Judith McKenzie and Chioma Ogochukwu Ohajunwa
The purpose of this paper is to respond to the country report about understanding disability in Nigeria by highlighting the important points that it raises and suggesting further…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to respond to the country report about understanding disability in Nigeria by highlighting the important points that it raises and suggesting further areas for exploration.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors identify the main themes of the paper and situate these within an African context, recognizing the diversity of African countries while at the same time arguing that it is imperative for African countries to look to research from each other in addition to that emanating from the Global North.
Findings
The issues of terminology and lack of demographic detail in the Nigerian context are discussed and suggestions made as to how these might begin to be addressed. Features of the African context which are apparent in Nigeria, such as poverty, a very young population and the effects of forced migration, are amplified with reference to literature from other low-income countries. The significance of family care in this context is highlighted and identified as a focus for future research.
Originality/value
This paper speaks to the need to build an African body of knowledge around disability that is not ignorant of the literature from the Global North but which incorporates this knowledge in a critical way to understand better the African context.
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Judith Anne McKenzie, Toni Abrahams, Colleen Adnams and Sharon Kleintjes
The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the history, current status and possible future directions for intellectual disability (ID) policy and practice in South…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the history, current status and possible future directions for intellectual disability (ID) policy and practice in South Africa (SA).
Design/methodology/approach
The paper was developed by academics and practitioners in the field of ID in SA. A review of the literature, accompanied by a joint writing and discussion process was carried out to identify critical issues in the development of ID services, specifically facing the challenge of moving from racially based provision towards equitable services for all citizens with ID.
Findings
Progressive policy has replaced practices of scientific racism which were previously used to support the establishment of white supremacism. This positive move is still in process and has not resulted in the immediate establishment of human rights. A vibrant civil society is engaging with this task currently.
Research limitations/implications
The findings point to the need for a human rights approach that takes into account the postcolonial context of SA.
Practical implications
There is a need for continued advocacy that is inclusive of people with ID and their families.
Social implications
Continuing engagement between government and civil society is recommended to ensure the achievement of human rights for citizens with ID.
Originality/value
This paper is of value to ID researchers and practitioners from the global South as it describes a non-western context that might have resonance with other low and middle income countries.
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The emergent Housing First model, focused on new means of rapid rehousing of the homeless, is popular in North America among policy makers and the mass media. Yet little has been…
Abstract
The emergent Housing First model, focused on new means of rapid rehousing of the homeless, is popular in North America among policy makers and the mass media. Yet little has been written on the Housing First model's transferability to Canadian municipalities. This report documents, analyses and interprets Toronto's Streets to Homes (S2H) programme, using primary and secondary research including semi‐structured key informant interviews. The report concludes with a brief consideration of the article's implications for leadership.
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Judith Harris, Karen S. McKenzie and Randall Rentfro
Using tax abatements to spur economic development can be controversial. The potential benefits are stressed when abatements are granted, but subsequent reporting may be…
Abstract
Using tax abatements to spur economic development can be controversial. The potential benefits are stressed when abatements are granted, but subsequent reporting may be insufficient for citizens to hold governments accountable for actual results. We solicited perspectives on tax abatements from three user groups (citizens representing advocacy groups, county board members, and financial analysts) and county officials involved in financial reporting, budgeting, or property tax administration. Users and preparers expressed generally similar views about the need for reporting; however, some differences were evident in the degree of support for reporting specific information items and the format for making information available. We also found that much information desired by users is not available to them currently, and governments may need to create mechanisms to collect information.
Judith A. Harris, Karen S. McKenzie and Randall W. Rentfro
Performance measurement is common in state and local governments. However, having a performance measurement system does not guarantee that results are shared with the citizenry…
Abstract
Performance measurement is common in state and local governments. However, having a performance measurement system does not guarantee that results are shared with the citizenry. This study evaluates the relative accessibility of performance information on state government websites. Drawing upon the e-government and bureaucratic paradigms developed by Ho (2002), we find that state governments are more likely to approach reporting of performance information from a bureaucratic perspective than an e-government perspective. Regardless of the paradigm used, however, locating and accessing performance information often is a difficult and frustrating process. We argue that states are missing an opportunity to better manage the government-citizen relationship when they fail to share the results of their performance measurement efforts.
In the March/April issue of Consumer Affairs which reported the EEC Symposium of Food, Food Technology and Nutrition Labelling held in London earlier this year, John McKenzie is…
Abstract
In the March/April issue of Consumer Affairs which reported the EEC Symposium of Food, Food Technology and Nutrition Labelling held in London earlier this year, John McKenzie is quoted as saying, ‘Food habits are changing: for economic reasons, (improved capacity to buy the foods the individual wants), because society is constantly changing (parenthood, changing jobs or houses stimulate change), and because of the changing trends in food imagery.’ Professor McKenzie said he omitted nutrition education and advertising as factors, because of his primary thesis: ‘If food consumption patterns change, they usually change because the consumer wants them to. This is very different from persuasion to change because nutritionists, government agricultural economists or legislators want them to change.’ And here I would add food manufacturers using mass media advertising.
