Comparative Case Analysis Research Articles

Harnessing the Power of Social Media for Promoting Transparency in Collaborative Governance through Non-State Actors: A Comparative Case Analysis of South Africa and Zimbabwe

Objective: Collaborative governance is an innovative approach to address complex societal challenges, involving partnerships between state and non-state actors. Consequently, social media is powerful tools for promoting transparency and accountability. Methodology: The study examines the role of non-state actors in leveraging social media to enhance transparency in collaborative governance initiatives. The research analyses two case studies - the #FeesMustFall campaign in South Africa and the #Tajamuka/Sesijikile campaign in Zimbabwe. Results: Through a qualitative analysis of the case studies, the study explores how non-state actors, such as civil society organizations and activist groups, have utilized social media to amplify their voices, mobilize public support, and exert pressure on government entities. Findings reveal that effective use of social media can empower non-state actors to overcome information asymmetries, facilitate public scrutiny, and foster collaborative problem-solving. Conclusions: However, contextual factors, such as political environments and digital access, shapes the dynamics of social media-driven transparency efforts.

The roles of collapsing contexts and TikTok’s features in reciprocal trolling

ABSTRACT The collapsing of social contexts online and its impact on identify, privacy, and self-presentation have been widely documented. However, the increased levels of conflict and misunderstanding that those collapsing contexts trigger requires more scholarly attention. Informed by social informatics, this paper examines collapsing contexts and TikTok’s features that support reciprocal trolling. A comparative case analysis of three TikTok influencers reveals how they took advantage of the platform’s features (Duet, Stich, Share, and Sounds); how they developed their own trolling style and utilized a different repertoire of trolling tactics in initiating and in responding to trolling; and how they proactively utilized social, spatial, and temporal collapsing contexts in their reciprocal trolling activities. The study makes two significant contributions to research by (1) extending our understanding of collapsing contexts beyond the reactive notion of flattened contexts, contributing to social informatics a nuanced understanding of context; and by (2) demonstrating how TikTok’s features foster reciprocal trolling and the process by which it spills over into other social media platforms, raising a need for more cross-platform research.

A study of strategic factors affecting post-cross-border acquisition technological innovation performance of the acquiring firms using m-TISM and MICMAC

PurposeThis study aims to identify the strategic factors and their effects on the post-cross-border acquisitions (CBA) technological innovation performance of the acquiring firms. It develops a hierarchical model to examine the interrelationship between identified strategic factors such as strategic flexibility, strategic ambidexterity, environmental dynamism, etc.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses modified total interpretive structural modeling qualitative methodology (m-TISM) to develop a hierarchical model and conducts a Matrice d’impacts croisés multiplication appliquée á un classment (MICMAC) analysis to show the interrelationship between strategic factors affects the acquirer’s post-CBA technological innovation performance. It determines the autonomous, dependent, linkage and independent strategic factors. It further uses comparative case analysis to empirically examine the strategic factors in real-time CBA situations.FindingsThis study shows the m-TISM-based hierarchical model highlighting the interrelation, level of autonomy, dependence and linkage among strategic factors affecting the acquirer’s post-CBA technological innovation performance. It suggests that strategic factors such as environmental dynamism, R&D competence, innovation capability and technological capability are largely autonomous and have significant driving power, whereas strategic ambidexterity and strategic flexibility are the connecting factors. post-M&A integration is the governing factor for technological innovation performance in CBA.Research limitations/implicationsThe strategists and practitioners could evaluate the key strategic factors having significant driving power for strategy formulation and implementing efficient policies. By implementing the m-TISM model acquiring a firm’s post-CBA performance can be enhanced. Future researchers might utilize quantitative methods like regression and structural equation modeling in the CBA context.Originality/valueThis study uses a novel m-TISM and MICMAC approach to identify the driving and dependent factors affecting post-CBA technological innovation performance. It further provides a detailed theoretical and conceptual understanding relating to the philosophy and establishes an interrelation amongst these under-researched strategic factors in CBA.

