Teses / dissertações sobre o tema "Technological innovations |x Government policy"

The reasons behind the failure of many environmental technologies (E-Ts) in advanced industrial countries have puzzled scholars and policymakers for decades. Even traditional government policies such as the implementation of market-oriented developmental programs, ‘pick—the-winner’ industrial policies (or through the delegation of powers to industry), and the encouragement of public-private partnerships, have never necessarily worked. Do institutions really matter? Would any other policies render renewable energy, waste recycling, clean fuel auto technology and the like more indispensable to our daily life than the traditional ones?

China’s investments in R&D are forecast to surpass those of the US in 2022, thereby attracting capital, innovation and a large number of returnee managers. In the past eight years alone, the number of returnees has increased five-fold, with the country’s high-tech parks, particularly Beijing’s Z-Park, also known as China’s Silicon Valley or the Silicon Valley of the East, proving considerable attractions. In this context, in which start-ups are vital for economic growth and for the further development of Chinese investments in leading-edge innovation, understanding how the significant cultural differences between returnee and local managers affect management control systems (MCS) is of key importance. Drawing on a survey of more than 200 companies and data from 435 one-to-one interviews, this study investigates the relationship between CEO characteristics, government financial support and MCS sophistication in the context of fast-growing high-tech enterprises in China’s Silicon Valley. The study develops an MCS sophistication index as an aggregate measure of six main factors (the importance of MCS to the firm, system structure, system operations, system completeness, frequency of use and the level of data aggregation), and measures MCS sophistication by 46 individual management control subsystems. The study predicts and verifies a positive relationship between CEO and firm international exposure and between CEO education and the level of MCS sophistication. It also predicts and verifies a positive relationship between government financial support and MCS sophistication in a context in which privately held and managed venture capital and banks provide such support. The study further analyses the interaction effect of government financial support and CEO characteristics on MCS sophistication. Its empirical findings suggest that, despite their cultural differences, neither local nor returnee managers feel the need for better MCS. Only when there is potential access to government funding do returnee managers have better tools to implement more sophisticated MCS than their local counterparts, thus underlining how international work experience provides Chinese managers with the tools, but not the mindset, for superior MCS. Most previous studies focus on listed companies in China, whereas this study constitutes one of the first to focus on start-ups using an extensive array of data. It also contributes to the definition of a more systematic MCS sophistication measure, thus allowing more complete analysis of MCS at the firm level. Improving upon previous studies, the research reported herein also encompasses a large set of CEO characteristics to analyse their interaction with government financial support, thereby contributing to a better understanding of MCS in a key area of China’s future development.
published_or_final_version
Economics and Finance
Doctoral
Doctor of Philosophy

This dissertation explains the causes of national differences in markets for technology. Different national approaches to intellectual property protection and use, market openness and market scope are the result of the process of creating technology standards in different countries. Technology Standards, in turn, are the product of two causal variables: the historically determined institutions of standardization - particularly the role of the state in the standardization process, and the position of a country in the fragmented global production system. The institutions of standardization determine the relative influence of different actors over standardization and market position. The position within the global economy determines these actors’ perspectives on intellectual property and market scope. Using case studies of standardization and technology market creation in the United States, Europe and China, this dissertation reveals the mechanisms by which these two variables give rise to national differences in technology markets.

