Successful Partnerships Research Articles

Investigating Social Media Dissemination and Word-of-Mouth Effects: A Study on the Starbucks and Spotify Brand Collaboration

This paper investigates the dynamic interplay between social media dissemination and word-of-mouth effects in the context of the Starbucks and Spotify brand collaboration spanning the years 2015 to 2022. Recognizing the significance of collaborative marketing in the digital age, our study explores the cultural impact and consumer behavior dynamics underlying successful brand partnerships. Through an in-depth analysis of the Starbucks and Spotify collaboration, we uncover the evolution of the partnership, key milestones, and the strategies employed by both brands. Furthermore, our research scrutinizes the collaboration’s reach on various social media channels and assesses its impact on user-generated content virality. Delving into the qualitative realm, we explore how the collaboration influences consumer conversations, perceptions, and brand loyalty over time. The study culminates in a discussion and conclusion that interprets the findings in the context of existing literature, highlights implications for theory and practice, reflects on the collaboration’s adaptation to changes in social media dynamics, acknowledges study limitations, and outlines potential avenues for future research.

Developing an online knowledge sharing platform and community of practice for health professionals: Experiences from C-WorKS developed in North East England and Yorkshire during COVID-19.

Although knowledge sharing online has been recognised as an important strategy for health professionals to apply research findings to their practice, limited research exists on how to develop and implement these platforms to help facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing. This study evaluated an online knowledge sharing platform and community of practice developed in the North East of England and Yorkshire during COVID-19 to support UK health and care professionals to reduce the impact of the wider consequences of COVID-19. Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders (n = 8) and users of C-WorKS (n = 13), followed by an online survey (n = 19) among a wider group of users to analyse knowledge use. Interview and survey findings highlighted several strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to support future development of online knowledge sharing platforms. Online knowledge sharing supports six 'pillars' of successful research and innovation partnerships. This requires distributed forms of leadership and linking of different knowledge sharing strategies, and careful combination of platforms with communities of practice. Online knowledge sharing provides pragmatic and timely strategies for health professionals in the UK to apply research evidence to their practice. Our study provides generalisable, practical insights in how to develop and implement a knowledge sharing platform.

Music Therapy Educators’ Perspectives on Practica Community Partnerships

Abstract Music therapy educators are tasked by the American Music Therapy Association with creating practica placements for students. However, open-ended instructions result in many differing structures of placements and no formal guidelines or codifying supports for educators working with community partners. The purpose of this descriptive survey study was to provide an understanding of music therapy educators’ perspectives on successful and challenging elements of community partnerships and evaluative factors educators use when creating, monitoring, or discontinuing practica placements. Of the 139 participants, 100 currently teach or previously taught music therapy, and their quantitative and qualitative responses were included in data analysis. Educators perceived relational elements of partnerships as greater contributors to success than logistical elements. They identified pro-active and consistent communication (23.69%, n = 59), commitment to the partnership (18.07%, n = 45), and partners’ perception of students providing meaningful services (18.07%, n = 45) as necessary to successful partnerships. The most prominent challenging element was partners who did not value or understand music therapy. However, only 2.9% of educators (n = 2) indicated teaching partners about music therapy and its benefits as a part of their processes for establishing and monitoring community partnerships. The recognition that education and advocacy of music therapy play an underlying role in practica relationships can help guide educators toward more successful partnerships. Recommended future research should include perspectives of community partners and students on practica relationships.

Recommendations for successful involvement of patient partners in complex intervention research: a collaborative learning process