Interstate Air Pollution Governance in the United States: Exploring Clean Air Act Section 126

Air pollution is arguably the most pressing human health concern today, accounting for approximately 7–9 million premature deaths worldwide. In the United States, more than 40% of early deaths caused by air pollution are assessed to be caused by emissions produced by neighboring states. This article examines one of the governance mechanisms used by the U.S. to address this issue: section 126 of the Clean Air Act. Critical factors including case length, evidence used, and case outcome are compiled for the population of section 126 petitions submitted from 2000–2022. This evidence is assessed using comparative case analysis. The findings reinforce two issues with the petition process already identified in the literature–the use of cost as a proxy for significance and the excessive and unclear burden of proof placed on downwind states–adding texture to the latter issue by examining the modeling techniques used by downwind states. This analysis identifies lengthy response timelines as an additional issue and calls to attention the infrequency with which the EPA has formally accepted petitions. Collectively, these issues increase the cost, complexity, and unpredictability of filing a section 126 petition.

A novel multi-source TWD model based on multi-granularity ball for multiple decision makers

Three-way incomplete multi-attribute decision-making model (TWIMADM) for multiple decision makers is an important topic in data science, which is an effective tool for decision making. However, calculation results of neighborhood blocks are still affected by neighborhood radius. In addition, most of the existing models without considering the information from the evaluations of multiple decision makers separately is difficult to obtain a comprehensive assessment. To address these problems, this paper builds a novel multi-source TWD model based on multi-granularity ball. First, the well-established granular ball is extended to multi-granularity, by which a weighted conditional probability is generated to divide the concerned region into three parts: positive, negative and boundary region. The calculation of the multi-granularity ball is independence of the neighborhood radius parameter. Subsequently, the joint entropy is developed by using the defined multi-granularity to obtain the optimal decision. Furthermore, the relative utility function is utilized to capture the preferences of decision makers, the classification and ranking of each object are determined by calculating the threshold value and expected utility value. Evaluation information from all decision makers are combined and fused. Finally, a novel TWD model is developed to address the challenges of incomplete multi-attribute decision-making problems involving multiple decision makers. The comparative case analyses and experimental evaluations have demonstrated the stability, validity, and feasibility of our model.

Relationship between Government and Community, Mobilization Ability, and Organizational Performance: Comparative Case Analysis Based on Community Elderly Care Service Institutions

This study explores the reason why community service organizations with different operating modes in similar institutional environments have significant differences in their operational performance when providing the same services. Through comparative case analysis, this paper puts forward the analysis framework of government-community relationship, mobilization ability, and organizational performance to reveal the internal process of organizational operation and the root cause of performance differences. The findings are as follows. The relationship between the government and the community is the key variable to understanding the operation logic of community service organizations. The interaction between government and community is particularly key to the operation and development of the organization, and the different interaction between government and community is the root cause of the difference in the operation performance of the organization. The operational performance of community service organizations is based on the organization’s resource mobilization and organizational mobilization capacity and scope, whereby the two mobilization capabilities are related to the relationship between the government and the community. The research conclusion provides a new explanation for understanding the operational performance of organizations and can also be a reference for optimizing the operation of social organizations.

The Revolutionary Impact of Regenerative Agriculture on Ecosystem Restoration and Land Vitality: A Review