Inducement prizes-where cash rewards are given to motivate the attainment of targets--have been long used to encourage scientific research, develop technological innovations, or stimulate individuals, groups, and communities to accomplish diverse goals. Lately, prizes have increasingly attracted the attention of policy-makers, among others, due to their potential to induce path-breaking innovations and accomplish related goals. Academic research, however, has barely investigated these prizes in spite of their long history, recent popularity, and notable potential. This research investigates prizes and the means by which they induce innovation. It uses an empirical, multiple case-study methodology, a new model of innovation applied to prizes, and multiple data sources to investigate three cases of recent aerospace technology prizes: a main case study, the Google Lunar X Prize (GLXP) for robotic Moon exploration; and two pilot cases, the Ansari X Prize (AXP) for the first private reusable manned spacecraft and the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge (NGLLC) for flights of reusable rocket-powered vehicles. The investigation unveils the dynamics of prizes and contributes a better understanding of their potential and disadvantages in a context in which more traditional mechanisms are used to induce innovation. This research shows that prizes are a more complex mechanism and their investigation requires analyzing entrant- and context-level factors generally not considered by the literature. Prizes complement and not replace patents and other incentive mechanisms. The incentives offered by prizes attract entrants with diverse characteristics, including unconventional entrants--individuals and organizations generally not involved with the prize technologies. Entrants are generally attracted by the non-monetary benefits of participation and the potential market value of the technologies involved in competitions. Many more volunteers, collaborators, and partners also participate indirectly and support official entries as they also perceive opportunities to accomplish their personal and organizational goals. The monetary reward is important to position the competition in the media and disseminate the idea of the prize. Prizes can induce increasing R&D activities and re-direct industry projects to target diverse technological goals, yet the evolution of prize competitions and quality of the technological outputs is generally difficult to anticipate. The overall organization of prize R&D activities and their outputs depend on entrant-level factors and can only be indirectly influenced by setting specific competition rules. The most remarkable characteristic of prize R&D activities is their interaction with fundraising efforts which, in some circumstances, may constrain the activities of entrants. Prizes can also induce innovation over and above what would have occurred anyway, yet their overall effect depends significantly on the characteristics of the prize entrants and the evolution of the context of the competition. The ability of prizes to induce innovation is larger when there are larger prize incentives, more significant technology gaps implicit in the prize challenge, and open-ended challenge definitions. To successfully induce technological breakthroughs, prizes may require complementary incentives (e.g. commitments to purchase technology) or support (e.g. seed funding.) Prizes are particularly appropriate to, for example, explore new, experimental methods and technologies that imply high-risk R&D; induce technological development to break critical technological barriers; accelerate technological development to achieve higher performance standards; and, accelerate diffusion, adoption, and/or commercialization of technologies. They involve, however, higher programmatic risks than other more traditional mechanisms and their routine use, and/or challenge definitions that overlap, can weaken the incentive power of the mechanism. Successful implementation of competitions requires many parameters to be properly set.

In the face of the extensive changes resulting from the Post-Industrial Age, many are questioning "the gifts of the chip," or, more specifically, the ability of computer technologies to deliver the comfort predicted. The objective of this thesis is to examine the law's response to computer technology concerning occupational health and safety. This inquiry is necessary due to the dramatic changes that have occurred in the workforce, altering the profile of workplace health.
The thesis begins with a reference to The Gift of Stones, a fictional account of the difficulties that stone workers experienced when the Bronze Age arrived. Modern labourers face parallel struggles due to the arrival of the Post-Industrial Age characterized by technological innovation and restructuring. The legitimacy and effectiveness of occupational health and safety law is challenged by changes to social institutions and by computer related work injuries.
In many jurisdictions, the state has responded to these changes by enacting ergonomic standards that seek to minimize the harmful effects of computer use. The thesis examines the trend towards ergonomic standards with particular focus on Canadian initiatives. In conclusion, it argues that ergonomic regulations are an important means of promoting safer computer practices. Additionally, ergonomic standards provide a mechanism for continued state regulation of occupational health and safety. The challenge for rule makers is ensuring that the standards are a component of comprehensive legal reforms.

This paper explores the complex relationship between securing the rights of citizens to privacy and national security priorities under conditions of government mass surveillance. The inquiry examines the conflict between those who support and those who stand in opposition of government surveillance, and is framed around the question of whether changes in technology and the concept of nationalism help inform our understanding of the increase in surveillance post-9/11. From a peace and conflict studies perspective, the work analyzes how the rise of nationalism in the post-9/11 era and the protracted wars against terrorism, in combination with the growth of technological power, have impacted the relationship between state-surveillance and democracy. Findings identify protracted warfare, technology and corporate profits as conflict drivers within the surveillance system, which gives rise to moral dilemmas and structural polarizations in the political culture and institutions of the state and society. The analysis concludes that these dilemmas systematically create an imbalance of power between the citizen to the state, and cannot be fully addressed unless the efficacy of war is critically questioned.