BackgroundPatient and public involvement in health-related research is a new discipline in Denmark. In 2021, a national conference titled 'Patient and Public Involvement in Complex Intervention Research' provided a forum for discussion between patient partners, researchers and clinicians on involving patients as partners in complex intervention research.MethodsWe aimed to describe specific challenges to and initiatives for patient partner involvement in order to develop recommendations for creating successful partnerships in complex intervention research. Through a collaborative learning process, 140 researchers identified the most important challenges for them in patient partner involvement and potential initiatives to improve such involvement. At a subsequent workshop, four patient partners identified the challenges and initiatives from their perspective as patient partners. They also gave feedback on the challenges and initiatives suggested by the researchers and helped shape three recommendations for practice. Three of the patient partners were involved in writing this paper.ResultsThe five most important challenges identified by researchers were time, recruitment, ethics, power and inequality. Between four and seven initiatives to overcome these challenges were suggested. The three most important challenges identified by patient partners were communication, when you get information that is hard to handle and recruitment. They suggested three to four initiatives for improvement. Patient partners confirmed the importance of all the researcher identified challenges when presented with them, they also provided additional comments on the researchers’ initiatives. This led to the formation of recommendations for involving patient partners.ConclusionsA collaborative learning process was shown to be a suitable method for patient partner involvement. Consistency was seen between the challenges and initiatives identified by researchers and patient partners. Based on these observations, three recommendations were developed: (1) create specific programmes that aim to involve all kind of patients (including but limited to vulnerable patients) as patient partners, (2) produce ethical guidelines for the involvement of patient partners, and (3) develop a national strategy for patient partner involvement. To build on these recommendations, a joint workshop with both researchers and patient partners is needed.

Binational Academic-Service-Community Partnership: A Program to Train, Provide Services and Conduct Research for Sustainable Community Health in Rural Baja, California, Mexico

Background: Viaje Interinstitucional de Integración Docente, Asistencial y de Investigación (VIIDAI) is a binational community health collaboration involving transdisciplinary education, field training, and research efforts that promotes health and provides services to underserved populations in rural Mexico, while also fostering cultural competency in medical and public health students from the Mexico-U.S. border region. Purpose: This paper describes the development and operation of the VIIDAI academic-community-service organization partnership and clinical and public health training program, and highlights the impact, challenges, road map, and powerful lessons of this binational effort. Methods and Approaches: The VIIDAI partnership is a collaboration between San Diego State University, School of Public Health; Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Tijuana, School of Medicine and Psychology; University of California San Diego, School of Medicine; and Old Mission Rotary. Since 1998, VIIDAI has cooperatively implemented projects using a community-based participatory research approach, integrating community members with faculty, students, and health practitioners from the three universities alongside the Rotary to balance research and action for the mutual benefit of all partners involved. Epidemiologic investigations and interventions, health promotion, and clinical care are conducted with active community engagement during semiannual trips. Field activities are conducted in San Quintín, Baja California, Mexico within a rural, predominately indigenous community, targeting a variety of population-specific public health issues. Results: Since its inception, over 3,300 faculty and students have participated in VIIDAI. The community has responded enthusiastically, with over 14,000 clinic visits and broad participation in health promotion interactions. These efforts have led to improvements in multiple indicators of community health, such as decreased prevalence of anemia; improved access to free potable water; increased numbers of students advancing to secondary schools; reduced family sizes and older age of first pregnancy; increased community interest and engagement in health issues and disease prevention; and increased visibility and empowerment among community leaders. Conclusion: The success of the VIIDAI partnership can be attributed to five key elements: (1) stable, long-term leadership; (2) guidance from the host country; (3) equal partnership with the local community; (4) support from a non-academic service organization to help fulfill unmet needs; and (5) mutually beneficial involvement across all participants.

Marketing Strategy as an Effective Tool for Government Procurement Management

This article investigates theoretical and methodological approaches to developing a marketing strategy for public procurement management in the context of European integration processes and reform of the public procurement system in Ukraine. The necessity of implementing a marketing strategy as an effective tool to increase the efficiency and transparency of public procurement activities is substantiated under modern economic conditions. The conceptual foundations for the formation of a marketing strategy for public procurement management are defined. Its main goal is to build successful and long-term partnerships between public customers and supplier companies based on the rational use of budget funds and the development of effective competition. Priority functions of the marketing strategy are outlined: comprehensive marketing analysis of public customers’ needs; market research to find the most competitive suppliers; ensuring effective communication between all participants; and the implementation of effective marketing measures to increase transparency and the openness of procurement procedures. A universal step-by-step algorithm for the formation of a public procurement marketing strategy is developed, including the following: analysis of the current state and identification of deficiencies in the existing system; clear definition of targets, objectives and priority areas for reform; selection of optimal marketing tools; directly implement the strategy and continuously monitor the results. A comprehensive classification of the types of marketing strategies in public procurement by their target orientation is presented. To increase the validity and minimize risks in decision-making regarding supplier selection, an original mathematical model for the formation of competitive prices based on nonlinear programming methods is proposed. This model allows considering the interests of all participants in the procurement process: determining the optimal vector of prices for goods/services based on the utility functions and preferences of customers, their budget constraints, and the technological capabilities of potential suppliers. The versatility of the model lies in the possibility of its application for any number of participants and product groups. The implementation of an effective marketing strategy for public procurement management will contribute to the formation of a highly efficient, transparent and competitive public procurement system focused on the rational use of budget funds, the development of fair competition among suppliers, and the minimization of corruption risks in this area.

