicas a partir da relação dialético-geográfica entre democracia e cidadania políticoterritoriais, enquanto possibilidades no cotidiano campinense. Quanto aos procedimentos metodológicos e técnicas de pesquisa, parte-se do método de abordagem materialista históricodialético em diálogo com outros vieses críticos. Foram realizados levantamentos bibliográfico e documental, assim como as visitas in loco a alguns bairros da cidade e espaços políticos institucionalizados, com suas devidas observações, descrições e coleta de dados/informações. Também foram aplicados questionários e visitas foram realizadas às instituições para acompanhar a gestão urbana de Campina Grande. Tem-se ainda o recolhimento de depoimentos e realização de entrevistas semiestruturadas com representantes populares atuais e anteriores dos moradores, enfatizando o contexto político e os conflitos inerentes ao cotidiano estudado. Por fim, se faz necessário o registro fotográfico de vários objetos espaciais, além de tratamento cartográfico para representação das espacialidades e contextos relacionados. A pesquisa justifica-se na contribuição à discussão dos espaços urbanos em suas dimensões políticas, com ênfase aos seus potenciais de participação e representação civil, política e social, na exequibilidade pelo acesso ao contexto em questão, incluindo o contato com representações instituídas da população e órgãos públicos responsáveis, pelo cotidiano compartilhado na condição de morador, transeunte e usuário da cidade, além do amadurecimento das ideias e reflexões decorridas ao longo outros trabalhos junto à necessidade de pensamento do constante agravamento das desigualdades e expressões da questão urbana. / This study approaches the participative potential of neighborhood representations on recent management and urban planning practices of the city of Campina Grande / PB, from the perspectives of citizenship and democracy in a geography way in their everyday lives. The research brings the thesis that urban management and planning models of Campina Grande/PB, in effect since the mid-1990s until the mid of the second decade of this century, intensified the inequality and the urban-spatial exclusion, by ideology marketing instituted in urban laws, policies and partnerships between the State and the capital, depreciating the neighborhood's political spaces and representations contributing to the establishment of different territorial standards of democracy-citizenship, and difficulties regarding the political-representative participation and fulfillment of rights (civil, political and social) from population to local power. The overall objective is to understand the relations and sociospatial practices between the state, the figure of the local-municipal power, and neighborhood's representations, while political-spatial entities of civil society, in the city of Campina Grande / PB through current models urban management and planning. In regard to specific objectives, these were to analyze the adoption and developments of current Campina Grande's management models and urban planning based on the urban entrepreneurism and geographically uneven development mesoescale nature; to spatially elucidate the power relations (here including their strategies, practices and tools) of power involving the dynamics and social agents previously listed in Campina Grande urban space, emphasizing the institutions of local public power and civil society; to characterize the participative practices of city neighborhood's representations while historically neighborhood's political spaces of activism and resistance, as well as the relations established with the local public power; and to address the uses and dynamics from the dialectical-geographic relationship between politicalterritorial democracy and citizenship as possibilities in Campina Grande everyday. About the methodological proceedings and research techniques, it is part of the method of the dialectical historical materialism approach in dialogue with other critical bias. Bibliographical and documental surveys were conducted, as well as field visits to some city neighborhoods and institutionalized political spaces, with their proper observations, descriptions and collecting data/info. Questionnaires were administered and visits were made on institutions to follow the urban management of Campina Grande. It has still the collection of testimonials and conducting semistructured interviews with current and former popular representatives of the residents, highlighting the political context and conflicts inherent to the studied everyday. Finally, photographic recording of various space objects is necessary in addition to cartographic representation treatment for representation of spatialities and related contexts. The research is justified in contributing to the discussion of urban spaces in its political dimensions, with emphasis to the their potentials of civil, poliical and social participation and representation on the executability by the access to the context in question, including the contact with instituted representations of the population and public agencies, through the shared everyday in city folk condition, passerby and user of the city, beyond the maturity of the elapsed ideas and reflections along other studies with the need for constant thought of increasing inequalities and expressions of urban question.