CAPES
Essa dissertação investiga qual a percepção de atores envolvidos com o setor de software sobre a formação e condução das políticas de Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação e das políticas Industriais para esse setor a partir dos anos 2000. Trata-se de identificar a percepção dos entrevistados em relação às diretrizes das políticas de Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação e das Políticas Industriais. Ao investigar o setor selecionado observa-se que existe uma série de leis e instrumentos das políticas que o amparam e o beneficiam, principalmente, na dimensão do financiamento e incentivo à exportação. Além disso, é um setor intensivo em mão de obra de maior nível de conhecimento, tem características ambientais modernas e exige investimentos iniciais relativamente baixos. As atividades de software encontram-se dispersas nos diversos setores econômicos e têm o potencial de melhorar a produtividade e competitividade desses setores na medida em que modernizam e facilitam os processos organizacionais e produtivos por meio de seus produtos e serviços. Para buscar compreender a percepção dos atores sobre as diretrizes das políticas esse estudo adotou como método a pesquisa bibliográfica de caráter qualitativo e realizou entrevistas por meio de questionários semiestruturados com o objetivo de investigar a percepção dos entrevistados sobre o processo de formulação e condução das políticas para o setor de software no Brasil, a partir dos anos 2000. Foram realizadas nove entrevistas, com amostra intencional pela representação da instituição para o setor e para a dinâmica da política no setor. A fim de classificar a percepção dos atores foi realizada uma categorização qualitativa da percepção dos atores sobre as políticas, no sentido de analisar se os planos têm contribuído para o crescimento do setor e se tem mostrado evolução em sua condução ao longo do tempo, foi construído, a partir da interpretação dos relatos das entrevistas, um plano de análise composto pelos eixos: crescimento do setor de software e relevância das políticas. Como resultados essa pesquisa mostra que os atores entrevistados, de maneira geral, participam das formulações das políticas, tem bom conhecimento dos planos, e que todos os entrevistados consideram que houve evolução na dinâmica do setor, mas atribuem essa evolução mais ao desenvolvimento econômico nacional do que a atuação das políticas no setor.
This dissertation investigates what the selected actors’ perception on the formation and management of science, technology and innovation policies and industrial policies for the software industry from the 2000s. This is to identify the respondents' perception in relation to the guidelines of Science, Technology and Innovation Policies and Industrial Policies. While investigating the selected sector it is observed that there are a number of laws and policy instruments that support and benefit it, mainly, in the dimension of financing and incentive to the export, moreover, is an intensive sector in labor of higher level of knowledge, has modern environmental characteristics and requires relatively low initial investments. The software activities have been found scattered in the various economic sectors and have the potential to improve the productivity and competitiveness of these sectors in that they modernize and facilitate the organizational and productive processes by means of its products and services. To seek to understand the actors’ perception on the policy guidelines this study adopted as method the bibliographical research of qualitative character and interviews that were performed through semi-structured questionnaires in order to investigate the respondents’ perception on the process of formulation and conduct of the policies for the software industry in Brazil, from the 2000s. For this, nine interviews were conducted, with a convenience sample representation by the institution for the sector and the political dynamics in the sector In order to classify the actors’ perception it was performed a qualitative categorization of actors ' perception on the policies, in order to analyze whether the plans have shown to be positive or negative for the development of the chain and if have shown advances in its conduction over time, for this it was elaborated, from the interpretation of reports of the interviews, a plan of analysis composed of the axes: evolution of the policy plans and evolution of the chain software dynamics. As a result, this research shows that the interviewed actors generally participate in formulation of policies, has good knowledge of the plans, and that all respondents consider that there have been advances in the dynamics of the sector, but attributed this progress more to the national economic development than the performance of policies in the sector.

This study researches the varying threats that emanate from terrorists who carry their activity into the online arena. It examines several elements of this threat, including virtual to virtual attacks and threats to critical infrastructure that can be traced to online sources. It then reports on the methods that terrorists employ in using information technology such as the internet for propaganda and other communication purposes. It discusses how the United States government has responded to these problems, and concludes with recommendations for best practices.