Primary Care and Community-Based Partnerships to Enhance HPV Vaccine Delivery.

With growing vaccination misinformation and mistrust, strategies to improve vaccination communication across community-based settings are needed. The Rural Adolescent Vaccine Enterprise (RAVE), a 5-year (2018-2022) stepped-wedge cluster randomized study, tested a clinic-based practice facilitation intervention designed to improve HPV vaccination. An exploratory aim sought to explore the use of partnerships between primary care clinics and a community partner of their choosing, to implement a social marketing campaign related to HPV immunization. We assessed perceptions about the value and success of the partnership, and barriers and facilitators to its implementation using a 29-item community partner survey, key informant interviews, and field notes from practice facilitators. Of the initial 45 clinics participating in RAVE, 9 were unable to either start or complete the study, and 36 participants (80.0%) were actively engaged. Of these, 16/36 clinics (44.4%) reported establishing successful partnerships, 10 reported attempting to develop partnerships (27.8%), and another 10 reported not developing a partnership (27.8%), which were often caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The most common partnership was with public health departments at 27.3%. Other partnerships involved libraries, school districts, and local businesses. More than half (63.7%) reported that creating messages regarding getting HPV vaccination was moderately to very challenging. Just under half reported (45.5%) that messaging was hard because of a lack of understanding about the seriousness of diseases caused by HPV, parents being against vaccines because of safety concerns, and religious values that result in a lack of openness to HPV vaccines. Community partners' health priorities changed as a result of RAVE, with 80% prioritizing childhood immunizations as a result of the RAVE partnership. Community groups want to partner with primary care organizations to serve their patients and populations. More research is needed on how best to bring these groups together.

Developing partnerships for academic data science consulting and collaboration units.

Data science consulting and collaboration units (DSUs) are core infrastructure for research at universities. Activities span data management, study design, data analysis, data visualization, predictive modelling, preparing reports, manuscript writing and advising on statistical methods and may include an experiential or teaching component. Partnerships are needed for a thriving DSU as an active part of the larger university network. Guidance for identifying, developing and managing successful partnerships for DSUs can be summarized in six rules: (1) align with institutional strategic plans, (2) cultivate partnerships that fit your mission, (3) ensure sustainability and prepare for growth, (4) define clear expectations in a partnership agreement, (5) communicate and (6) expect the unexpected. While these rules are not exhaustive, they are derived from experiences in a diverse set of DSUs, which vary by administrative home, mission, staffing and funding model. As examples in this paper illustrate, these rules can be adapted to different organizational models for DSUs. Clear expectations in partnership agreements are essential for high quality and consistent collaborations and address core activities, duration, staffing, cost and evaluation. A DSU is an organizational asset that should involve thoughtful investment if the institution is to gain real value.

Building Successful Partnerships Between State Health Departments and Attorney General Offices: The Minnesota Example.

In recent years, the Minnesota Attorney General's Office and the Minnesota Department of Health have cultivated a productive partnership to strengthen the state's multidisciplinary response to overlapping health equity and social justice issues. This article describes shared efforts in three areas: post-conviction justice, drug overdose, and human trafficking/exploitation.