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-02-29T15:49:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 patriciaaparecidadasilva.pdf: 500481 bytes, checksum: 48be9120a1b8006b58b6c16c09ce7b41 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-03-03T14:25:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 patriciaaparecidadasilva.pdf: 500481 bytes, checksum: 48be9120a1b8006b58b6c16c09ce7b41 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-03T14:25:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 patriciaaparecidadasilva.pdf: 500481 bytes, checksum: 48be9120a1b8006b58b6c16c09ce7b41 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-20 / O ensino superior sofrendo grandes mudanças como reflexo, principalmente, das políticas públicas formuladas pelo governo federal. Com o objetivo de ampliar o acesso e a permanência no ensino superior e obter um melhor aproveitamento da estrutura física e de recursos humanos existentes nas universidades federais, o governo federal através do decreto nº 6.096/2007, instituiu o Programa de Apoio a Planos de Reestruturação e Expansão das Universidades Federais – REUNI. Concebido sob a ótica da responsabilização da gestão das universidades, o REUNI ao associar metas de expansão da oferta da educação superior, tanto na graduação como na pós-graduação, com investimentos de capital e expansão física e de recursos humanos, trouxe um compromisso ainda maior para os gestores universitários, referente ao cumprimento das metas estabelecidas no Programa. Sendo assim, diante desse novo cenário e tendo em vista a adesão da UFJF ao REUNI, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar os principais desafios enfrentados pelos gestores das unidades acadêmicas da UFJF, diante do processo de expansão ocorrido no campus da Instituição com a ampliação do acesso ao ensino superior propiciado pelo REUNI, identificando mudanças importantes ocorridas nas suas rotinas acadêmicas e administrativas. Trata-se de um estudo de caso de abordagem qualitativa, com levantamento de dados e pesquisa bibliográfica, tais como a legislação referente ao REUNI e o projeto de adesão da UFJF ao Programa, e pesquisa de campo, sendo entrevistados cinco gestores (Diretores de Unidades Acadêmicas e Pró-Reitor), no qual se constatou das dificuldades que os gestores têm diante do crescimento físico e de recursos humanos da instituição, frente à instituição de políticas públicas para o ensino superior. Diante disso, é apresentada uma proposta de intervenção, via implementação de oficinas de discussão e avaliação dos impactos REUNI na UFJF, tendo com público alvo os diretores de unidades acadêmicas assim como os demais atores que atuam com gestão e planejamento na instituição. / Higher education in Brazil has been going through great changes mainly as a consequence of the public policies developed by the federal government. The federal government, having as an objective the broading of access and staying of the alumni in university education and obtaining a better use of the physical structure and human resources already existent in the federal universities, established through the decree number 6.096/2007 a Supporting Program to the Federal Universities Restructuring and Expansion Plans– REUNI. Conceived under the perspective of the accountability of universities’ management, as REUNI associates goals of expansion of the offer of higher education, not only in undergraduate but also in graduate courses, counting on capital investments, structural and human resources expansion, it also has brought an even bigger commitment to the univesity managers when it comes to meeting the goals stablished by the Program. This way, facing this new scenery and bearing in mind that the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF) has adpoted REUNI, this work has the means to analyze the main challenges confronted by the managers of the academic units of UFJF in face of the expansion process that has occured in the institution’s campus and the increasing of access to higher education provided by REUNI, identifying important changes that took place in their academic and administrative routines. This is a case study of qualitative approach with data collection and bibliographic research, such as the legislation concerning REUNI and UFJF’s project of adopting the program, in addition to field research, in which five managers have been interviewed (Directors of Academic Units and Dean) and the difficulties they confront when it comes to the human resources and structural enlarging of the institution, confronting the university’s public policies for the higher education. Given this, an intervention proposal is made, by the means of implementing discussion workshops and evaluating the impacts of REUNI at UFJF, and having as a target audience the directors of the academic units as well as the other professionals that work with management and planning at the institution.