A área de biociências tem promovido mudanças significativas na competência nacional vinculada à inovação no campo da saúde, criando bases científicas favoráveis para a construção de políticas públicas de C,T&I; ela também tem se apresentado como dimensão estratégica de destaque na formação de recursos humanos no âmbito das áreas portadoras de futuro, bem como, pela instalação e consolidação de organizações atreladas ao processo de Pesquisa, Desenvolvimento e Inovação. Desta forma, as atividades biotecnológicas demandam processos decisórios mais precisos e consistentes e que considerem as variáveis inerentes ao ambiente organizacional próprio das Instituições de Ciência e Tecnologia. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho pretende apresentar uma proposta de modelo de um sistema de apoio ao processo decisório na área de biociências com implementação de um Software desenvolvido em linguagem de programação C++. O modelo foi desenvolvido considerando o âmbito do Instituto Carlos Chagas - Fiocruz Paraná, tendo em vista a análise preliminar sob a ótica de dois grupos de variáveis das propostas de projetos, objetivando auxiliar os gestores na etapa de avaliação de requisitos fundamentais para aceitação de projetos de pesquisa, articulados com a implementação de ações voltadas às políticas de C,T&I em Saúde Pública.
The area of biosciences has promoted significant changes in national competence linked to innovation in health care by creating scientific favorable for the construction of public policies on ST & I, has also been presented as a strategic dimension of prominence in the training of human resources within areas of future patients, as well as the installation and consolidation of organizations linked to the process of Research, Development and Innovation. Thus, the activities biotechnological processes require more accurate and consistent decision-making and consider the variables inherent in the organizational environment itself Institutions of Science and Technology. In this context, this paper aims to propose a model of a system of policy making in the area of biosciences with implementation of a software developed in programming language C++. The model was developed considering the scope of the Instituto Carlos Chagas - Fiocruz Paraná, in view of the preliminary analysis from the perspective of two groups of variables of project proposals, aiming to assist managers in the evaluation phase of the fundamental requirements for acceptance of projects research, articulated with the implementation of actions aimed at policy, ST&I in Public Health.

Thesis (MPhil (Information Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: We are in the era where Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are increasingly becoming as common as desks and chalkboard in our classrooms. Government, students, parents and the community at large are now expecting ICTs to be integrated in the school curriculum and to be used as tools of instruction.

The national system of innovation (NSI) is well entrenched within South Africa’s policy discourse, as a conceptual framework for understanding the nature and functioning of the country’s totality of science and technology efforts. The NSI is proving to be a powerful concept in that it permits, for instance, a holistic view of how scientific activity relates to economic performance. However, the NSI is a relatively new construct in the South African context. For this reason, there is a need for a proper understanding of what constitutes the NSI, how it functions and how best to make sense of it. This study undertakes a hermeneutic exploration and assessment of the NSI as a conceptual framework for understanding the structure and performance of knowledge institutions within South Africa. To this end, the NSI concept is unbundled into its constituent elements and then subjected to a deep theoretical analysis in order to critically examine the core ideas behind the constituent terms. Drawing on the writer’s hermeneutic-phenomenological input, the study critically examines the salient features of the NSI as they find expression in various official science and technology policy documents and reports. The elements that make up South Africa’s national system of innovation are identified and their roles defined. An argument is presented as to why, collectively, these elements demonstrate system behaviour. Chaos and complexity frameworks are then employed to shape a conceptual platform to underpin this philosophical enquiry with an ultimate view to developing a robust theoretical framework of the NSI. The study demonstrates the usefulness of chaos and complexity in explaining, for example, the evolution and current organisation of the NSI. Recommendations have been made about how chaos and complexity perspectives could be applied in general and strategic management of the NSI, as well as in research.
Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

