Regional Development Organizations Research Articles

Model for Digital Skills Training for SMEs

Concerning the level of digitalisation, SMEs are not as well positioned as large companies. Lack of affordable training and ability to obtain needed competences form significant obstacles for the digitalisation of SMEs. The present study discusses these challenges and proposes an experimental model developed in a project implemented in cooperation with a university of applied sciences and regional business development organisations. The project provides the tools necessary for SMEs to develop their digital skills in the South Savo region, Finland. Our research question is: How can SMEs be best supported to develop and grow their digital skills and business models? Earlier research shows that employees working in SMEs need a set of competences enabling them to work and prosper in the ever-changing digital environment. For SMEs, the question is, which set of employee competences is the most relevant for the company's commercial success, because digital competences play a vital role in most SMEs’ future success. The training model presented in the paper is based, firstly, on defining the relevant areas of digital competences and the most significant skills gaps for each SME and, secondly, on tailoring a company-specific syllabus for closing these gaps. There are over 180 SMEs participating in the project. The practical work with each SME starts with digital competence mapping in a meeting between a business advisor and a representative of the SME. Based on the competence mapping, the SME then receives a company-specific action plan, and a syllabus. The project provides participating SMEs with clear learning paths at both basic and advanced levels, longer training paths and coaching. By doing so, the model ensures that participating SMEs only concentrate on relevant issues and get appropriate particulars support for their businesses. The contribution of the study is the development of an efficient training model and testing it with 180 SMEs. Based on our results, the most important digital competences for each SME in developing and growing its business must be defined based on each SME’s specific business needs, grounded in its business model and context, and skills gaps related to these competences.

Factors Affecting the Ability of Asset Management in Regional Development Organizations in the Government of North Sumatra

The purpose of this study was to obtain empirical evidence and to analyze the influence of the variables on the quality of human resources, regulatory compliance, internal control systems, and communication on the ability to manage regional assets and whether leadership commitment can moderate the relationship between the variables of quality of human resources, regulatory compliance, internal control system, and communication with regional asset management capabilities. The research design used is causal associative. The population in this study are employees who manage Regional Owned Assets in each OPD of the North Sumatra Provincial Government. This study determined the sample by purposive sampling with a total sample of 98. Data were analyzed using the Structure Equation Model (SEM) method with the help of the Smart PLS program. The results of this study prove that the quality of human resources, regulatory compliance, internal control systems, and communication has a positive and significant effect on the ability to manage regional assets. Furthermore, leadership commitment cannot moderate the relationship between the quality of human resources, regulatory compliance, and internal control system to the ability to manage regional assets. Leaders' commitment can moderate the relationship between Communication and the Ability to Manage Regionally Owned Assets. Keywords: Regional Asset Management Capability, Quality of human resources, Regulatory Compliance, Internal Control System, Communication, Leadership Commitment.

Toidupärandil põhinev arenduskoostöö: Eesti Rahva Muuseumi projekti kogemus

The origins of this article stem from the involvement of the authors in the Estonian National Museum’s (ENM) food culture project which ran from 2017 to 2019. The project was devoted to food culture, or more precisely, to the current interpretations and uses of Estonia’s historical food culture. The aim of the project was to achieve some practical, workable research results in cooperation with various interest groups. Being an institution offering expertise in cultural heritage, the ENM welcomed the challenge posed by the project, as it would combine the fundamentals of inclusive museology with research and collection-based knowledge as well as provide a site fostering discussions and multi-voiced interpretations. The food project managed to highlight clearly various interpretations of food heritage for food production businesses and the tourism sector. The entrepreneurs and developers involved in the project informed the museum of their needs and expectations, while all the parties jointly evaluated the museum’s potential for meeting those needs and expectations. We recognized that the researchers could not afford to limit themselves exclusively to the sharing of expertise on cultural heritage, but also needed to extend their skill set to match the expectations of their cooperation partners, contributing also to the creation of marketing materials (such as films and the Livonian Culinary Route in the past). For the museum, the desire to participate in the process of product development led to some innovative forms of cooperation and outcomes. For example, the application of artistic research was born out of the principles of co-creation and as such, differed from the ENM’s earlier practice of ethnographic documentation via the film medium. In this case, the films were made and uploaded onto the social media platform YouTube, which enabled the museum to expand its outreach. Another experiment that was initiated was the food souvenir contest for which entrepreneurs submitted a relatively representative set of food heritage products within a short period of time. The products and their stories vividly demonstrated many different ways for entrepreneurs to connect their products to heritage. This experience also made us realize that competition is not always the most suitable format for inviting entrepreneurs to take part in joint development programs related to food heritage. Our participation in the Livonian Culinary Route project created the opportunity for us, as researchers, to make our contribution to the development cooperation in the area of gastronomy tourism. Unfortunately, since tourism developers interpreted food heritage in purely instrumental terms, we were not perceived as an equal and important partner. We learnt a valuable lesson that when heritage creation is solely underpinned by marketing goals, it cannot be the basis for sustainable cooperation for researchers of cultural heritage. In a way, the food project also constituted the ENM's attempt to market itself as a possible partner for entrepreneurs and business developers. In the course of the project, we came to the realization that food production entrepreneurs did not necessarily perceive food heritage as a resource that adds value to their product, and even if they were interested in food legacy, they might not know to contact the museum for advice regarding this matter. It became obvious that cooperation in the area of product development in particular requires, on the part of the museum, long-term and regular communication and joint activities with regional development organizations and indeed, with the entrepreneurs themselves. Moreover, it is not possible to initiate heritage-based product development without the museum’s cooperation with other research institutions and the cultural researchers’ collaboration with representatives of other disciplines (including food technologists, as well as marketing and product design specialists). It is this kind of interdisciplinary expertise that could genuinely benefit food producers.