With its core in adaptability and change responsiveness, the Agile methodology has become a popular application of the project process within the often volatile environment of today’s software development projects. The Agile methodology emphasizes interaction between project roles over documentation and formal processes. This higher interaction increases the need for functioning information dissemination throughout the entire project process. The study was carried out at a small sized Swedish IT consultancy firm. The company wished to acquire a project management and planning software tool to support the entire project process and all involved project roles. However, awareness of areas in the project process in need of support was not entirely clear. Therefore, the objective of the study was to investigate the company’s application of the Agile project process and identify potential challenges. Furthermore, the objective was to investigate how a project management and planning software tool can support the Agile project process within software development. The thesis was carried out as an abductive case study, where qualitative data collection methods and literature studies were combined. As a result from the study, two main conclusions have been drawn. Firstly: requirements engineering, the customer role, communication, and knowledge transfer were concluded as prominent challenges in the project process in need of increased support. Secondly, a project management and planning software tool can support the project process by: increasing the communication and collaboration abilities, providing holistic and historical project overview, providing a single storage location, and providing structure. Furthermore, the study has also shown that the project management and planning software tool needs to interact with the Agile project process in order to provide successful support. As final contribution, the Interaction model was created. The model visualizes the main areas in which a project management and planning software tool must interact with the Agile process, in order to support the entire project process successfully. / Genom dess anpassningsförmåga och förändringsmottaglighet har den Agila metodiken blivit en populär tillämpning för projektprocessen inom mjukvaruutveckling, en miljö där snabba förändringar tillhör vardagen. Den Agila metodiken framhäver interaktion mellan projektroller  framför  dokumentation  och  formella  processer,  vilket  ökar  behovet  av fungerande informationsspridning genom hela projektprocessen. Studien  har  utförts  hos  ett  mindre  svenskt  IT-konsultföretag,  vilket  önskade  att införskaffa en programvara för ett projektlednings- och planeringsverktyg som kan stötta hela  projektprocessen  och  alla  involverade  projektroller.  Medvetenheten  kring  de områden i projektprocessen som är i behov av stöd var däremot inte helt tydlig. Målet med   studien   var   därför   att   undersöka   företagets   tillämpning   av   den   Agila projektprocessen  och  identifiera  eventuella  utmaningar.  Vidare  var  målet  också  att undersöka hur en programvara för ett projektlednings- och planeringsverktyg kan stödja den Agila projektprocessen inom mjukvaruutveckling. Examensarbetet utfördes som en abduktiv fallstudie där flera kvalitativa datainsamlingsmetoder användes tillsammans med litteraturstudier. Som resultat av studien har två huvudslutsatser dragits. För det första; kravhantering, kundrollen, kommunikation  och  kunskapsöverföring  identifierades som framträdande utmaningar i projektprocessen i behov av ökat stöd. För det andra, att en programvara för ett projektlednings- och planeringsverktyg kan stödja projektprocessen genom att; förbättra  kommunikations-  och  samarbetsmöjligheterna,  ge  en  övergripande  och historisk projektöverblick, fungera som en gemensam lagringsplats och tillhandahålla struktur.  Vidare  har  studien  visat  att  en  programvara  för  ett  projektlednings-  och planeringsverktyg  måste  interagera  med  den  Agila  projektprocessen  för  att  ge  ett effektivt  stöd.  Som  ett  slutligt  bidrag  skapades  "the  Interaction  model",  vilken visualiserar huvudområdena inom vilka en programvara för ett  projektlednings- och planeringsverktyg måste interagera med projektprocessen för att ge ett fullt stöd till processen.

