Abstract not found

This policy-oriented purpose of this paper is to contribute to improving the level of theory in empirical policy studies, thus giving more robust grounding to the claim for policy being evidence based. It is a working paper, in that its findings are intended to inform methodological improvements in studies of technological clusters, leading to greater insights in the use of policy instruments as levers. Its relevance to SMEs is that the perspective taken is systematic and that the behaviour of individual SME entrepreneurial ventures is significant to systems of innovation. The position that this paper takes is that innovation is an emergent property of a confluence of entities, and although causal mechanisms may exist, in a realist sense, they are yet to be adequately theorised. The paper offers a framework that allows morphological description and also a consideration of interactions and emergent order. Policy and strategies based on descriptive evidence, such as the assumption that cluster cause innovation, but which lack theories of the dynamics involved are likely to be fallible. From a deep analysis of complexity science and entrepreneurship, McKelvey (2003) suggests that complex adaptive systems provide the potentially for ontologically adequate

This study is about social and institutional practices of accountability. Firstly, the study develops a framework of accounts. Based on this framework it is argued that accountability arises from practices of using accounts in sequential format in order to influence other’s evaluation. Processes of accountability involves in two sequences – sequence of account initiation and sequence of account resolution. By sequence of initiation the emphasis is given to the symbolic power of accounts in calling another to respond on the basis of accusations, criticisms, failure and questions. By sequence of resolution, individuals outline the responses in order to accounts justification, excuses, refusals, or defence. This concern for sequential practices entails a move beyond the ordinary contexts of action and organization to include institution as a constitutive element. Accounts are categorized in terms of their workings characteristics. Categories of vertical, horizontal,

This paper describes an alternative to the currently dominant empirical research approaches to poverty in poor countries (econometric analyses of household surveys and 'participatory poverty assessments') based on cutting edge developments in mainstream sociology. Using ideas generated in the ‘critical realist ’ tradition I propose that the study of the production, reproduction and reduction of poverty and inequality would be considerably advanced by the use of an ontology that sees all aspects of the world as structured in space and time. The structures which constitute ‘objects’, defined here as people, all other material animate and inanimate ‘things’, and structured social relations of all kinds, give them ‘causal powers ’ or capacities to behave in particular ways, and ‘passive powers ’ or specific susceptibilities to certain kinds of change. All structures can be usefully analysed from four perspectives: anatomy, physiology, dynamics and history. The paper provides examples of ways in which the structures and dynamics of material things are relevant for poverty and inequality. A fourperspective analysis of the 'structure of being ' generates a conceptualisation of human poverty in terms of poverty-driven action, resource failures, personal suffering, unmet needs, and seriously harmful beliefs, all embedded in particular local livelihood and cultural contexts. A four-perspective analysis of social structures is linked to ongoing developments in mainstream sociology. The systematic use of this research approach would considerably increase understanding of poverty and inequality in poor countries. The next step is to use the framework inter-actively with grounded empirical research to develop and use an integrated suite of research instruments and modes of comparative analysis with both qualitative and quantitative aspects.

Towards understanding the dynamics of innovation through complexity theory

Luhmann’s theory of knowledge: beyond realism and constructivism? Zusammenfassung: In diesem Aufsatz wird der grammatikalische Realismus Wittgensteins verwendet für eine Klärung der Diskussion, die Luhmann mit metaphysischen Realisten und skeptischen Idealisten führt. Luhmann betont (gegen die metaphysischen Realisten) mit Recht, daß die Bedeutung von Begriffen nicht durch ihre Referenten bestimmt wird. Gleichzeitig aber hält er (gegen die skeptischen