A research report submitted to the Wits Business School in the University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Innovation Studies Johannesburg, 2015
Innovation policy is a crucial driver for development, especially in developing countries. Developing countries are characterised by weak and fragmented innovation systems that pose an even greater challenge to integrating innovation policy. The key and most persistent weakness identified in South Africa’s national innovation system has been its lack of vertical and horizontal policy integration and coherence. Regions in South Africa are increasingly becoming active in developing, designing and implementing their own innovation policies. This creates an urgent need for integrating national and regional innovation policies and programmes. The basis for the study was an assessment of the extent of integration between national and regional innovation policies in South Africa and the Gauteng region in particular. The study employed both a qualitative and quantitative research approach and the methodology applied was content analysis as well as semi-structured interviews with key informants at the national and regional level. While there was no specific innovation framework regarding the question of integration across different regions due to restrictions, this study employed a more general framework utilising the policy studies to investigate this issue. The framework was based on three categories: complementary policy goals, priorities and scope; policy structures and procedures for policy integration; and mechanisms and policy instruments to steer integration. The findings of the study suggest that there is weak integration between South Africa’s national innovation policy and Gauteng’s regional innovation policy based on the framework selected for analysing policy integration. The finding revealed that there is significant lack of integration between national and regional policy structures and procedures; and mechanisms and policy instruments in promoting innovation policy. Moreover, the findings showed that South Africa’s national innovation policy is embedded in a linear, narrow path of supply-driven technology and has a top-down perspective approach. Overall, there is an opportunity for South Africa and Gauteng to improve innovation policy integration by prioritising strong leadership and commitment at the political level; establishing specific coordination mechanisms; and improving interactions between national and regional levels through policy experimentation. To achieve these objectives, functional regions should be targeted and used for improving quality of policy-relevant evidence.

Defence date: 29 September 2014
Examining Board: Professor Pepper D. Culpepper, EUI (Supervisor); Professor Adrienne Héritier, EUI (Co-supervisor); Professor Steven Casper, Keck Graduate Institute; Professor David Coen, University College London.
This thesis is an account of international efforts to assess and control the possible human health and environmental effects of nanotechnologies. I show how the desire to reap the benefits of nanotechnologies has led decision-makers in America and Europe to adopt very similar policy strategies. While political reactions thus are largely comparable, industry responses however differ remarkably. The diverging industry reactions to comparable state policies invite a closer inspection of the institutional drivers of business behavior in regulatory politics. I trace the roots of the varied business responses through two case studies that explore how the institutions and processes of national chemical control regimes link to the strategic risk-benefit calculations of companies. I examine the policies developed to regulate the risks of nanomaterials in Britain, Denmark, Germany and the United States and compare the role of industry in the four countries' regulatory processes. I argue that the capacity of state bureaucrats to credibly commit to regulatory outcomes shapes the political behavior of business. In areas of high scientific and technical uncertainty, such as nanotechnologies, new information can exercise significant influence on regulatory agendas, priorities and policies. This can work in industry's favor, if disclosing information succeeds in convincing state bureaucrats to make decisions that benefits industry. Companies will however only volunteer information about their operations if they are confident that it will not be used to the detriment of their interests. I demonstrate how concentration of regulatory powers in executive bureaucracies and deliberative institutions structure business expectations about the probable behavior of state authorities, and how such institutions can convince companies to entrust state bureaucrats with sensitive information. The thesis in short speaks to the significant business influence over the outcome of regulatory politics that flows from the power to disclose, bias and withhold information from state authorities.

Defence date: 26 February 1996
Examining board: Prof. Giandomenico Majone (supervisor) ; Prof. Roger Morgan (co-supervisor) ; Prof. Yves Mény, EUI ; Dr. Luis Sanz-Menéndez, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas ; Prof. Joan Subirats, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
PDF of thesis uploaded from the Library digitised archive of EUI PhD theses completed between 2013 and 2017

