Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Stakeholder Participation In Large Scale Complex Systems Modeling: Lessons From An Urbansim Users Community, Sandra H. Goff

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

Complex systems models for urban and regional simulation are increasingly being used as tools within decision-making processes underscoring the need to involve stakeholders in the modeling process. Stakeholder participation can serve both learning and community-building purposes, improving model legitimacy, saliency and accuracy and resolving conflicts over competing interests. However, the complex and highly technical nature of modeling activities has the potential to serve as an important barrier to stakeholder engagement. Members of an online UrbanSim user community were contacted in order to examine stakeholder participation in the development and implementation of UrbanSim models. For analysis purposes, a participation hierarchy was …

Army Transformation: What Does It Mean?, David Jerome

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The way in which senior U.S. Army leaders such as the chiefs of staff define transformative change is important, especially if the meaning of that term is to be interpreted as originally intended by Army field grade officers. An Army chief of staff is responsible for creating a vision and establishing goals for the future, and field grade officers are responsible for pursuing that vision and those goals by implementing objectives that endeavor to arrive at the desired ends. By using both qualitative and quantitative methods, this research analyzes what each of the three chiefs of staff, who have served …

Rethinking A Carbon Tax In An Era Of Budget Deficits, Chad Covert

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Study Of Indicator Bacteria Present In Ice And Soda From Las Vegas Food Establishments, Kimberly Jo Hertin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Microbial analysis has long been used as an indicator of water quality. Since the passing of the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974, microbial standards have been strictly set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that the public health is protected from bacterial pathogens. The bacteriological quality of water generally deteriorates as it travels from water treatment facilities through the main distribution system and into private plumbing and distribution systems. For example, Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) values typically increase once the water has entered plumbing devices such as beverage vending machines. Upon reaching a private facility, the opportunity …

Organizational Behavioural Obstructions Between Planners And Implementing The Development Permit System, Joseph Nethery

MPA Major Research Papers

This study examines why few municipalities in Ontario have adopted the Development Permit System (DPS). In attempting to identify what relationships exist between organizational behaviours and the consideration of DPS, a survey pre-test and a full survey were administered to various municipalities in Ontario, in addition to a case study of DPS in Carleton Place. The findings reveal that larger municipalities and municipalities with a higher number of Registered Professional Planners tend to consider DPS more often, with statistically significant relationships found between the consideration of DPS and the individual interest of planners, challenging development projects, and male planners.

Corruption Prevention In Ontario Municipalities, Jacqueline Palmer

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines whether provincial and municipal government actions are sufficient to reduce and eventually eliminate corruption in order to preserve integrity within Ontario municipalities. A case study analysis of the incidents and allegations of corruption highlighted in the City of Toronto’s Bellamy Inquiry Report was conducted. The findings reveal that the preventative measures currently in place to guide the municipal decision making process are insufficient to prevent corruption and municipal staff, the general public, police, and the private sector can help maintain integrity within municipalities.

Deliberative Democracy And Empowerment: An Analysis Of The Toronto Community Housing Corporation’S Tenant Participation System, Sewit Tamene

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines whether programs that adopt the principles of deliberative democracy can evoke feelings of empowerment among participants. Interviews with residents of the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) were conducted to determine whether tenants who participate in the Tenant Participation System, specifically the participatory budgeting program, become empowered. The findings reveal that deliberative democracy is consistent with high levels of empowerment and tenants felt that empowerment was derived from a decision-making process that they were able to control.

Exploring The Effectiveness Of Environmentally Sustainable Practices In Municipal Government: A Case Study Of The City Of Knoxville’S Department Of Parks And Recreation, Anthony Michael Brown

Masters Theses

Sustainability practices produce programs and services that meet current needs while preserving the environment and natural resources for the future. City parks and recreation departments are facing budget shortfalls and increasing expectations from customers. Governments are now embracing sustainability practices to create financial savings while also fostering relations with customers.

