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- Convenor:
-
Kelechi Ekuma
(University of Manchester)
Send message to Convenor
- Formats:
- Papers Mixed
- Stream:
- Power, learning and emotions in achieving the SDGs
- Sessions:
- Thursday 18 June, -, -
Time zone: Europe/London
Short Abstract:
This panel explores the concept and dynamics of systems leadership, with the aim of illuminating how it could help to address complex policy challenges such as poverty and inequalities, and promote the attainment of the global goals.
Long Abstract:
Over the past recent years, 'complexity theory' and systems thinking have seen growing popularity among social scientists in their quest to better understand how complex human institutions work. Across a number of social science disciplines, these theoretical insights are enabling scholars to achieve a more nuanced understanding of how social systems work and their underlying complexities. These approaches have started to have an impact on leadership scholarship and development studies, as it has become apparent that many of the problems policymakers are grappling with are fundamentally complex and embedded in complex systems. Globalisation, socio-economic and demographic changes, and the shift towards knowledge-driven digital economy mean that modern societies are characterised by greater complexities. Systems leadership with its emphasis on inclusive engagement, empowerment and collaborative action, will arguably play a vital role in tackling these emerging challenges.
It is against this backdrop that this panel explores the idea of systems leadership and its implications for the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The overarching aim is to understand how this leadership approach could help address complex policy challenges such as poverty and inequalities, and promote the attainment of the SDGs both in developed and developing contexts. We invite papers that critically explore the theoretical or empirical dimensions of systems leadership, as well as those that critically examine the system dynamics of one or more of the 17 inter-related goals underpinning the SDGs, with a view of identifying new forms of leadership that promote sustainable systemic change.
Accepted papers:
Session 1 Thursday 18 June, 2020, -Paper short abstract:
This paper compares the past performance of the UN and the World Bank in supporting development and considers their future roles in support of the SDGs and the broader challenges of global governance in the 21st century
Paper long abstract:
At the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference, the clear intention was for the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to be integral parts of the United Nations, under the authority of the UN secretary-general. Nonetheless, powerful US voices were determined that that the UN was never going to tell the World Bank or the IMF what to do. This resulted in de facto though not de jure separation. The tension between the formal UN status and the de facto operational independence of the IMF and the World Bank has been a constant feature of the international scene ever since.
Much has been lost over the years because of this separation, although how much depends on whether one believes that closer relations would have brought broader UN ideas and economic thinking on development into the Bretton Woods Institutions or, in contrast, limited their creation and adoption within the UN itself. This also depends, of course, on one's overall assessment of the focus and quality of the UN's development work in comparison with that of the World Bank and the IMF, as well as what the impact would have been on the volume of (concessional) resources for development both institutions were able to raise. This paper will reflect on these issues as well as on whether in the next decades of the twenty-first century, closer relations can help both institutions support the SDGs and meet better the new and fundamental challenges facing the world.
Paper short abstract:
The application of complexity science is critical to the effective delivery of health services. This study assessed the status, leadership dynamics and bottle necks and proposed changes needed to create adaptive systems for health care equipment management across 100 laboratories in Uganda.
Paper long abstract:
Equipment is a critical input for health service delivery, enabling health service providers to diagnose, treat, monitor, rehabilitate and identify emerging diseases. Equipment procuring, maintenance, reagents, training and disposal requires a complex array of institutions which many countries lack. This study conducted a health equipment audit across 100 health facilities in Uganda to identify systems constraints and leverage points across procuring, maintenance, reagents, health worker training and decommissioning of obsolete equipment. The study found more than 70% high grade equipment in a state of dysfunction due to the lack of policies on procurement, lack of reagents, lack of maintenance and obsolescence. Equipment was procured through multiple channels including donations, government purchases and research without maintenance plans or orientation training for health workers. There was under utility of functional equipment which could ideally cover a spectrum of investigations but was only used to diagnose and monitor HIV and Tuberculosis, neglecting core diseases like malaria and syphilis. Despite the rise in non communicable diseases, equipment for diagnosing these was only found in 45% facilities. In 85% facilities, there were no schedules for maintenance of equipment or for disposal of obsolete items. We found that in 76% facilities which should be able to run tests on available equipment ended up referring these tests with financial, health and equity consequences for their clients.By applying complexity science towards the harmonisation of equipment management in Uganda, this paper proposes a strategy for harmonising equipment management in Uganda to ensure universal health coverage towards meeting SDGs.
Paper short abstract:
Process-automation in the wake of knowledge-driven digital economy is marred by complexities and challenges. In this backdrop, this paper evaluates the effectiveness of digital development innovation and highlights the critical success factors towards sustainable innovative infrastructure.
