The changing environment of the RDA in Scotland and the effect that working in partnership is having both on the environment and on the organisation is the scope of this study. The main focus is to identify whether there is evidence to suggest that partnership working within economic development could in some cases not be as efficient and effective as it is expected. In particular within this research organisational and institutional economic theories are used to identify underlying variables which could measure the perceptions of the disadvantages of partnership working. Thus this approach links the advantages and disadvantages specified by authors through their widespread studies of numerous partnership arrangements, with an enhanced theoretical framework. It is noted that within economic development the organisations and respondents are involved in a large number of partnership arrangements. Analysis of the data in this study reveals that in general the attitudes toward working in partnership are positive across the three types of organisation studied (Local Enterprise Company, Local Authority and Partnership). Throughout the quantitative research similarities in characteristics, attitudes and perceptions across the organisations are evident. However anomalies occur between the qualitative and quantitative data which raises questions on the depth of the positive attitudes held on partnership working. In addition, evidence gathered in accordance with organisational theories suggests that certain pressures which lead organisations to change homogenously are apparent in the field of economic development in Scotland. Finally the partnership method of working is found to have inherent disadvantages which are implicated as adversely impacting on the role of the RDA, reducing its ability to act strategically and at 'arms length' from Government. The recommendation for further research is that the variance statistics for the indicators and for new indicators are collected on a time series basis in order to statistically measure whether the pressure towards homogeneity within the field of economic development is increasing over time.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:398332 |
| Date | January 2002 |
| Creators | Barnicoat, Greta M. |
| Publisher | University of the West of Scotland |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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