ABSTRACT

Purpose

This study reviewed the context, organisational arrangements and institutional changes for the operation of a smallholder dairy development project, comprising multi-stakeholders in three locales. The objective was to have a comparative assessment of the project dynamics and to draw lessons for improving its performance.

Design/Methodology/Approach

The data were collected by personal interviews with key project stakeholders from each locale as well as relevant secondary sources and analysed qualitatively by performing thematic analysis. The framework, Institutional Learning and Change (ILAC), along with the theory of institutional entrepreneurship, was used to inform the analysis and discuss the findings.

Findings

Though the project background and actor diversity were comparable, the study results signalled varying levels of project dynamics and performance in multi-locations. Crucial insights about institutional changes at various levels, the role of institutional entrepreneurs and the importance of reflective learning to strengthen the project processes and governance were also obtained. Furthermore, the findings underscored the need for engaging the project participants in its governance to ensure its sustainability , and better convergence and vision sharing among the stakeholders to build on the project.

Practical implication

Such studies may help the development organisations to critically reflect on aspects, such as project design, processes and institutional changes, which are vital in deciding the project dynamics.

Theoretical implication

The study demonstrates the utility of the ILAC framework, originally developed in the agricultural research context, for analysing development projects at the micro level.

Originality/Value

This study validates the argument that a project with a uniform design and pattern could perform differently with structural modifications, to affect its performance and sustainability.

中文翻译：

---

制度变迁的阴影：以Nature Fresh乳品开发项目为例

摘要

目的

本研究回顾了小农乳业发展项目运营的背景、组织安排和制度变化，该项目由三个地区的多方利益相关者组成。目的是对项目动态进行比较评估，并吸取教训以提高其绩效。

设计/方法论/方法

这些数据是通过与来自每个地区的关键项目利益相关者以及相关的二手来源进行的个人访谈收集的，并通过执行主题分析进行定性分析。该框架、制度学习和变革 (ILAC) 以及制度创业理论被用于为分析提供信息并讨论调查结果。

发现

尽管项目背景和参与者多样性具有可比性，但研究结果表明项目动态和多地点绩效水平不同。还获得了有关各个层面的制度变革、机构企业家的作用以及反思性学习对加强项目流程和治理的重要性的重要见解。此外，调查结果强调了让项目参与者参与其治理的必要性，以确保其可持续性，以及利益相关者之间更好的融合和愿景共享，以在项目的基础上再接再厉。

实际意义

此类研究可以帮助开发组织批判性地反思项目设计、流程和制度变化等方面，这些方面对于决定项目动态至关重要。

理论意义

该研究展示了最初在农业研究背景下开发的 ILAC 框架在微观层面分析开发项目的效用。

原创性/价值

这项研究验证了这样一个论点，即具有统一设计和模式的项目可以通过结构修改以不同方式执行，从而影响其性能和可持续性。