The revolutionary impact of regenerative agriculture on ecosystem restoration and land vitality in India delineates the nuances of its principles, practices, and the symbiotic relationship with community engagement and policy frameworks. Regenerative agriculture, a holistic approach prioritizing soil health, biodiversity, water management, and carbon sequestration, emerges as a critical solution to the challenges of soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change faced by Indian agriculture. Through a synthesis of comparative studies and case analyses, this review highlights the tangible benefits of regenerative practices, such as enhanced soil structure, fertility, and microbial health, alongside improved water infiltration and conservation, underscoring the pivotal role of biodiversity in bolstering farm resilience and ecological balance. The narrative further delves into the socio-economic dimensions, examining the economic viability, knowledge dissemination, and the vital role of measurement and verification in scaling regenerative practices. Community and societal engagement, pivotal for fostering consumer demand for regeneratively produced products and collective restoration efforts, is identified as a cornerstone for the transition towards sustainable agriculture. Moreover, the review identifies the need for long-term impact studies to monitor ecosystem changes and assess global scalability. By integrating scientific research with policy analysis, the review advocates for innovations in regenerative techniques, aligned with precision agriculture, and underscores the necessity of supportive policy and economic incentives to catalyze the transition towards regenerative agriculture in India, thereby contributing to global food security and environmental sustainability.

Loopholes in the Indian Banking System concerning Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) – A Case Study of “Axis Bank and HDFC Bank”

Abstract -The paper presents a comparative case analysis of two leading banks, Axis Bank and HDFC Bank. The rising tide of Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) in the banking sector is a major threat to financial stability and economic progress. The case study uncovered severe deficiencies in risk management, credit evaluation, and regulatory compliance, which have resulted in a considerable accumulation of Non-Performing Assets. The banks' exposure to economically sensitive sectors amplifies the impact of downturns on asset quality. The limitations in credit risk assessment underline the necessity for increased due diligence. Regulatory frameworks, such as the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, and prompt corrective action have a significant impact on NPA responses. The findings highlight the complicated interplay between internal banking practices, regulatory frameworks, and economic conditions that affect a bank's financial performance. Addressing discovered weaknesses inside both these banks is important to the stability of India's financial system. The implications, as indicated by rising NPAs, are felt throughout the sector, jeopardizing overall resilience. Addressing these problems is crucial for reducing systemic risks, preventing a credit crisis, and rebuilding trust in the financial industry. A better banking system is critical for India's financial stability, economic growth, and stakeholder trust. As major private sector players, Axis Bank and HDFC Bank’s successful remediation set a precedent, emphasizing the need for excellent risk management, regulatory compliance, and strategic adaptation. Key Words: Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, Non-Performing Assets, Risk Management, Regulatory Compliance, Financial Stability, Economic Impact

Covid-19 vaccination: a mixed methods analysis of health system resilience in Latin America

BackgroundThis paper discusses the stages of health system resilience (HSR) and the factors underlying differences in HSR during the covid-19 pandemic, especially the vaccination challenge. We studied the relationship between vaccination strategies and macro-context backgrounds in 21 Latin American countries. Our objective was to capture the impact of those aspects in the SR and identify potential improvements for future crises and for vaccination programs in general.MethodsThe study uses mixed-methods research to provide insights into how the countries’ backgrounds and vaccination strategies impact the HSR. Particularly, we used explanatory sequential mixed methods, which entails a quantitative-qualitative two-phase sequence. The quantitative phase was conducted using cluster and variance analysis, in which the HSR was measured using as a proxy the covid-19 vaccination outcomes in three cut-offs of reaching 25%, 50%, and 75% of population coverage. This approach allows us to discriminate covid-19 vaccination progress by stages and contrast it to the qualitative stage, in which we performed a country-case analysis of the background conditions and the changes in vaccination strategies that occurred during the corresponding dates.ResultsThe paper provides a rich comparative case analysis of countries, classifying them by early, prompt, and delayed performers. The results show that differences in vaccination performance are due to flexibility in adapting strategies, cooperation, and the ability to design multilevel solutions that consider the needs of various actors in the health ecosystem. These differences vary depending on the vaccination stage, which suggests the importance of acknowledging learning, diffusion, and feedback processes at the regional level.ConclusionsWe identified the importance of societal well-being as an ideal country antecedent for high and sustained levels of performance in covid-19 vaccination. Whereas in other countries where the set-up and beginning phases were rough, the value of the operational decisions and the learning on the move regarding their own and their peers’ trajectories were crucial and were reflected in performance improvement. A contribution of this study is that the above-mentioned analysis was done using vaccination coverage cut-off points that allow a performance view that takes into consideration the stages of the vaccination progress and the learning process that goes with it. As well as framing this into the HSR shock cycles that allow to differentiate the stages of resilience on which countries must act.