The purpose of this single case study was twofold: (1) to examine the effectiveness of one city department’s strategies in outsourcing its environmental sustainability program through a performance contract with Ameresco; and (2) to examine the perceptions of key department employees about the effectiveness of the sustainability initiative. A …

Affordable Housing Within A Post-Welfare State: The Case Of Toronto, Dave Guyadeen

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the firsthand effects of the federal government’s Affordable Housing Initiative on the City of Toronto. A series of in-depth interviews were conducted with key housing stakeholders within the housing sector, including representatives of the City of Toronto and Toronto Community Housing, as well as affordable housing advocates. The findings reveal that despite the introduction of the Affordable Housing Initiative, Toronto’s affordable housing system has experienced an increased reliance on the private sector and the perpetuation of temporary solutions that fail to address the affordable housing crisis in the city.

The Progression Of Open Data Initiatives In Canadian Municipalities: The Evolution Of E-Government Services And Its Relationship To An Emerging Movement, David Crozier

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the rationale for why local governments develop open data programs. Interviews were conducted with officials from six Canadian municipalities involved in open data projects – Vancouver, Edmonton, Ottawa, London, Nanaimo, and Medicine Hat – and two community members from Vancouver and London who have played an important role in these developments. The findings reveal that both municipal officials and citizens have a strong desire for open data but the movement has progressed slowly and there are several areas in which it can improve.

Recidivism In Ontario Works In The Region Of Waterloo, Catherine Bossenberry

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the reasons why Ontario Works (OW) clients return to social assistance, with a specific focus on the Region of Waterloo. It uses an analysis of case file data from the Province of Ontario’s social assistance database to provide a comprehensive understanding of the OW caseload for the regional municipality. The findings reveal that the reasons why clients return to OW in the Region of Waterloo are complicated and there are many factors – such as gender, age, education, family composition, and housing – that determine whether a client will return to social assistance.

A Study Of Ontario Caos: Career Progression And The Influence Of Political Actors, Kelley Coulter

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines whether there is a standard career path for chief administrative officers (CAOs) in Ontario and if mayoral turnover has an effect on CAO tenure. A study of the 100 largest lower- and single-tier municipalities in the province was completed involving various research methods to discover the professional background of CAOs and changes in political actors. The findings reveal that a career path of single-city careerists or ladder climbers is prevalent in Ontario, with substantial turnover among the top appointed CAO position, and mayoral change appears to have a direct relationship on the tenure of CAOs.

Accessibility: Legislation And Implementation In Canada And China, Weizheng Fu

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines what China can learn from Canada regarding how to design and implement accessibility legislation, with a specific focus on Ontario. It analyzes accessibility laws and policy implementation in Canada and the existing problems in China’s accessibility policies based on a literature review, documentary research, case studies, and interviews. The findings reveal the following lessons that China can learn from Ontario: raising awareness about accessibility; making accessibility laws more comprehensive; enhancing the importance of accessibility on the government’s agenda; and improving legislative review mechanisms.

Workforce Diversity Management In Ontario Municipalities, Jennifer Lajoie

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines why some municipalities have implemented workforce diversity management plans and policies, while others have not. A case study analysis of nine mid-sized Ontario municipalities – Chatham-Kent, Sudbury, Guelph, Kitchener, Lambton, London, St. Catharines, Thunder Bay, and Windsor – was conducted. The findings reveal that common patterns for the existence of workforce diversity management policies include: a wake-up call that helps trigger change; the creation of organizational buy-in; the existence of a champion for diversity; and a consideration of local environmental forces.

Aging Related Issues And The Agenda Setting Process: A Comparative Analysis, Annie Tam

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the agenda setting process with regards to the implementation of initiatives concerning population aging. A comparative analysis of Age Friendly London in the City of London and the Older Adult Plan in the City of Mississauga were conducted. The findings reveal that both initiatives illustrate many elements of the agenda setting process proposed in the relevant theories and fundamental factors, such as the impact of the media and the power of a political champion, were evident in each case study.