Gideon Kwame Otchere, Rebecca Leshinsky, Dulani Halvitigala, Judith Callanan and Sarah Sinclair
Cladding has been used to improve the quality of buildings over the years. However, flammable cladding materials have presented safety risks and problems in some properties. About…
Abstract
Purpose
Cladding has been used to improve the quality of buildings over the years. However, flammable cladding materials have presented safety risks and problems in some properties. About 800 multi-owned buildings in Victoria have been identified as having flammable cladding. The purpose of this paper is to explore managing flammable cladding risk in multi-owned residential buildings in Melbourne.
Design/methodology/approach
This research adopts a qualitative approach through focus groups of property stakeholders. Narratives from owners’ corporations, strata property managers, building committee members and lot owners were collected to elicit first-hand experiences in managing/living in problematic residential multi-owned properties.
Findings
This study suggests stakeholders experience an asymmetry in information access and availability regarding cladding risk information. Property managers indicated that cladding risk information is available, while other stakeholders, such as committee members, reported a lack of risk information to support informed decision-making for rectification. It was also identified that a lack of a transparent data register of cladding properties is problematic.
Practical implications
A targeted housing policy that effectively monitors occupant health and safety to guarantee building safety compliance would ensure current and future residential housing is fit for purpose. Also, this study recommends that local governments work with multi-owned developments to construct a live database of flammable cladding properties, categorizing properties with a risk rating to aid emergency services.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the literature on flammable cladding used in multi-owned properties.
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Gideon Kwame Otchere, Kwabena Mintah and Judith Callanan
Gated communities continue to spread in popularity across cities around the world. Ghana has seen considerable growth in the development of gated communities over the last few…
Abstract
Purpose
Gated communities continue to spread in popularity across cities around the world. Ghana has seen considerable growth in the development of gated communities over the last few years. This phenomenon manifests in the majority new residential developments and most forms of residential property advertisement in the capital city. The purpose of this paper is to explore the drivers of gated community developments in Ghana from the perspective of gated community developers.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper used a qualitative research approach. Through face-to-face semi-structured interviews, data was collected from purposively selected key stakeholders in the gated community development market, including developers, managers and consultants.
Findings
The drivers identified from the developers' perspective were the demand for gated community properties, the control over and ease of management of assets and interests, the high development/production cost of real estate and speculative development of gated community properties.
Originality/value
This paper is an initial study that explores the drivers of gated community developments in Ghana from the perspective of gated community developers. This paper extends the literature on gated communities beyond the residents perspective.
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Gerlese Åkerlind, Jo McKenzie and Mandy Lupton
This chapter describes an innovative method of curriculum design that is based on combining phenomenographic research, and the associated variation theory of learning, with the…
Abstract
This chapter describes an innovative method of curriculum design that is based on combining phenomenographic research, and the associated variation theory of learning, with the notion of disciplinary threshold concepts to focus specialised design attention on the most significant and difficult parts of the curriculum. The method involves three primary stages: (i) identification of disciplinary concepts worthy of intensive curriculum design attention, using the criteria for threshold concepts; (ii) action research into variation in students’ understandings/misunderstandings of those concepts, using phenomenography as the research approach; (iii) design of learning activities to address the poorer understandings identified in the second stage, using variation theory as a guiding framework. The curriculum design method is inherently theory and evidence based. It was developed and trialed during a two-year project funded by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council, using physics and law disciplines as case studies. Disciplinary teachers’ perceptions of the impact of the method on their teaching and understanding of student learning were profound. Attempts to measure the impact on student learning were less conclusive; teachers often unintentionally deviated from the design when putting it into practice for the first time. Suggestions for improved implementation of the method are discussed.
Diana Traikova, Judith Möllers and Gertrud Buchenrieder
This chapter takes a qualitative snapshot of rural entrepreneurs in Bulgaria. The aim is to shed light on the formation of non-farm start-up intentions in rural post-communism…
Abstract
Purpose
This chapter takes a qualitative snapshot of rural entrepreneurs in Bulgaria. The aim is to shed light on the formation of non-farm start-up intentions in rural post-communism communities.
Methodology
A qualitative ethnographical methodological approach centred on a theoretical framework, based on Ajzen’s (1991) Theory of Planned Behaviour. Primary survey data are drawn from the village of Kostandovo, in the Pazardjik region of Bulgaria.
Findings
A holistic perspective reveals entrepreneurship to be just one facet of complex rural livelihood strategies. Distrust in formal institutions by rural entrepreneurs dominates the Bulgarian business climate. A culture of informality in business is accompanied by widely accepted corruption. Crucial factors affecting the start-up decision in post-communist economies are social capital, a lack of experience of the entrepreneurs, and by public administrators.
Practical implications
The presented evidence highlights different dimensions of the theoretical constructs. Future research could focus on the impact of inefficient/corrupt institutions on the decisions of potential rural entrepreneurs.
Originality/value
By coupling universally applicable intention predicting theory with unique ethnographic evidence, the chapter gives a face of the otherwise abstract entrepreneurial agents. The perceptual perspective tackles the most relevant start-up aspects of the post-communist context, providing insights applicable beyond the case country.