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management specialising in Innovation Studies Johannesburg, 2015
It has been stated in literature on National Systems of Innovation, growth theory and competitive advantage, that there has been an emergence of a consensus on the impact of technology on economic prosperity and competitiveness. The systems approach, with its emphasis on knowledge, learning and institutions has stressed the need for institutional change and greater integration between technology policy, industrial policy, and other aspects of public policy. There is also a need for greater coordination and integration between technology and industrial policy, and of employment and income distribution policies on each other. The ability of the government (policy makers and implementers) to achieve this intergration and coherence is key in ensuring achievement of the goals. The study assessed and evaluated the processes set up by the South African government to achieve coherence in the formulation and implementation processes. Research Questions:  Does coherence exist between the Innovation and Industrial Policy? What is the extent of the coherence?  What are the factors hindering or promoting coherence?  What is the impact of coherence or lack thereof on the achievement of goals? The methodology used in this study was document review and analysis, combined with elite interviews of senior managers in the government departments that are custodians of the policies being studied. Having coherent policies leads to achievement of set objectives and priorities. In order to achieve this coherence, there must be political leadership and commitment. It must be a general objective in all action taken by government. In South Africa, the intention is there and the structures have been set up. The evidence of Political leadership is in the Constitution, the highest law of the land. It is stipulated in the Constitution (RSA, 1996) that the policies of the government-of–the day should be executed in a cooperative manner, because in the Republic of South Africa, government is constituted as national, provincial and local spheres that are distinctive, interdependent and interrelated. The Constitution further stipulates that all spheres of government and all organs of state within each sphere must exercise their powers and perform their functions in a manner that does not encroach on the geographical, functional or institutional integrity of government in another sphere, and co-operate with one another in mutual trust and good faith. In order to manage and address the challenges of policy coherence and coordination, the South African Government has established a cluster system. These clusters are called Ministerial Clusters, which were established to foster an integrated approach to governance that is aimed at improving government planning, decision making and service delivery. The main objective is to ensure proper coordination of all government programmes at national and provincial levels. The main functions of clusters are to ensure alignment of government wide priorities; facilitate and monitor the implementation of priority programmes; and provide a consultative platform on cross-cutting priorities and matters being taken to Cabinet (SA Government, 2015). Regulations have been also put in place to foster intergovernmental relations through the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act, Act No. 13 of 2005. Challenges of capacity and resources exist in the goverment in terms of policy coordination. Monitoring, evaluation and reporting structures have been created in the form of a ministry in the presidency, the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME). This monitoring is confined to the monitoring and evaluation of the performance of the departments and the clusters against the outcomes stated in the Plan of Action. More reviews need to be undertaken by policy scholars to assess the impacts of the policies on the overall governmental goals.

This thesis consists of four papers studying endogenous technical change (TC) in climate policy analysis. The first paper provides a conceptual framework of analyzing the mechanism through which TC can be induced by climate mitigation policies. The second paper develops a computable general equilibrium (CGE) numerical model to quantitatively analyze the effect of endogenous TC on the timing and cost of carbon abatements. The third paper develops a multi-region modelling framework to examine the mechanism of international technology diffusion and its effect on domestic carbon savings. The fourth paper analyzes the mechanism of international technology coordination resulting from reciprocal cross-nation knowledge spillovers and its effect on global climate governance. The first paper, "Revisiting the mechanism of endogenous technical change for climate policy analysis", aims to reconcile the diverging specifications of endogenous TC in existing climate policy modeling literature. Drawing on the theory of R&D-induced TC, I provide a generalized framework to analyze the mechanism through which TC can be induced by climate mitigation policies. The second paper, "Can technological innovation help China take on its climate responsibility? A computable general equilibrium analysis", examines the effectiveness of China's indigenous R&D and technological innovation to cut its carbon emissions. The mechanism of endogenous TC is incorporated into a CGE numerical model. R&D investment and knowledge creation is modeled as the endogenous behavior of profit-seeking private producers. The accumulated stocks of productive knowledge are applied in a production process to induce the rate and bias of production TC. The third paper, "Can China harness globalization to reap domestic carbon savings? Modelling international technology diffusion in a multi-region framework", aims to examine the effect of globalization, particularly international technology diffusion, on reducing China's domestic carbon emissions. The single-country CGE model is extended into a multi-region framework, where both indigenous R&D and foreign technology diffusion are explicitly considered as two sources of endogenous TC for domestic carbon savings. The model systematically describes foreign technology diffusion through three diffusion channels of trade, foreign direct investment (FDI) and disembodied knowledge spillovers, with an elaborate treatment of local knowledge absorptive capacity. The fourth paper, "International knowledge spillover and technology externality: Why multilateral R&D coordination matter for global climate governance", investigates the mechanism of international technology cooperation and its effect on lowering global climate mitigation cost, with an aim of exploring the potentials of complementing international emission-based agreements with technology cooperation in the post-2012 climate regime. For that purpose, this paper firstly presents an analytical framework that describes how the mechanism of international R&D coordination can work for climate change mitigation. This mechanism is then quantitatively examined in a multi-region global numerical model that explicitly considers multilateral knowledge spillovers and resulting technology externality for global climate governance.