한중간 비특혜원산지검증의 효과적 이행을 위한 대응방안

Purpose: This paper finds out why non-special origin verification between Korea and China is important, because post-verification of exported goods is not carried out. This raises issues such as false issuance of certificates of origin or laundering of origin.
 Research design, data, and methodology: Using comparative and empirical case analysis methods, this paper focuses on verification of non-preferential origin in Korea and China.
 Results: According to this study, there are differences in application standards under the legal system verifying non-Korean origin in both Korea and China
 Conclusions: Owing to differences between Korea and China in the criteria determining non-preferential origin, it is necessary to respond effectively to contribute to trade facilitation by solving customs and procedural problems in the import and export processes with China.

Corporate Social Responsibility Practices in China's Petroleum Industry: A Comparative Analysis of PetroChina and Sinopec

Against the backdrop of global energy transition, Chinese petroleum enterprises are facing both opportunities and challenges. This study employs a literature review approach and a comparative case analysis method to thoroughly examine the corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices of PetroChina and Sinopec in the domains of environmental protection, social responsibility, and employee welfare. The research reveals disparities between the two companies concerning preventive environmental management, prioritized philanthropic efforts, and employee rights safeguarding. Consequently, the study proposes three recommendations encompassing strategic integration, participation in international standards, and internal organizational significance construction, aiming to enhance CSR implementation. By offering practical insights, this research serves as a reference for Chinese petroleum enterprises, contributing to their improved international competitiveness and reputation. In the ever-evolving landscape of sustainability and business ethics, such insights can aid these enterprises in navigating their roles as responsible global corporate citizens, ensuring a harmonious balance between economic growth and social welfare.

INTERMEDIARY’S LIABILITY: TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-BASED CONTENT MODERATION IN MALAYSIA

Intermediaries enjoy a ‘safe harbour’ from civil or criminal liability should they host illegal and harmful third-party online content, subject to requirements from national laws. The line between immunity and liability becomes hazy when intermediaries appear to assume the role of content creators, hence risk being characterised as publishers. The paper analyses whether such liability may be diminished if intermediaries adopt an artificial intelligence-based content moderation system. Through comparative case analyses of Mkini, Delfi, Bunt and Godfrey, the research questioned the relevance of the legal defence granted in the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and the Content Code. The article analysed the Federal Court’s finding of liability for Mkini and asked whether it signals the right way forward that may ignore the fundamental right to express opinion of public interest. Despite the advances in artificial intelligence-based content moderation, it remains to be seen if algorithms can easily contain illegal and harmful content.

Willingness to Fight for One’s Own Country: New Variables to Look at the Estonian Leadership among the Baltic States

The article delves into the willingness of citizens in the Baltic States, particularly Estonia, to fight for their countries in the face of rising threats, notably the Russian threat following the Crimean annexation. With historically weaker NATO defenses and relatively small armed forces, Baltic States like Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia rely on allied support and their residents’ determination to defend their homeland. The study explores variables that influence this willingness, focusing on Estonia’s leadership in this aspect. The article consists of three main sections: a literature review, a comparative case analysis, and conclusions. The literature review examines past data from global, regional, and national perspectives, touching upon the theories of renowned researchers like Ronald F. Inglehart. The comparative case analysis delves into new variables—civic engagement, government functionality, and corruption levels—exploring their correlation with citizens’ readiness to fight for their country. The analysis uncovers distinct patterns in Estonia, which consistently outpaces Latvia and Lithuania in civic engagement, efficient governance, and lower corruption levels. Ultimately, the research emphasizes that civic engagement positively associates with willingness to defend one’s country, exemplified by Estonia’s higher voter turnout and volunteering rates. Effective government functioning also contributes to citizens’ willingness to fight, with Estonia’s robust governance over the past decades potentially boosting resilience. Furthermore, low corruption levels appear to enhance citizens’ confidence in their state, potentially encouraging them to defend it. The study concludes that understanding these multifaceted factors can guide policymakers and community leaders in bolstering citizens’ determination to protect their countries, particularly in Latvia and Lithuania.

