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on Project, Program and Portfolio Management |
| By: | Rachid Jabbouri; Andrea Whittle; Yann Truong (ESSCA - ESSCA – École supérieure des sciences commerciales d'Angers = ESSCA Business School); Dirk Schneckenberg (Rennes SB - Rennes School of Business) |
| Abstract: | This inductive study investigates the phenomenon of narrative switching in accounts of failure within entrepreneurial contexts, which occurs when a narrator suddenly switches to an alternative story of the events within the same interaction. Using a stories-in-action perspective, we present the findings of a narrative analysis of in-depth interviews with corporate entrepreneurs following a failed collaborative R&D project. We analyse the triggers, functions and implications of narrative switching. Our findings challenge the assumption that narrators typically use one type of story to make sense of failure. Instead, we highlight the interpersonal actions performed when a narrator 'changes the story'. These actions include altering the takeaway 'message', 'moral', or 'coda' of the story, shifting the presentation of self-identity and managing accountability related to the failure. Our research underlines the importance of narrative switching as a discursive device in failure accounts and contributes to the broader understanding of how narrative switching shapes sensemaking and identity construction in the face of entrepreneurial challenges. |
| Keywords: | D projects, amp, Collaborative R&, Narrative analysis, Entrepeneur, Failure |
| Date: | 2025–05–24 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05422884 |
| By: | Jamasb, Tooraj (Department of Economics, Copenhagen Business School); Sikow-Magny, Catharina (Department of Economics, Copenhagen Business School) |
| Abstract: | Cross-border interconnection (IC) projects are central to achieving the European Union’s goals of energy market integration, system resilience, and security of supply. However, their implementation often encounters financial and policy challenges stemming from uneven distribution of costs and benefits across the countries and exacerbated jurisdictional differences and information asymmetry. This paper proposes an approach that reorients the current practice of CBCA policy to one that embeds economic theory that informs the project assessment and negotiation process. We present a conceptual framework that integrates bargaining theory and incentive design into the Cross-Border Cost Allocation (CBCA). It considers the joint interests of project promoters, National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), and the European Commission (EC) when assessing investments and co-funding from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). A new role for CEF, not as an ex-post subsidy, but as a directed policy instrument enables elicitation of true values of benefits and incentive-compatible cost allocation that aligns national and EU objectives. We conclude with policy recommendations for enabling implementation of cross-border investments in the EU’s evolving energy grid policy. |
| Keywords: | Electricity grid; Cross-border investment; Cost allocation; Information asymmetry; Energy policy |
| JEL: | C70 D00 L94 Q40 |
| Date: | 2026–02–06 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:cbsnow:2026_004 |
| By: | Janus, Heiner; Röthel, Tim |
| Abstract: | Transparency portals in development cooperation serve two main functions: accountability to a specialist audience and communication with the wider public. In this policy brief, we conduct an international comparison to demonstrate how transparency portals could better fulfil these requirements. As part of a broader effectiveness agenda, donors are pursuing the goal of greater transparency. In line with this international agenda, transparency is intended to promote learning and improve predictability for partner countries, as well as combatting corruption and fulfilling accountability requirements. Taken together, these factors can contribute to greater development effectiveness. Donors also hope that their work will receive greater public support. By providing detailed information, experts will be better able to assess the quality of development projects. The aim is to initiate a process of learning and improvement, and to convince the general public that taxpayers' money is being used effectively. Citizens can use the portals to understand project content and develop their own views. However, current debates suggest a more complex dynamic. The "Bike Lanes in Peru" project caused a scandal in Germany. Against the backdrop of the closure of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), individual projects became politicised. Accordingly, transparency portals can also have unintended consequences. For example, information can be taken out of context, leading to misunderstandings and legitimate criticism of individual projects going unanswered. Donors can mitigate these negative effects by redesigning transparency portals. In times of declining approval ratings and cuts to development budgets, they should use the portals to communicate in a targeted manner and demonstrate a greater willingness to engage in honest debate. The following recommendations could help with this: • Even greater transparency of impact data: Although progress is being made in transparent reporting on project content and financial data, detailed project data on impact measurement and results, as set out in logical frameworks (logframes), is lacking. Increasing transparency in this area could improve development effectiveness. • Additional investment in communication: Information that is provided in accordance with internationally comparable standards must be translated for a lay audience. In many donor countries, a large proportion of the population has no fixed positive or negative attitude towards development cooperation. Targeted, group-oriented communication should appeal to these people more directly. • Openness to criticism and discourse: Development policy actors often resist critical examination of their work in public debate. They tend to respond defensively to criticism, whether general or specific. However, informed discussions based on project data from the portals offer an opportunity to openly discuss ineffective projects and, if necessary, replace them with effective ones. |