This dissertation contributes to the disaster resilience policy literature by examining the diffusion of hazard mitigation policy in the U.S. Using the three-paper model, it investigates the adoption of local hazard mitigation plans (LHMPs) from an intergovernmental perspective. The first paper focuses on horizontal diffusion in hazard mitigation planning among local communities. Special attention is paid to the potential factors affecting the adoption of FEMA-approved LHMPs, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) projects and Pre-Disaster Program (PDM) projects at the county level. The Event History Analysis (EHA) Logit Model and Spatial Autocorrelation Models test the hypotheses corresponding to external factors such as the neighboring effects and internal factors, including disaster risks, neighborhood disadvantage and affluence, government capacity, local disaster resilience advocacy groups, and political support. The empirical results confirmed the significant influence of neighboring effects, indicating that counties are more likely to implement the same mitigation strategies if neighboring counties have done so. The results also revealed that disaster experience, government capacity, and strong democratic support significantly impact the likelihood of adopting LHMP and HMGP. Additionally, the results suggested that disadvantaged communities were more likely to adopt mitigation policies, while affluent communities were less likely to adopt such policies. The second paper evaluates the effectiveness of the FEMA's Program Administration by State Pilot (PAS). By integrating the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) technique with the Difference-in-Differences (DID) analysis, the empirical evidence demonstrated a significant reduction in the approval times for both LHMP and HMGP in pilot states compared to non-pilot states, with an average reduction nearing 30%. This suggests that the PAS program has effectively streamlined administrative processes, thereby enhancing efficiency in disaster management within pilot states. The analysis also indicated that the impact of PAS on the actual funding received through HMGP was insignificant, suggesting that while administrative processes were expedited, the allocation of financial resources remained unaffected. The third paper attempts to understand how local governments respond to top-down policy pressures in vertical diffusion by analyzing the text similarities of hazard mitigation strategies between state hazard mitigation plans and county LHMPs in Ohio using the word embedding technologies. The study employs the Word2Vec algorithm to assess the policy similarity between the hazard mitigation goals outlined in LHMPs and SHMPs. Building on this initial analysis, this research further uses the Beta Regression model to examine the textual similarities within LHMPs in Ohio, focusing on how the type of author - government versus private consultants, and the nature of the goals, whether action-based or hazard-based, affect these alignments. The regression analysis shows that LHMPs authored by government entities tend to exhibit higher textual similarity, reflecting the influence of standardized approaches driven by state and federal guidelines. This suggests a compliance-driven alignment in government-written plans. Conversely, LHMPs authored by private consultants display greater variability, suggesting that these plans are customized to the specific needs and risk assessments of local communities. Additionally, the regression results indicate that action-based and mixed-goal LHMPs are associated with higher textual similarity across counties. To carry out the empirical analysis mentioned above, this dissertation builds a panel dataset for all counties from 2000 to 2020, which contains data on LHMPs, HMA projects, disaster risks, socioeconomic characteristics, regional economic and political indicators, etc. / Doctor of Philosophy / Hazard mitigation in the United States is a critical issue, especially as the frequency and cost of disasters continue to rise. This dissertation investigates the dynamics of hazard mitigation planning within a multi-level governmental framework, focusing on the adoption of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved Local Hazard Mitigation Plans (LHMPs), Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) projects, and Pre-Disaster Program (PDM) projects. across U.S. counties and the influence of federal and state policies on these local initiatives. The first paper examines the horizontal diffusion of LHMPs among local communities, revealing the significant influence of neighboring counties. This "neighboring effect" shows that counties are more likely to adopt similar mitigation strategies if their neighbors have done so, emphasizing the role of regional collaboration in spreading effective disaster resilience practices. Additionally, the study found that counties with more disaster experience and greater governmental capacity are more likely to implement LHMPs, highlighting the importance of preparedness and resources in driving policy adoption. Furthermore, this research finds counties with higher socioeconomic disadvantages are more proactive in adopting mitigation policies, which could be attributed to the higher perceived risks and available federal funding targeted at these communities. The second paper evaluates the impact of FEMA's Program Administration by State (PAS) pilot program on the administrative efficiency of LHMP and HMGP approvals. The findings indicate a significant reduction in approval times in pilot states, suggesting that the PAS program has successfully streamlined administrative processes. However, this expedited process did not lead to increased funding or broader adoption, pointing to the need for further policy enhancements to ensure that administrative improvements translate into real-world benefits for disaster preparedness. The third paper explores the vertical diffusion of policy from state to local governments, using Ohio as a case study. It employs advanced text analysis to measure the similarity between state and local hazard mitigation plans. The results show that government-authored LHMPs tend to closely follow state guidelines, indicating a top-down influence that ensures compliance with federal and state objectives. In contrast, LHMPs authored by private consultants were more varied and aligned to the specific needs and risks of local communities. This suggests that a balance is needed between standardized policies and local customization to effectively address the unique challenges of different regions. By integrating these findings, this dissertation provides a comprehensive overview of how hazard mitigation policies are adopted and implemented across various governmental levels. The research concludes with policy recommendations that advocate for sustained reforms in hazard mitigation funding, emphasizing the need for equitable resource distribution among disadvantaged communities. It also offers critical insights into improving intergovernmental cooperation and policy effectiveness, ensuring that all communities, regardless of their socio-economic status, can enhance their resilience and better prepare for future disasters. This research ultimately serves as a guide for policymakers to refine strategies that foster robust, community-centered resilience practices, enhancing the nation's overall disaster preparedness and response capabilities.