Paper long abstract:
The use of innovative technology in infrastructures helps in achieving the sustainable solutions through increasing the efficiency of system processes. Using mix-method approach, this paper evaluates the efficiency of an engineering firm going through a re-engineered processes in Pakistan. In the age of globalization, achieving suitability through digital solutions and aligning business process is imperative for firms to compete on both cost and quality . Nonetheless, the implementation faced many challenges at planning, implementation and training level besides the complexities in the existing processes which demanded the re-engineering of the business process. Firm ultimately restructured the business operations structure and introduced the new innovative solutions for the business operation. The paper evaluates the process times prior to and after the the implementation of digital solutions. The study concludes that the infrastructural development Engineering Firm has achieved the targeted efficiency in its operations and now proceeding to increase the efficiency output. System Leadership has played a vital role in handling the challenges and complexities in the Firm. Industrialization demands the energy efficient and effective solution. The investment in high-tech products is need of infrastructural firms to harmonize the business process and also promotes the collaboration among different domains. The advancement and availability of innovative solutions at niche level would not be much effective to achieve automation in contrast to globally accepted solutions. The Firm has also provided a guideline for firm owners, employees and quality managers for process transformations to increase inclusive engagement particularly in context of developing countries.
Paper short abstract:
This paper seeks to analyze the inherent leadership challenges impeding the attainment of sustainable development in Nigeria with emphasis on the leadership style of political leaders as the reason for the present regional uprisings and secessionist movements in the South-East.
Paper long abstract:
The world's underdeveloped states, Nigeria inclusive are plagued with complex sociopolitical challenges that contributed to the increasing scourge of militarized protests and secessionist movements such as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in South-East Nigeria. The agitation is a direct outcome of perceived deprivation, inequalities, and injustices against the Igbo. Studies indicate that inequality or marginalization of a group instigates conflict and impedes the actualization of sustainable development. For instance, the Biafran secessionist movement that is currently championed by the IPOB began to gain momentum following the failures of political leaders to accommodate the South-East region in Nigeria's mainstream politics. The consequences for this structural inequality have been the incessant protests and secessionist agitations that have made the South-east region susceptible to underdevelopment. Efforts by the federal government to repress the agitations have been unsuccessful. Some of its approaches include military deployment and proscription of the group as terrorists. To resolve these challenges will require innovative approaches that will include a widespread mobilization of relevant stakeholders for meaningful actions. The new approach would take the form of Systems Leadership which requires a complete departure from traditional top-down, hierarchical and linear approaches to implementing change to innovative and adaptive approaches that engage broad networks of diverse stakeholders to advance progress toward a shared vision for systemic change. Utilizing the qualitative research techniques, the paper argues that the principles of systems leadership is likely to provide valuable tools to support efforts to actualize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development if effectively applied.
Paper short abstract:
This study will examine the dynamics of achieving equality of female labor force participation in leadership role. It will investigate the desirable aspects of women's work and also examine factors that account for changes in women's career path and make policy recommendations.
Paper long abstract:
This study will examine the dynamics of achieving equality of female labor force participation in Anglophone West-African countries. The paper will investigate the desirable aspects of women's work and also examine factors that account for changes in women's career path. The study will attempt to explain these trajectories using descriptive survey and ex-post facto research design. Data will be obtained from career female professionals from Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, and Nigeria using questionnaire and interview template. The dataset for the secondary data will be obtained from World Bank Development Indicators (WDI) and African Development Indicators (ADI). It is expected that the study will dovetail into policy debates and resolutions on female representation in policy-making process, extension of maternity leave, provision of child-care facilities, wage disparity between men and women.
Paper short abstract:
The foundation for a sustainable world is gender equality. Women representation in leadership positions in higher education in Africa relates to development. Scholars affirm that increase inclusion of women in higher institution's leadership positions will lead to women empowerment and development
Paper long abstract:
This paper aims to discuss the fifth Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG) in relation to achieving gender equality and empowerment of all women. It explores the concept of women's empowerment in relation to leadership especially in the academic world. This paper assesses the gender gap among staff in academic management positions at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. This paper will critically analyse the interaction of women in leadership positions with patriarchy and patriarchal structures in the institution, including how they have been able to strike a patriarchal bargain and how they have rebelled against the patriarchal norms and expectations and investigate the challenges they faced in leadership at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Data on how these women have been able to navigate their path and made successes out of their positions will be gathered through in-depth interview of five (5) female heads of department, two (2) deans, one (1) vice dean, one (1) provost of college and (3) purposively selected male staff. A total number of twelve (12) respondents will be interviewed. The data on strategies of Gender Equity Project to be sourced from the Centre for Gender and Social Policy Studies of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria while the data on members of staff in academic management positions will be collected from the Planning, Monitoring and Budgeting unit of the University. The criteria for selecting this university is because it has the oldest and most effective gender institute with gender equity programmes in Nigeria.