A Framework for Assessing the Climate Impacts of Research and Innovation Projects and Programmes

Public spending on research and innovation (R&I) to tackle grand societal challenges, such as climate change, is increasing. Consequently, research funding organisations face an ever-growing demand to demonstrate the social return of their investments. However, tools and frameworks that facilitate the description and assessment of the climate impacts of R&I activities are largely lacking. The present paper addresses this gap by conducting a comparative case analysis of corporate R&I projects co-funded by a thematically open R&I funding programme with the aim of identifying the key impact pathways. Data for the cases were collected through document analysis and video interviews. The results show that assessments of the climate impacts of R&I need to take into account the expected change in technology maturity and the impacts that are caused up- and downstream in a company’s value chain. The results serve as a basis for the development of a framework for the ex-ante assessment of climate impacts of public R&I programmes. A series of workshops with research funders, companies, and evaluation experts helped refine and validate the framework and ensure its real-world applicability. The framework provides proposal writers and evaluators with a pragmatic and easy-to-use orientation tool for describing and assessing the climate impacts of a planned R&I activity during the proposal evaluation stage. It therefore supports a more systematic and systemic assessment of R&I impacts that can help funding organisations better address the challenges of climate change.

Social Innovation – a Powerful Statement from Companies for a Sustainable Environment

Abstract Today’s environmental challenges are catching the attention of many companies to seek innovative solutions to solve the roots of these problems through strong partnerships with governmental entities and other organizations. Social innovation is a topic that can leverage new ideas and practices to overcome current societal and environmental issues fostering sustainability. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of social innovation by presenting a pragmatic and comparative study case analysis of two companies that successfully implemented social innovation in their business model. Social innovation combined with open innovation are great catalysts in solving societal and environmental problems and creating shared value and having an impact on business strategy. These two organizations strive to create change and develop a learning environment to surpass all risks and challenges to solve environmental problems. The paper will provide evidence on the importance of closing partnerships in the social innovation process and how collaboration helps in generating shared value.

Acoustic Performance and Lifecycle Assessment of Common Building Materials: A Comparative Case Analysis

Motivated by the Hong Kong Climate Action Plan 2050, a lifecycle case analysis assessment of various typical construction materials often proposed for acoustic purposes has been performed. The findings have been analysed and a metric has been explored which assesses a material's combined value based on its sound insulation ability and carbon emissions produced by its use in a project.

A Comparative Case Analysis of Parkinson’s Disease Patients' Experience with Boxing for Exercise

Parkinson’s Disease is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative disease, affecting about 10 million people worldwide. This case study aims to examine the different effects of boxing as a treatment for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) in men and women with the disease. There are two times as many men as there are women with Parkinson’s disease, and women are overlooked in many studies because of this. This study aims to understand how exercise affects women differently than men and to amplify their voices and experiences for the rest of the community to better assist them. Method. Four men and four women with Parkinson’s Disease were interviewed after classes at Rock Steady Boxing, and cross-case analysis was implemented to compare the results. Thirteen questions and sub-questions were asked, ranging from simple to thought-provoking and complex. Answers to questions were analyzed separately, in the male case and the female case, as well as together to compare the analyses. Results. Women appeared to reap physiological benefits of boxing, like increased confidence and decreased anxiety. Men and women alike reported the alleviation of some symptoms due to boxing. Discussion. This study allows the community to understand the many reasons why someone with PD may want to exercise, as it benefits both physical and mental health, making a progressive and debilitating disease more livable, improving quality of life in patients.