Децентралізоване співробітництво в управлінні: оцінка ролі органів місцевого самоврядування та організацій регіонального розвитку в Європейському Союзі

This article examines the dynamics between local self-governments and regional development organizations within the European Union, elucidating the implications of decentralization on regional development and governance. Drawing from comprehensive literature, including studies from the DFID, COR, European Parliament, and OECD, the research underscores the potential of cooperative governance. The conclusion projects the transformative potential of EU practices for countries like Ukraine, emphasizing the opportunities that inter-municipal cooperation, adaptive governance models, and EU support structures present.

РОЛЬ КЛАСТЕРОВ В ПОЛИТИКЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОГО ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОГО РАЗВИТИЯ

The article shows that regional economic development organizations often declare the presence of several clusters in the region; it is advisable to approach cluster practice from the point of view of an organization working with several clusters, rather than using a single (successful) cluster initiative.

Paradigma Pembangunan Desa dalam Pengelolaan Keuangan Desa Berdasarkan Undang-Undang Nomor 6 Tahun 2014 Tentang Desa

This article aims to find out the developmentidea or paradigm through village financial management based on Law Number 6 of 2014 concerning Villages. In this study, the researcher used a normative research methodby examining the village regulations in depth. Primary legal materials are authoritatuve legal materials in the form of laws and regulations. Village dependence is the most obvious violence against village income or financial sources. Various financial assistance from the government has made the village dependent on financial sources from the government. The use of regional development funds is intended to support activities in the management of Regional Development organizations. Therefore, development funds should be managed properly and smoothly, as well as can be used effectively to increase the people economy in the regions. This research shows that the law was made to regulate and support the development of local economic potential as well as the sustainable use of natural resources and the environment, and that the village community has the right to obtain information and monitor the planning and implementation of village development.