The democratisation process in South Africa has subjected the country to the global effects of the challenges that culminated in a nation that is facing the demands for socioecomonic needs coupled with technological advancement. Advances in technology in the global arena present both opportunities and threats to the South African democracy and its concomitant socioeconomic imperatives. The democratisation process in South Africa is consequential to the inextricably bound relationship between technology, modernisation and democracy. This triad pattern precipitates the South African democratic political system. Advances in technology are also imperative for human and national security, but the intensity of pervasiveness may have serious ramifications for the appraisal for political stability in a democratic South Africa. Technology is one of the major sources underpinning and strengthening democracy in a political system. However, technology also affects the daily life of the ordinary citizen, depending on the manner in which decisions are made to implement a technology policy. The South African government through its technology approach has an action plan for growth, which aims to set the economy on a more competitive footing. The action plan engages major technological projects to benefit the broader society but overlooks a major factor in the "democratic theory of technology", namely the imperative that communities be consulted about technology decisions. These efforts are concerned exclusively with democratic procedures in making policy decisions about technologies. The South African government in 1996 reformed its technology policy approach so as to ensure that democratic values are prevalent and that citizens have access to technology. This policy approach raises concern about improving the democratic and the socioeconomic wellbeing of society, while inversely there is the uncertainty whether advances in technology can support and enhance the intended policy approach in the democratisation process in South Africa. This problem of whether technologies are substantively democratic, that is whether technology policy decisions are compatible with perpetuating a democratic political system, resulted in the need to investigate and appraise democratic theories and further critically analyse approaches and challenges in democratic politics of technology within the South African democratic political system. The study looks at the role and magnitude of technology in a democratic South Africa. It presents and argues the hypothesis that “greater advance in technology tends to enhance the democratisation process in a political system”. Much of the argument is devoted to providing evidence that technology influences both human and national security and as such demonstrates how technology as a systematic application of knowledge to resources can provide a good tool for sustaining democracy in South Africa. Technology is ubiquitous within South Africa’s democratic political system and it may be considered a boon or bane. It encompasses both benefits and disadvantages such that it poses complex options for a democratic political system in both its approach and implementation within a policy framework. The social dichotomy of this policy framework raises the need for further inquiry as to the reasoning and application of technology in addressing socioeconomic imperatives for concretising democracy, thus creating “a better life for all”. The democratic imperatives within the policy framework dictate an analysis to the ventured hypothesis that “advances in technology will enhance democracy in a political system”, and it is in this regard that South Africa is used as an archetype to disembark at a logical deduction to validate this hypothesis in the study.
Thesis (PhD (Political Sciences))--University of Pretoria, 2006.
Political Sciences
unrestricted

Defence Date: 26/06/2009
Examining Board: Frank Baumgartner (Penn State University); Susana Borrás (Copenhagen Business School); Adrienne Héritier (EUI/RSCAS) (Co-Supervisor); Rikard Stankiewicz (Lund University (emeritus), formerly EUI) (Supervisor)
PDF of thesis uploaded from the Library digital archive of EUI PhD theses
The literature on the policy-making of the European Union (EU) has trouble understanding the long-term evolution of EU policies. While numerous accounts exist that analyze EU policies from a historical, analytical-descriptive and normative perspective, no existing account has studied the evolution of EU policy output from a positive perspective. This thesis wants to start filling this gap in the literature by studying the patterns of policy evolution in the European Union’s research and technology development (RTD) policy. This policy is studied at three different levels of analysis. The first level is that of budgetary dynamics; here I test two alternative hypotheses on the pattern of budgetary change, both derived from the American literature: the classical incrementalist hypothesis, and the punctuated-equilibrium hypothesis of Bryan Jones and Frank Baumgartner. The second level of analysis is that of agenda dynamics, where I study the pattern of issue expansion/contraction on the fragmented agenda of the EU, and test two alternative hypotheses on the allocation of agenda space to RTD policy. The third level of analysis is that of institutional dynamics; here I test the hypothesis that institutional stability is associated with phases of incremental changes, whereas institutional developments occur in correspondence with budgetary punctuations. The empirical results show that both the budgetary and agenda dynamics of this policy are fully compatible with the punctuated-equilibrium hypothesis. However, the hypothesis on the correspondence between budgetary punctuations and institutional change is to be rejected. The final part of this work investigates the mechanism and the necessary conditions for the emergence of new policy priorities, by focusing on the recent emergence of security RTD as a new priority of the Framework Programme. This dissertation is the first work to empirically test the punctuated-equilibrium model on the EU, with an extensive and original dataset composed of budgetary, agenda and institutional delegation data.