Three waves of schooling marketization in urban China amid changing political economy since the 1990s

Schooling marketization is a global syndrome characterizing post-1980 societies. However, while many studies have examined the political economy and politics of schooling marketization in Western economies, China’s schooling marketization remains insufficiently understood. Moreover, the existing studies have the analytical tendency to fall into the trap of methodological nationalism, with an exclusive focus on the state restructuring under neoliberalism and neoliberal globalization, leading to schooling marketization being viewed as a static and locally homogeneous practice. This paper fills these gaps by developing a city-level and time-sensitive analysis of local practices of marketizing the urban schooling system in the post-reform age. Two cities in western China—Chengdu and Mianyang—are taken as cases for comparative analysis. We found three waves of schooling marketization in urban China that are driven by the changes in the political economy between the 1980s and 2010s. Through a cross-fertilization of the outward-looking approach to geographies of education and geographic political economy, we understand China’s schooling marketization as a state-mediated institutional transformation that is employed to serve the local economic restructuring/time-varying urban growth strategy, which is staged by the changing (inter)national political economy.

Understanding sexual violence in sex working populations-Law, legal consciousness and legal practice in four countries (2021-2023): Study Protocol v2.5.

Globally, the most important human rights and public health issue that sex workers face is their experience of high levels of violence (Kinnell, 2006, Kinnell, 2008, Alexander, 1999). Deering's systematic review estimated levels of sexual violence in sex working populations as being between 14% and 54% (Deering et al, 2014). This international, robust mixed methods study will explore the frequency of sexual violence against sex workers, barriers in criminal justice and the legal consciousness of sex workers regarding their rights and consent. The hypothesis to be tested is that the safety of sex workers from sexual violence is mediated by the differing legal contexts of sex work environments. We will compare experiences across research sites in the context of legalisation (Nevada USA), client criminalisation (Northern Ireland), decriminalisation (New Zealand) and partial criminalisation (England, Scotland and Wales) [henceforth ESW]. An international survey (n = 1,000) will be translated into several languages, to disaggregate experiences by demographic categories (gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation) and sex work sector (including online, street-based and brothels). Interviews (n = 100) with sex workers, police, prosecutors and service providers will be thematically analysed to explore legal consciousness, why the patterns occur and contextualise the statistical findings. These data will be supplemented with comparative legislative, policy and case analysis. Research study data will be used to compare the social factors and legal norms shaping sex workers experiences of sexual violence, justice and support interventions. Recommendations for a 'best practice' review of legal improvements and support interventions will be produced following completion of the study. Given the sensitive nature of the research, robust ethical and data protection mechanisms are in place. The research has ethical approval from each research site, an Advisory Board and trained, paid peer researchers to assist with data gathering, analysis and dissemination. The study will report findings in 2023/2024.

Governance of dependency relationships in mandated networks

ABSTRACT Mandated service delivery networks have become common in both developing and developed worlds; however, our understanding of what makes these arrangements work is still limited. In this study, we draw upon existing business literature, specifically focusing on dependency relationships and resulting opportunism within mandated networks, a critical but often overlooked aspect. Further, within mandated networks characterised by limited autonomy and trust, ways in which network members navigate dependency relationships remain unexplored. We conduct a comparative case analysis, examining network arrangements within India’s National Health Insurance Programme. Based on our findings, we propose that the nature of interdependence among network members and the resultant dependency relationships impact the conduct of network members and, thereby, network performance. If the dependency relationships are not governed effectively, conflict bargaining and opportunistic behaviours get manifested. Contrary to expectation, network performance tends to be higher in jurisdictions where dependency relationships are effectively governed through hierarchical authority. These findings hold significant relevance; as mandated networks are created under the shadow of hierarchy but governed through clan or trust-based mechanisms.