Thesis (MA (Public and Development Management)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / 128 leaves printed single pages, preliminary pages i-ix and numbered pages 1-118. Includes bibliography and a list of figures in color and tables. Digitized at 300 dpi 24-bit Color to pdf format (OCR) using a Hp Scanjet 8250 Scanner, and digitized at 600 dpi grayscale to pdf format (OCR), using a Bizhub 250 Konica Minolta Scanner. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: "The South African Constitution (1996) promotes the improvement of liVing environments and livelihoods for all constituents by means of a developmental approach to local governance" (IDASA, 2005:2). The development role of local government can be understood through the consideration of four basic drivers which includes planning for development, governance and administration, regulation and service delivery. The Drakenstein Local Municipality is committed to ensure sustainable economic growth and development by increasing national and provincial competitiveness as well as the reduction of poverty. Key to this process is the retention and expansion of existing businesses as well as the attraction of new investment. The main focus of this research study is the promotion of business development as it forms part of local economic development (LED) and is also an integral part of integrated development planning (IDP) at local government level. The introduction of proposed targeted investment incentives is aimed at facilitating the implementation of the Drakenstein Local Municipality's strategic development objectives. The proposed intervention options should be a special effort to attract investment to the study area which will result in a positive spill-over effect in the Drakenstein Local Municipality's local economy. Intervention options can be developed in terms of investment incentives that can bring about job creation, economic development and poverty alleviation in the study area as set out in their strategic deveiopment objectives.

Thesis (MPA (School of Public Management and Planning))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Since 1994, the newly elected democratic government of the Republic of South Africa, starting with the government of National Unity, has introduced various policies and legislation in an endeavour to place the country on a path to recovery after the demise of apartheid. The national government has placed this responsibility in the hands of municipalities, or local government as they are commonly referred to. As a result, municipalities have an active duty to create conducive environments to enable local communities to participate in the preparation, implementation and review of their Integrated Development Plan (IDP). The purpose of this study is to assess the public participation of Rosendal-Mautse, one area among the five towns that comprise Dihlabeng Municipality, in the IDP process of Dihlabeng Municipality. In view of the anthology of legislation governing “public participation” at local government level, the study poses two hypotheses, which were tested against the data collected. Furthermore, two additional research questions were formulated to guide the research process. Results of the research are provided in a way that will enable the reader to draw his or her own conclusions on the value of this study. The literature review on international understanding and practices of public participation suggest that participation has grown and that its role has extended in development. This has resulted in the birth of new approaches that cut across theory, policy and practice, with each approach in turn producing its own trajectory and contextual specificities that are characterised by unique debates and empirical evidence. Municipalities are currently burdened with the responsibility to achieve socio-economic goals associated with public participation. However, despite compliance with legal requirement for public participation, only an appropriate knowledge of the process leading to meaningful participation and the relevant skills hold the key to success in this quest to reconstruct and develop the country where all will live a better life.