Impact of School-University Partnerships and Professional Learning Communities

School-university partnerships and professional learning communities (PLCs) are important approaches to school reform that have the potential to improve teaching and learning and improve student outcomes. School-university partnerships are collaborative relationships between schools and universities that aim to improve teaching and learning outcomes by providing access to resources and expertise and by developing new curricula and instructional materials. This study analyzes the positive impact of partnerships and communities on teaching and learning outcomes but also acknowledges the challenges they face such as time constraints, funding, and cultural differences. The research method uses Systematic Literature Review (SLR). The data collection process is carried out by identifying and evaluating scientific articles that are relevant to the topic. A literature search was conducted through academic databases, such as PubMed, ERIC, and Google Scholar. The data found analyzed to identify patterns, trends, and consistencies in the findings. Drawing on existing literature and case studies of successful partnerships found that these collaborative models have the potential to significantly improve educational outcomes for students while providing meaningful professional development opportunities for teachers. Success factors include building relationships based on mutual respect and trust, ongoing communication and collaboration and structured professional development. It was concluded that implementing partnerships will create a culture for continuous improvement within the school community.

Planning a Risk Management System for PPP projects to Increase the Competitiveness of Business Structures

This article addresses the critical need for effective public-private partnership (further - PPP) models amidst economic, social, and political challenges in Kazakhstan. The results of the study are aimed at improving the identification of risks for making informed decisions. It delves into scientific achievements relevant to assessing business activity and nurturing entrepreneurial culture. Employing comparative analysis, the research examines domestic PPP practices, drawing insights from statistical data. The findings emphasize PPP's role in ensuring national economic competitiveness, with legislative improvements positively impacting growth. The analysis of foreign practices critically examines the evolution of public-private partnership (PPP) development in Kazakhstan by juxtaposing it with the experiences of leading nations. The United Kingdom has demonstrated successful partnership models based on transparency, clear terms, and mutually beneficial relationships, serving as an example for Kazakhstan in enhancing collaboration between the public and private sectors. The SWOT analysis identifies inefficiencies, stressing the importance of transparent project teams and systematic risk management. Sectoral insights highlight a decline in private sector involvement, emphasizing the need for regulatory improvements and risk reduction in PPP implementations. The study emphasizes PPP's indispensable role in Kazakhstan's socio-economic development, advocating for continuous reforms and advanced risk management. The proposed PPP project management algorithm aims to foster efficiency, address challenges, and stimulate economic activity, paving the way for sustainable infrastructure development.

CROSS-CULTURAL BUSINESS COMMUNICATION: A LINGUISTIC AND COGNITIVE PERSPECTIVE

In the modern global business sphere, the necessity for effective cross-cultural communication has become paramount. The article navigates the intricate interplay between language, cognition, and culture within the globalized business landscape. It offers a comprehensive view of the multifaceted complexities that underpin successful cross-cultural interactions, drawing from an extensive review of scholarly works and theoretical frameworks. Beginning with an exploration of culture’s influence on communication styles and norms, it proceeds to highlight the role of language in facilitating effective cross-cultural communication. By comparing managerial preferences across diverse cultural contexts, the study offers a nuanced understanding of cultural variations and their impact on negotiation tactics, team dynamics, and relationship-building within international business settings. Furthermore, the article sheds light on the cognitive dimensions of culture, emphasizing the need for adaptable training methodologies to bridge cultural gaps. It extends discussions to encompass the societal, political, and technological dimensions of cross-cultural interactions, underscoring the critical significance of understanding and respecting these differences to foster successful global partnerships. Through this holistic examination, the article reinforces the critical importance of linguistic and cognitive perspectives in navigating the complex web of cross-cultural communication. It provides pragmatic guidance for businesses and individuals engaged in international collaborations, highlighting the necessity for sensitivity, adaptability, and nuanced approaches to bridge diverse cultural contexts, ultimately shaping the future of successful global partnerships.

The HOP Pilot: A collaboration to develop an integrated person-centred model for vulnerable people to feel safe accessing health support