Introduction: Place-Based Sustainability Research in the Provincial North

First published advance online January 27, 2020As one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, Canada depends on widely dispersed rural and northern settlements to support the use and development of the country’s agricultural and natural resources that are at the heart of Canadian livelihoods and the economy (Hallstrom, Beckie, Hvenegaard, & Mundel, 2016; Markey, Breen, Gibson, Mealy, & Ryser, 2015; Hodge, Hall, & Robinson, 2017). The sustainability of these regional communities depends on a complex network of organizations dedicated to promoting the high standard of living for which Canada is recognized around the world (Hodge et al., 2017; Hall, Vodden, & Greenwood, 2016; Halseth & Ryser, 2016; Schiff, 2014). For example, a 2013 inventory of regional development organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador identified more than 1,000 organizations involved in development at the regional scale in that province (Vodden, Hall, & Freshwater, 2014). The future challenges of Canada’s regional centres are among the country’s key future challenges. To consider these issues, we hosted the workshop “Regional centres and the sustainability of Canada’s rural and northern landscapes” in May 2018 at Lakehead University (supported by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada). Our aim was to explore the role of regional centres in Canada’s development as a nation and the role that they will play into the future. The workshop brought together researchers from regional centres across the country to focus on key challenges across the landscape of Canada’s Provincial Norths. Ken Coates, Canada Research Chair in Regional Innovation at the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Saskatchewan delivered a keynote presentation on regional policy in Canada. He discussed ways that regional centres can prepare for an uncertain future dominated by rapid technological change, mobile workforces, and the need for culturally appropriate social and health services. Over two days the participants met to share perspectives and establish connections. More specifically, by reflecting on the special role of regional centres and their place in addressing Canada’s future challenges, we hoped to lay the groundwork for research focused on supporting the emerging needs of regional centres, and the rural and remote communities that they support. By exchanging narratives, histories, and perspectives among cultures from across the country, we sought, from a national perspective, to anticipate the role that regional centres will play in Canada’s future. This special collection in the Northern Review is meant to provide a glimpse into some of the conversations and issues discussed over the course of the two-day workshop. While this collection could not include the full breadth of the issues faced in regional centres, it does provide a look at critical issues—developing and supporting resilient local and regional food systems (Connie Nelson and Mirella Stroink); supporting small-scale commercial fisheries that have played an important role in northern food security, food sovereignty, and regional economies (Kristen Lowitt, Charles Levkoe, and Connie Nelson); northern rural sustainability planning and policy (Rebecca Schiff); community-based participatory research approaches to addressing housing and homelessness issues (Marleny Bonnycastle and Maureen Simpkins); and new tools for post-secondary education, which can encourage a deepening of conversations about place-based sustainability (David Greenwood and Devon Lee). These articles provide insight into the many strengths of, and challenges facing, northern, regional centres, and highlight our collective work toward development of more sustainable northern communities and regions. ReferencesHall, H, Vodden K, & Greenwood R. (2016). From dysfunctional to destitute: The governance of regional economic development in Newfoundland and Labrador. International Planning Studies, 22(2), 49–67. https://doi.org/10.1080/13563475.2016.1167585Hallstrom L, Beckie M, Hvenegaard G, & Mundel K. (2016). Sustainability planning and collaboration in rural Canada: Taking the next steps. University of Alberta Press.Halseth, G., & L. Ryser. (2006). Trends in service delivery: Examples from rural and small town Canada, 1998–2005. Canadian Geographer, 43, 69–90. https://journals.brandonu.ca/jrcd/article/view/40Hodge G, Hall H, & Robinson I. (2017). Planning Canadian regions (2nd ed.). UBC Press.Markey S, Breen S, Gibson R, Mealy R, & Ryser L. (2015). The state of rural Canada 2015. Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation/Fondation canadienne pour la revitalisation rurale.Schiff, R. (2014). Rethinking governance: Supporting healthy development through systems-level collaboration in Canada’s provincial north. The Northern Review, 38, 133–154. https://thenorthernreview.ca/index.php/nr/article/view/329Vodden K, Hall H, & Freshwater D. (2014). Understanding regional governance in Newfoundland and Labrador: A survey of regional development organizations. Memorial University.

Leading and following in Australian regional development: Why governance matters

AbstractThis paper explores challenges and opportunities of place‐based regional development leadership in the Australian context. Drawing on primary data from the recent Australian Government Inquiry into Regional Development and Decentralisation, an analysis of narratives from regional development organizations reveals governance tensions grounded in a deep cultural divide between capital cities and the regions collectively known as “Regional Australia.” As regional development organizations describe how State and Federal policy relates to their own diverse regional contexts, they highlight missed opportunities and illustrate how current governance arrangements limit the room to manoeuvre of place‐based regional development leadership.

Revisiting Mackay Online

Revisiting Mackay Online

Similarities into the “Regional Development Organizations” Engaged in Voluntary Activities for Community Invigoration in Hilly and Mountainous Regions─a case study of the Chugoku region, the Westernmost region of Honshu, the largest island of Japan─

Similarities into the “Regional Development Organizations” Engaged in Voluntary Activities for Community Invigoration in Hilly and Mountainous Regions─a case study of the Chugoku region, the Westernmost region of Honshu, the largest island of Japan─

Dynamic Capabilities and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: The Micro-Foundations of Regional Entrepreneurship

In pursuit of the beneficial outcomes of entrepreneurship, governments and regional development organisations enact policies to stimulate entrepreneurial activity. A growing focus of policymakers in emerging and developed economies is the promotion of entrepreneurial ecosystems: the interconnected system of forces that generate and sustain regional entrepreneurship. Despite intense interest in entrepreneurial ecosystems, the topic is under-theorised. Studies draw attention to the positive effects of entrepreneurial ecosystems on the creation and functioning of early-stage ventures; however, the specific mechanisms through which ecosystems influence entrepreneurs are not clear. To address this issue, we build on dynamic capabilities theory to create a theoretical framework that identifies a set of forces through which ecosystems influence entrepreneurship. We propose that in vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems entrepreneurs are more able to sense, seize and reconfigure resources and opportunities. Our theory contributes to entrepreneurship research, has implications for policymakers and practitioners, and suggests directions for future studies.