Telework Within The Bureau Of Reclamation Lower Colorado Region Office, Theresa Lee, Lynne Arnold, John Wagner, Elias Samorano, Anita Morgan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A team of researchers from The University of Nevada, Las Vegas were invited by management to observe, assess, and offer recommendations. It was determined by the research team that the first step to improving participation would be to observe the functional telework policy, compare and contrast it with the Department of the Interior standards, and offer recommendations to generate data necessary to develop an updated telework policy by management. The recommendations made by this group include creating an employee eligibility list, tracking actual participation by creating a renewal policy for employees choosing to telework. It is also recommended that a …

Public Utilities Commission Of Nevada: A Research Design For Data Collection, Mario Heresi, Jamie Stout, Brandy Davis, Cheyenne Pasquale

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) needs tools to develop a system by which reliable data can be collected in order to assist in the regulation of public utilities in Nevada. Their particular emphasis is on low-income and elderly populations. The PUCN needs to have reliable data they can utilize to make decisions that are fact based. Part of their needs is to have a thorough understanding of the factors that affect both low-income and elderly populations. Like so many other organizations, the PUCN does not have a set system to investigate all issues and makes decisions on a …

Political Communication In A Digital Age: 2011 Tea Party Senators And Social Media, Kaitlyn M. Barrett

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Interim Sessions In State Legislatures, Laurie Erin Russell

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Various authors have analyzed the work of state legislatures during the regular session; however, there is a noticeable void in the study of the functionality of the legislative process during the interim session. The interim session refers to the time span between regular legislative sessions, which varies in duration dependent on the state. It should not be deducted that the lack of research devoted to the interim session evaluation is because the legislative workload is dormant during this period. The findings of this paper support the concept that interim session activity merits evaluation since it is a contributing factor to …

Mandatory Pet Sterilization And Overpopulation: Have Santa Cruz County's Policies Reduced Animal Shelter Intake And Euthanasia?, Amy Winkleblack

Master's Projects

No abstract provided.

Social Networking And Individual Performance: Examining Predictors Of Participation, Michael Anthony Brown Sr.

School of Public Service Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation addresses relationships between social networking and individual performance. The "act" of social networking is a process and practice by which people and organizations are drawn together by family, work or hobby to interact via websites. The explosion of these new network connections in the workplace suggests the need for an exploration of the various ways organizations can affect and improve performance and productivity.

This dissertation suggests a social networking participation model that may help organizations predict and understand the value proposition that affects acceptance or rejection of participation. Innovation adoption, governing by network and social capital are important …

Dispersion Or Re-Segregation: A Spatial And Temporal Analysis Of Public Policies And Their Impact On Urban African American Mobility, Brandi Lynette Blessett

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Studies

This study seeks to test Hirsch's second ghetto thesis in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. Hirsch suggested that the role of government, public policies, and administrative discretion were responsible for the re-segregation of African Americans into second ghetto communities in Chicago. Many scholars have used Hirsch's framework to explain ghetto formation. This investigation seeks to extend the literature in several ways. First, several national policies were investigated to determine their impact on African American mobility in Baltimore: the Housing Act of 1937 (public housing), the Housing Act of 1949 (urban renewal), and the Interstate Highway Act of 1956 (transportation). Second, …

Expropriating Land For Public Purposes: What China Can Learn From Canada, Xuezi Zhong

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the expropriation of peasant land in China and land expropriation in Canada in an effort to determine the lessons that China can learn from Canada’s experience. It provides a case study of land ownership in each country to analyze the expropriation system that is in place, as well as the procedures that are taken throughout the process. The findings reveal the following recommendations for China based on Canada’s experience: design the contents of the franchise contract clearly and protect the right of peasants to participate in the land expropriation process; clarify the purpose of expropriation; raise the …

Transit In A Border Zone: The Demand For Public Transportation In Three Texas Border Cities, Adam Gregory Walke