Introduction: Using a partner-development framework, 29 government, private, educational, and not-for-profit organisations, across two West Australian Local Governments, developed a person-centred model to tackle barriers experienced by vulnerable community members for accessing treatment and health programs.
 Target group: “Vulnerable” is a broad term that includes disability, mental health issues, Aboriginal, other cultural diversity, elderly, and low socio-economic status. Those with the highest health needs are often least likely to access services. Challenges for engagement include ignorance, lack of understanding by both service-providers and consumers, and absence of inter-sectoral collaboration. Trust and relationship-building can take years.
 Stakeholders: As the pilot timeframe was short, the insights of identified community champions and those working closely with vulnerable communities were sought to facilitate a supportive person-centred model, tailored to identified local needs. Partners included State and Local Government departments, not-for-profit agencies, universities, and the private sector. (Links for partner details are available at: https://cihealth.com.au/the-hop-healthy-outreach-program/)
 Collaborative Development of Participant Journey Model: The HOP, chosen for its lively sound rather than the acronym of Healthy Outreach Program, was resourced by the Western Australian Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) to adapt Cockburn Integrated Health’s existing healthy lifestyle service to meet the needs of neighbouring local government areas. The partnering process was:
 Review of extant models > snowball organisation recruitment > one-to-one stakeholder interviews > mapping of strengths, gaps and opportunities > draft for proposed participant journey model > a full-day workshop to finalise the model, culminating in program-naming and signing of “The Coalition of the Willing”.
 Results of Collaboration: Consultation and collaboration elucidated several service gaps and barriers to engagement. In many cases, immediate solutions were discovered through coordinated networking. For example, one park’s usual activities of fights, drug deals, and drinking were replaced for one day a week with exercise sessions, on-demand psychological help, and displays created by supervised nutrition students with free (donated) fruit and customised resources. By offering health-enablers in settings already attended by vulnerable people, a supportive environment became accessible. Peer mentors and outreach workers (known as “HOP Guides”) received interactive training to augment engagement and sustained participation. A recommendation for choice inspired a hierarchy for levels of health assessment and commitment to participation: HOP to Good, HOP to Better, and HOP to Best. Resource-sharing of a colour-in wellness wheel allowed an icebreaking, appealing self-assessment tool.
 Learning: Tailoring and integration of services to meet local needs, peer mentorship, and dedicated networking opportunities were similar to the five-year-old Cockburn service. Differences included greater vulnerabilities and higher needs of HOP participants, short timeframe of the pilot, and HOP Guide training. The dedicated coordinator role was deemed essential to the partnership success. The inclusive consultation process resulted in a sense of ownership for participating stakeholders and is recommended as a framework for similar partnership development initiatives. 
 Next Steps: Two-and-a half-years post-workshop, in March 2023, HOP partners will be re-interviewed to assess sustained outcomes of the pilot program. These strengths will be disseminated to interested parties to inform future program planning.

Viability of renewable energy integration in isolated systems in Brazil – A case study at Trindade Island (Espírito Santo, Brazil)

In a partnership between the Brazilian Navy and a Public University a renewable energy matrix for the uttermost Brazilian isolated systems was developed, focused in integrating renewables and storage systems on Trindade Island (1100 km from the coast of Vitória city, Espírito Santo State), freeware and open-source database for oceanographic and climate stations were used. Presently the demand is supported by diesel generators (up to 60 k liters/year). Four options were analyzed: wind associated with existing diesel plant, solar with batteries, wind with reverse hydro storage system and photovoltaic with reverse hydro storage system. The photovoltaic with hydro scenario was unfeasible mainly due environmental aspects. Wind associated with the existing diesel generation, due to lower impact and the use of current generators as a backup system was considered the best option, but the other two were also economically feasible and offer a 100% renewable energy solution. The location of the reverse hydro reservoir was a critical issue and thus needs on-site evaluation. The successful partnership between two federal government institutions, possible to be replicated for other Navy locations, proved to be a feasible solution for future public bidding process.

Proyeksi Produksi dan Keunggulan Komparatif Perdagangan Ubi Kayu Indonesia

Indonesia is one of the largest cassava importers among the ten cassava-producing countries. While there is a production surplus, Indonesia's cassava imports tend to increase yearly to meet industrial needs. This research has four objectives. First, to analyze (change) the production and trade of the world's largest cassava-producing countries in the future and the implications for Indonesia. Second, to evaluate the enabling environment for cassava production and marketing. Third, to identify the comparative advantages of Indonesia's cassava trade compared to other producing countries. Fourth, evaluate the potential for partnerships to increase Indonesian cassava production and marketing sustainability. This study used FAOSTAT data (1961-2020) projected to 15 years (2021-2035) with a double exponential smoothing method. Comparative advantages are evaluated with the Relative Export Advantage, Relative Import Advantage, Relative Trade Advantage, Net Export, and Grubel-Lloyd indexes. This study found that Indonesia's cassava harvested area will likely decrease while cassava imports will likely increase. Indonesia has a comparative advantage in exporting cassava. However, it is under-optimized due to inefficient cassava trades at the regional level and less successful cassava partnerships (between farmers and industry). This study recommends improving cassava production and trade conditions through improving enabling environments and collaborations between actors in the cassava chain.