Assessing the impacts of cassava technology on poverty reduction in Africa

In Africa, there have been successes in cassava research in terms of the development of production technologies, particularly improved varieties with high yield potential. The study addresses the question of whether and to what extent adoption of improved cassava varieties has led to rural poverty reduction in four African countries, namely Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone and Zambia. Data for the study come from a household survey conducted in the above-mentioned countries through a multinational-CGIAR support to agricultural research for development of strategic crops (SARD-SC) project in Africa. Given the observational nature of the data, a parametric approach (endogenous switching regression model) is applied. The results indicate that the model detects selectivity bias. Accounting for the bias, we find that adoption of cassava technology has resulted in an approximately 10 percentage point reduction in the poverty rate. Given an adoption rate of 34 per cent and a 10 percentage point reduction in the poverty rate, an estimated 24,309 households (equivalent to 194,469 individuals) have managed to move out of poverty in these four countries as a result of adoption of the technology. We also find that adoption of the technology has benefitted non-poor and female-headed households, relative to poor and male-headed households. The results present important evidence in favour of promoting cassava technology in a targeted fashion as part of an effective poverty reduction and sustained agricultural growth strategy in Africa. Considering the large realised and even more pronounced potential impacts of the adoption of cassava technology on poverty reduction, it is vital that regional and global development organisations should continue supporting the existing cassava improvement programme to sustain the technology development efforts in the continent.

From dysfunctional to destitute: the governance of regional economic development in Newfoundland and Labrador

ABSTRACTOn 22 May 2012, the federal government announced that it was discontinuing the funding for all regional economic development (RED) organizations in Atlantic Canada, including the regional economic development boards (REDBs) in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). Shortly after the federal announcement the provincial government in NL also withdrew its financial support, which led to the demise of the REDBs across the province. In this paper, we critically explore the governance of RED in NL and examine the REDB approach and its subsequent demise using Stoker’s five propositions of governance. While the REDBs were conceived as a fundamentally ‘new regional economic development approach’, they were never granted the level of autonomy, support, and resources that was envisioned in this new approach. However, we argue that the demise of the REDBs has shifted the governance of RED from dysfunctional to destitute. These changes are also situated within a ‘retreat from rural’ policy agenda and devolved responsibilities to local levels of government across Canada and in NL.

Protected geographical indications: Institutional roles in food systems governance and rural development

Abstract This paper examines the importance of national-level institutional arrangements for promoting the EU’s Protected Geographic Indication scheme (PGI). Taking the example of Ireland, for which PGI designations remain comparatively low, it explores whether the approach to providing institutional supports to the PGI scheme is influenced by top-down technocratic governance structures that pertain to food safety and quality certification that encompass the broader operating environment for food production in Ireland. Although the regulation of food safety and quality certification are distinct remits to the administration of the PGI scheme, in the Irish context the same institutional bodies are involved in governance of both. Using a discourse analysis interpretative framework, this paper draws on interviews with Irish producer group members and institutional representatives to examine how governance of the PGI scheme reflects management perspectives and practices more in keeping with a regulatory environment for food safety and quality than with development of place-based food product links. It suggests that incentives to avail of the PGI scheme as a means of realising value-added for producers are not well established because they require the development of more subjective, context-dependent processes and practices linked to geographical place and place identity. These are not easily accommodated under current institutional arrangements that also incorporate food safety and quality remits because these are in turn strongly established through nationally and internationally recognised systems of regulation and benchmarking. The findings point to the benefits to be gained from a more layered governance structure for PGI; devolving operation of the scheme to relevant regional and local development organisations that possess the expertise and relevant local knowledge to (a) incentivise the formation of producer groups, and (b) prioritise mentoring and support for PGI concept development as a clearer reflection of bottom-up rural sustainability policy.

Regional Innovativeness Strategies And Their Impact On Innovativeness Of Provinces In Poland. A Spatio-temporal Analysis

Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) have existed in Poland for almost ten years and in this period they have been developed, accepted and implemented in all provinces. The basic aim of Regional Innovativeness Strategies is to support regional or local authorities and other regional development organizations in defining and implementing an effective system of supporting innovativeness in the region. The current scope of realizing projects connected with RIS is different in particular provinces. The author of the paper attempts to evaluate the effects of implementation of pro-innovativeness solution included in Regional Innovation Strategies with particular consideration of their influence on the growth of region innovativeness level in Poland.