Effective e-records management is considered an integral part for successful implementation of e-government. While many previous studies have been carried out on e-government implementation, few investigated e-records management in supporting successful implementation of e-government in Tanzania with a view to developing the best framework. The specific objectives of the study were to: determine e-records readiness in the Tanzania Public Service; assess e-government implementation status in the Tanzania Public Service; establish the effectiveness of existing e-records legal, policy and regulatory framework in support of e-government; determine the e-records knowledge and skills of staff in the Public Service; find out the extent to which the National Archives (RAMD) is involved in the management of e-records and e-government implementation in the Public Service; and to develop a framework for the management of e-records and e-government implementation. The study based on interpretive research paradigm and adopted qualitative research method. A sample size of 50 respondents was drawn from four public offices namely: the Ministry of Public Service (PO-PSM), Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), E-Government Agency (e-GA) and the Records and Archives Management Department (RAMD). Data was collected through interviews and personal observation and was analysed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed that although there is evidence of availability and use of e-records across government institutions in Tanzania, the e-records readiness and efficiency levels in support of e-government were low; the management of e-records is not yet streamlined to the majority registries; and e-Government implementation maturity level is low. Findings revealed that although there is evidence of availability and use of e-records across government institutions in Tanzania, the e-records readiness and efficiency levels in support of e-government were low; the management of e-records is not yet streamlined to the majority registries; and e-Government implementation maturity level is low. Further findings indicated that the existing legislations, policies and regulations are inadequate and ineffective particularly on matters relating to e-records management and e-government implementation; records personnel, action officers and IT staff were not conversant with procedures and practices of e-records management; and that, there is poor involvement of RAMD in ERM a situation that slows down implementation e-government. The study concluded that, the current practices for managing electronic records in support of e-government implementation in Tanzania were inadequate. Even the existing national e-government strategy does not incorporate the management of electronic records as an important aspect towards successful implementation of e-government in the country. The study has recommended a framework for effective management of e-records in support of e-government implementation; e-records management training for records personnel, IT staff and secretaries; development of RAMD website; identification of ERM software specifications; customization of ISO standards to suit Tanzanian environment; amendment of the existing Archival legislation; and benchmarking from successful governments.
Information Science
D. Litt. et Phil.(Information Science)

The founding documents for a new, democratic South Africa adopted a more inclusive and people-driven approach to innovation. The literature and policy analysis reveals a „shift‟ away from this approach to a more market-driven, exclusivist approach to innovation. R&D (research and development) and technology-driven innovation had been institutionalised at the expense of social, cultural and indigenous innovations. This „shift‟ limits the potential of innovation to benefit a wider segment of society. The absence of a „model‟ of innovation that exploits the strengths of all forms of innovation runs the risk of defeating the normative intentions of the founding innovation policies of the new, post-Apartheid and democratic South Africa. The OECD, from which South Africa „inherited‟ its notion of innovation, acknowledges the shortcomings of the technological innovation and calls for a conceptual framework that will address the shortcomings of the dominant, exclusivist notion of innovation. This inquiry was conducted to investigate an appropriate conceptual framework of innovation that would contribute towards achieving normative policy intentions of post-Apartheid South Africa. It employed a grounded theory design that used semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, document analysis, observations and cooperative inquiry. The data analysed suggest the following propositions: 1. Thesis 1: Innovation is constrained by the dominant science and technology paradigm. 2. Thesis 2: Inclusive and integrative innovation cannot exist within an exclusivist innovation paradigm. 3. Thesis 3: Transforming an exclusivist paradigm into an inclusivist paradigm requires change at constitutive level and not just at regulatory level.4. Thesis 4: Synthesising an inclusive and integrative innovation requires creativity, open dialogue and imagination. Against the above propositions, this thesis recommends a conceptual framework that is underpinned by an inclusive and integrative paradigm. Such a framework proposes transformative actions that have potential to achieve normative policy intentions of post-Apartheid South Africa. Further research into a constitutive design for an inclusive and integrative innovation policies and practices is recommended.
Educational Studies
D. Ed. (Philosophy of Education)