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Factors affecting the demand for public transportation include those, like fares or the level of service, that transit administrators can directly influence as well as those, like gasoline prices, that are beyond administrators' control. This study considers both but focuses on the latter and, more specifically, on how proximity to an international border affects transit ridership. Pedestrian border crossings have a significant effect on ridership levels in El Paso, Brownsville, and Laredo, Texas. Also, ridership correlates positively with the purchasing power of the peso in Laredo and with Mexico's industrial production index in El Paso. In the context of prior …

Values, Perceptions, Conceptions, And Peacebuilding: A Case Study In A Mexico City Neighborhood, Mauricio Meschoulam

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mexico is not a country at peace. Despite the government's fight to restore stability, violence has erupted since 2006 in several areas of the territory. According to Vygotsky's social constructivism and to Galtung's integral perspective of peace, some elements of peacelessness are informed by values, perceptions, and conceptions about violence and peace. These topics have not been qualitatively investigated in Mexico. The purpose of this case study was to explore the process involving the social construction of values, perceptions, and conceptions in regard to organized criminal violence and peace possibilities in Mexico. Research questions focused on the role of mass …

Credit Default Swaps Regulation And The Use Of Collateralized Mortgage Obligations In U.S. Financial Institutions, Jon Patraic Neill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The fast and easy global movement of capital throughout the financial system, from lenders to borrowers and through intermediaries and financial market participants, has been recognized as a source of instability associated with illiquidity and financial crises. The purpose of this research was to better understand how regulation either enables or constrains capital movement. The theoretical framework comprised 2 contrasting public policymaking models, Arrow's rational-comprehensive model and Kingdon's garbage can model, which were used to derive opposing hypotheses. The research question addressed the nature of the relationship between Credit Default Swaps (CDSs) regulations and the flow of capital into Collateralized …

The Effect Of Leadership Flexibility And Effectiveness On City Manager Tenure, Patrick H. Burtch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Tenure can affect administrative continuity and proper governance in cities that employ the council-manager form of government, as most public policy proposals originate with the city manager. Literature regarding low tenure in medium and large communities is relatively well explored; however, little is known about the relationship between length of service and leadership style among small municipalities. Using Hersey and Blanchard's theory of situational leadership as a theoretical framework and the Leadership Behavioral Analysis IIRTM Self (LBAIIRTM Self) as an instrument, this study looked at managers' leadership flexibility and effectiveness and whether selection of an appropriate leadership approach impacts length …

Public Safety Directors' Leadership Role For The Implementation Of The National Incident Management System, John C. Mccauley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) is the result of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD-5). NIMS requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a national policy template for state, local, regional, and federal agencies to work together during emergencies. One difficulty with NIMS is that state and local agencies interpret and implement NIMS requirements differently. Using Lusier & Achua's theory of integrative leadership and Burns, Bass, Kouzes, and Posner's concept of transformational leadership, this study examined the relationship between the leadership provided by city public safety directors (CPSDs) and effective NIMS implementation at the local level. Two research …

Ethical Leadership And Good Governance In Nigerian Local Governments, Bartholomew Okechukwu Okagbue

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research literature identifies ethical leadership, a leadership grounded in ethical norms and practice, as a critical vehicle for achieving organizational goals and fostering good governance. However, little research on leadership has focused on the public sector, leaving a gap in the literature. Leadership in governance is a concern in local government in Nigeria; in spite of the 1976 reforms, the country still lacks good governance and corresponding socioeconomic development. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore an ethical leadership model, and determine how such a model could inspire and sustain good governance in Nigerian local government administration. …

Three Essays Evaluating Choices Of Teachers And Administrators In Kentucky Public Schools, Nathan Barrett

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Public K-12 education is a large enterprise in the United States. Through local, state and federal sources, the U.S. allocated over $610 billion to K-12 public education in 2009 (NCES). Not only is the commitment of public funds for education substantial, the provision of K-12 education is primarily administered by the government in non-market settings through local school districts. It is this institutional environment that generates the impetus for evaluating how those in education make choices in the absence of markets.

Like traditional markets, non-market solutions often fail because the incentives facing individuals and agencies elicit choices which produce outcomes …