IT WORKS FOR US: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN EDUCATION, PRACTICE, AND POLICY IN GERONTOLOGY AT MIAMI UNIVERSITY

Abstract We describe a unique and successful partnership between the Department of Sociology and Gerontology and the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. This partnership concurrently facilitates research that informs aging policy and gerontological training for students. After a brief description of the partnership, examples of current research that contributes to public policy at the federal, state, and local/provider levels are presented, along with students’ roles in these efforts. Next, we share factors that contribute to our success (e.g., attracting students from diverse backgrounds, using a shared mentorship model) and challenges (e.g., that research and policy move at different paces). We conclude with a look to the future, specifically, the need to engage students in our academic programs, maintain our long-standing relationships, and build new, cross-organizational ties so that future gerontologists will continue our mission of doing work that positively impacts older people.

Participatory research with carers: A systematic review and narrative synthesis.

As patient and public involvement (PPI)in research has become increasingly common, research-based recommendations on its principles and impacts have been established. The specifics of conducting PPI are likely to differ when involving different groups. Family/informal carers for those with health conditions or disabilities have a lot to contribute to research, but instances of their involvement have yet to be reviewed. To systematically review and synthesize studies where family/informal carers have been involved in the research process, to develop an understanding of the benefits, barriers and facilitating factors. A search of five electronic databases was conducted using a combination of terms relating to carers, involvement and research. A grey literature search, expert consultation and hand-searching were also used. Following screening, data extraction and quality assessment, a narrative synthesis incorporating thematic analysis was conducted. A total of 55 studies met the inclusion criteria, with diverse design and participatory approaches. Four themes were identified, relating to the outcomes, challenges, and practicalities of involving carers: (re) building relationships with carers; carers as equals not afterthoughts; carers have unique experiences; carers create change. Full involvement throughout the research was not always possible, due to barriers from the research world and responsibilities of the caring role. The literature demonstrated ways for carers to contribute in ways that suited them, maximizing their impact, while attending to relationships and power imbalances. By summarizing the reported instances of carer involvement in research, this review brings together different examples of how successful research partnerships can be built with carers, despite various challenges. Carers are a heterogeneous group, and participatory approaches should be tailored to specific situations. Wider understanding of the challenges of conducting empowering research with carers, and the resources required to address these, are needed. The initial findings and themes were presented to a group of carers who had been involved in research and whose reflections informed the final synthesis.

SCIENCE AND CARE PARTNERSHIPS: THE ROLE OF THE SCIENTIFIC LINKING PIN RESEARCHER

Abstract Background Science and care partnerships work on promoting quality of life, care and work in long-term-care (LTC) settings. The Scientific Linking Pin (SLP) is an academic employed by a university and works one day per week in a LTC organisation. The SLP role is pivotal to the success of partnerships; the nature of this role has not yet been captured. Methods Fifteen SLPs took part in semi-structured interviews. Data were thematically analysed. Results Data are presented over two themes. The first theme, the SLP experience, outlines that SLPs have rich insights into what matters to, and the challenges experienced in LTC organisations. SLPs are well positioned to impact practice, and develop their professional careers. SLPs do experience doubts and insecurities and require mentorship/supervision. The second theme, navigating in a SLP role, outlines the multifaceted tasks involved: relationship building, raising awareness, identifying priorities, generating research questions, building committees, brokering knowledge, developing research studies, generating academic output, building links and connections, and assisting with internal projects. The challenges SLPs face in their work include mistrust and poor engagement from care staff, working with staff from different professional backgrounds, research not being a priority, multiple and rapidly changing priorities, and differences in expectations. Relationship building, creating a ‘safe’ space for care staff, building engagement, and expectation management helped to address these challenges. Conclusion Partnership working in the care sector is gaining international recognition and adoption. This study described one key role that contributes to the success of the partnership model: the SLP.