Regional Industrial Recruitment in Upstate New York

This article, by analyzing a major development initiative undertaken in upstate New York, seeks to broaden our understanding of a dominant model of economic development: industrial recruitment. Whereas prior studies have examined this model mainly within separate, individual communities, this article broadens the analysis to the regional level and examines how regional economic development organizations can help mediate local political fragmentation that can potentially undermine cross-jurisdictional economic development ventures. With this, we explore how these organizations can exploit the bonding and bridging social ties within and between communities to advance a project, the methods they employ to broaden cross-community consensus regarding a project, and how they can potentially mediate political conflict that may arise as a result of a development venture.

Bridging the Gap between Academic Research and Regional Development in the Basque Country

The discussion in this article focuses on how the gap between academic knowledge and regional development can be bridged, creating conditions for change processes between researchers and regional agents. Institutional entrepreneurs can create regional development organisations and research organisations, but in order to fulfil regional needs it is necessary to create processes where researchers and practitioners can connect and create a mutual change process. The analysis shows how new organisations have been used to create conditions for knowledge co‐generation processes, a change in the language used and new work methods between researchers from Deusto University and Orkestra and regional actors over a period of 11 years in the Basque Country.

Trade Finance in Periods of Crisis: What Have We Learned in Recent Years?

This paper reviews a number of initiatives taken by public and private institutions aimed at minimizing the impact of the on-going crisis of the financial sector on its ability to supply trade finance to support trade at affordable rates. In doing so, it draws a few policy lessons. One of them is that a relatively stable segment of the financial industry is now regularly hit by the contagion of financial crises, with potentially very harmful spill-overs on global trade through a dry up of its financing. Specific policy measures to restore confidence in this otherwise safe market required a good level of coherence and dialogue between national governments and international and regional development organizations. Lessons from the Asian and Latin American financial crises of the late 1990's have been learned and academia provided input by developing understanding on a previously under-rated topic in the literature. Learning-by-doing and leadership have also been features of the policy response, which altogether had some successes. Still, longer-term challenges remain, such as addressing the structural gaps in the availability of trade finance in low-income countries - ad hoc programs have been designed to fill the gap between the perceived and actual risk of extending trade credit to traders in these countries. Moreover, regulation of the trade finance market needs to continue to take into account its low-risk character, the absence of leverage and its impact on development.

A Study of R&D, Collaboration, and Location Preferences of Health and Agricultural Biotech Firms

The biotechnology industry is now a top priority of state and regional economic development organizations. Existing geographic research focuses on what motivates the development of regional clusters of biotechnology firms in the area of human therapeutics and diagnostics. However, the biotechnology industry is segmented into broad subsectors, such as health and agricultural biotech, and each sector has different types of firms. The purpose of this paper is to characterize firm-specific differences that exist between health and agricultural biotechnology firms. Specifically, we use a survey instrument to understand how firms in each sector perceive and use different forms of collaboration and location factors in their operations. Although firms in each sector may pursue similar goals and support for innovation, they do not necessarily do so in the same fashion. By treating agricultural and health biotechnology sectors separately, we offer new evidence to reevaluate theories explaining regional biotechnology development, and new insights into how development policies impact each sector. The insights provided by this paper are critical given the prevalence of policy initiatives supporting biotechnology.

Participatory rural development program and local culture: a case study of Mardan, Pakistan

Research on rural development has gained significance in recent years. Much of the previous work focused on economic factors of the people involved in rural development programs/projects. However, now there is a growing interest in the role of socio-cultural factors affecting rural development. This paper reviews and analyzes how a German assisted Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP) effectively and efficiently incorporated the people of a diverse culture of Mardan Division of North West Frontier Province, Pakistan in the development activities through a process oriented socio-cultural approach. The new way of viable participatory institution building at meso level (Regional Development Organizations) to tie and pursue the interest of micro-level organizations (Community Based Organizations) based on traditional, cultural values, and norms indicates how participation can be effectively institutionalized and the continuity of collective actions is ensured in the shape of Integrated Rural Support Program even after the withdrawal of IRDP. Based on the interviews, discussions, observations, and references, it is evident that the IRDP participatory approach not only facilitates genuine participation of the people in problem solving, planning, institutional building, and implementation of development activities but also ensures the sustainability of grass root organizations in the long run.