Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The fundamental purpose of this study is to establish the extent to which theory and
practice relate in the context of community participation. The point of departure is to
understand what participation entails and the methodologies available to the
development practitioner. As illustrated by the case study, there is a meaningful
relationship between theory and the practicing of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA),
which is the methodology of choice for the project.
Although the PRA techniques were utilized in gathering data for the project, many of
the key decisions were made independently of the community. This brings to light the
controversy between technical expertise on the one hand and to what extent the
community should be included in any decisions made at this technical level,
especially since they may only end up rubber-stamping the professional's opinions
anyway. The question arises whether or not the whole concept of empowerment is
simply a utopian concept.
This is by no means an easy question to answer. However, the case study does
illustrate that participation can be harnessed to achieve a successful project. It is
important to note that even in difficult circumstances where 'dependency' has taken
root, there exists hope that the people can actively participate in the project. It also
reinforces the urgency of the need to actively encourage social change that will
inspire people towards participation. This has been viewed for too long by the local
people as the domain of the educated only. It is therefore important that development
agencies create awareness of participation since it cuts across all their projects. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om vas te stel tot watter mate teorie en praktyk met
mekaar verband hou binne die konteks van gemeenskapsdeelname in die bestuur
van gemeenskapsprojekte. Die vertrekpunt van die studie is die verstaan van wat
deelname behels, en watter metodologieë beskikbaar is vir ontwikkelingspraktisyns.
Soos deur die gevallestudie geïllustreer, is daar 'n verband tussen die teorie en die
praktiese gebruik van "Participatory Rural Appraisal" (PRA), die tegniek wat deur die
spesifieke projek gebruik word.
Alhoewel die PRA tegniek aangewend is, word baie van die belangrike besluite
onafhanklik van die gemeenskap gemaak. Dit plaas 'n fokus op die kontroversiële
posisie wat bestaan tussen tegniese insette aan die een kant en die mate waartoe
gemeenskappe op hierdie tegniese vlak aan besluite moet deelneem, veral
aangesien hierdie tipe deelname slegs op die roetine-goedkeuring van professionele
sienswyses mag uitloop. Dit vra die pertinente vraag of deelname nie slegs 'n
utopiese konsep is nie.
Hierdie is nie 'n maklike vraag om te antwoord nie, maar, die gevallestudieondersoek
ondersteun wel die idee dat deelname ingespan kan word om positiewe
resultate vir 'n projek te verseker. Dit is belangrik om daarop te let dat selfs waar 'n
sindroom van afhanklikheid ontwikkel het, die hoop bestaan om gemeenskappe
aktief in projekte te laat deelneem. Hierdie beklemtoon die belangrikheid daarvan om
sosiale verandering aan te moedig ten einde 'n positiewe ingesteldheid teenoor
deelname te inspireer. Vir te lank reeds sien plaaslike gemeenskappe hierdie as die
terrein slegs van opgeleide persone. Dit is dus belangrik dat ontwikkelingsagente
aandag skenk daaraan om gemeenskappe te sensiteer rakende deelname,
aangesien dit die suksesvolle uitvoering van al hulle projekte raak.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53458 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Hassan, Fatima Abdirahman |
| Contributors | Morrison, J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 61 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
Page generated in 0.0016 seconds