Review of Community-Based Conservation Initiatives for Protecting a Primary Atlantic Forest Remnant: A Case Study

Effective forest conservation should go hand in hand with collaboration of the surrounding local communities. Bringing advancement and relief to marginalized communities is pivotal for conservation initiatives, with the objective of cultivating a sustainable ecosystem while protecting indigenous biodiversity. The linchpin for developing successful partnerships begins with fostering a shared understanding of the intricate relationship between humanity and the natural environment. This awareness can be nurtured by interactive education and tangible outcomes that illuminate the profound long-term benefits of conscientious environmental stewardship. Therefore, an emphasis on community-driven conservation and environmental education becomes imperative, serving as a conduit for disseminating crucial information, fostering practical knowledge, and nurturing the attitudes and skills essential in the quest for environmental protection and sustainable development. Education, in this context, operates as a reciprocal process, demanding that educators glean insights from the local populace to effectively tailor strategies that elevate and empower them toward sustainable advancement. This dynamic interaction is where capacity development (CD) becomes indispensable. This paper delves into the unfolding of a series of conservation endeavors, initially driven by Anita Studer’s commitment to preserving a fragment of the primary Atlantic Forest in northeastern Brazil. Evolving into a four-decade educational journey, the actions taken showcase enduring ripple effects across 14 states in Brazil, presenting a comprehensive survey of applied techniques in this unique context. The resources required to achieve collective conservation goals witness a continual upswing, a trend expounded in this paper. Hence, we have chronicled the history, methodology, and projects that transpired in response to the ever-evolving community needs. We will also look at the results and discuss the advancement that ensues following the CBD targets and goals presented at the 2022 UN Biodiversity Conference.

Repositioning for the future: African hand-washing innovation Shesha Geza streamlines its strategic direction

Learning outcomes After completion of this case study, students should be able to reflect on the concept of creating shared value and then determine whether Shesha Geza can be referred to as a shared value company and, if so, what level of shared value it demonstrates. They will be able to subjectively and objectively understand the possible meaning of when a social enterprise embarks on a strategy to scale the organisation; clarity of construct will enable managers to better plan and successfully implement scalability goals. They will also be able to recognise, once scalability goals are better understood and planned, that there are a multitude of intra-organisational levers and drivers that may contribute to the organisation’s ability to scale its operations, which are related to specific internal organisational capabilities of social enterprise companies. In addition, there are situational factors that may affect the business either positively or negatively in relation to the scalability success of which a social entrepreneur should be aware. Case overview/synopsis In April 2021, Dean Boniface and his brother, Roger, had just signed off a new informational video for their Shesha Geza innovation, a low-cost hand-washing station designed for use at commuter hubs and high-traffic areas across the African continent. The unit used diluted chlorine instead of alcohol-based sanitisers to ensure a more expedient and sustainable solution, one better suited to Africa’s logistical challenges. Boniface, the co-founder of Vue Architects, had conceptualised the idea of the hand-washing hub during South African Government’s enforced COVID-19 lockdown from 27 March 2020 to 1 May 2020. Shesha Geza’s speed to market was a key contributor to its successful response in solving a critical social need. Throughout 2020, Boniface and his team built successful partnerships and secured an impressive order pipeline within a short span. Export opportunities across Africa, installations and maintenance of a sizable number of units across South Africa and the development of a behavioural change programme aimed at hygiene in schools kept the momentum going in the business. However, a year into the business and the future sustainability of a crisis–response enterprise and the ability of a shared value enterprise to scale were playing on Boniface’s mind. He was worried about the future of the small resource-constrained business. Holding onto the mental map of everything the team had learned over the past year, Boniface was confident about one thing: “All the programmes we build around Shesha Geza are value-adds to our current business. Hand hygiene will not diminish after COVID-19; it will continue to be an important social issue across the African continent.” Complexity academic level This case is intended for discussion in post-graduate-level courses such as an MBA and in postgraduate courses focused on business model innovation or on creating shared value. This case is suitable for use in the environment of business courses in relation to environmental situational factors that may affect the ability to scale social enterprises or strategic implementation courses, considering the still pervasive challenge of scaling increasingly important social impact enterprises. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 11: Strategy.