| Keywords: | transparency, transparency portals, effectiveness, development cooperation, donor comparison, public opinion |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:idospb:335913 |
| By: | Schwab, Jakob |
| Abstract: | Global public goods (GPGs) are goods that are produced locally but have global effects. GPGs are essential for securing global development. The climate and biodiversity crises, pandemics, as well as fragility, conflict and violence are threatening livelihoods and well-being around the world, and addressing them would have enormous positive economic and social effects. However, the cross-border externalities involved are not being fully taken into account by countries, and hence these GPGs are still underprovided compared with what would be globally optimal. One year ago, the World Bank launched the Framework for Financial Incentives (FFI) to strengthen the support of GPGs in its operations. This novel instrument encourages countries to implement investment projects and policies that have positive spillovers to other countries by offering targeted financial incentives. As a core element of the World Bank's Evolution reform, the FFI reflects the recognition that relatively modest investments in client countries can generate substantial global benefits - for other developing and emerging economies as well as for the Bank's shareholder countries. Its challenges lie in incorporating the non-financial aspects of GPGs and the multi-faceted motivations to provide them in bankable operations. This policy brief discusses the relevance of GPGs for development and presents the World Bank's approach to supporting their provision in client countries through the FFI. The key takeaways are: • GPGs are not all those that are commonly shared or agreed upon as goals but are defined by the specific problem structure that the involved cross-border externalities entail. • Investment in GPGs can generate substantial benefits - not only for developing and emerging economies, but also for high-income countries that make up the World Bank's largest shareholders. Consequently, both out of enlightened self-interest and as a cost-effective way to advance global sustainable development at a time when international development budgets are undergoing significant reductions, shareholder countries should increase their contributions to the FFI. This applies in particular to those provided to the Livable Planet Fund, which provides the essential grant financing for countries' GPG-related projects. • To retain and strengthen confidence among stakeholders, the FFI must deploy its resources efficiently. This implies offering grants only when projects' overall domestic benefits are insufficient to motivate countries to provide GPGs on their own, and extending loans instead when client countries have sufficient self-interest to ensure repayment. The assessment of costs and benefits is complex, but it should improve with experience and become increasingly standardised. To signal its effectiveness, the FFI should pursue full transparency in its allocation decisions and undertake systematic impact assessments. |
| Keywords: | international financial system, 2030 Agenda |
| Date: | 2026 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:idospb:335916 |
| By: | Miguel Ángel Baquero (Universidad de los andes, Escuela de Gobierno Alberto Lleras Camargo); Javier Eduardo Jiménez Forero (Universidad de los andes, Escuela de Gobierno Alberto Lleras Camargo); Jhon Alexander Melgarejo Celeita (Universidad de los andes, Escuela de Gobierno Alberto Lleras Camargo) |
| Abstract: | The Bogotá District Administration launched its participatory budget program in 2020, with an increase in investment resources of up to fifty percent of the investment budget in the 20 Local Development Funds. However, through a qualitative research exercise using focus groups and semi-structured interviews, this consultancy showed that there are flaws in all five stages of the process, resulting in the central problem of public management: high complexity in the methodology of execution in all phases of participatory budgets for the 20 Local Development Funds in Bogotá. This has been interpreted through the reading of three obstacles i) a decrease in citizen participation, ii) lack of interest in project submission by citizens, and iii) a perception of low transparency in the process. As a solution, the consultancy proposes a District Agreement project that establishes a methodological framework and develops its wording around, generating communication strategies that stimulate citizenship interest, the establishment of clear and simple participation parameters for initiative submission, the structuring of projects in participatory budgets, and an increase in transparency in all stages throughout clear and accessible information. |
| Keywords: | presupuestos participativos; participación; ciudadanía; transparencia; metodología; iniciativas, proyectos. |
| Date: | 2025–02–17 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:col:000547:022183 |
| By: | Greenhill, Simon; Walker, Brant J; Shapiro, Joseph S |
| Abstract: | Projecting the effects of proposed policy reforms is challenging because no outcome data exist for regulations that governments have not yet implemented. We propose an ex ante deep learning framework that can project effects of proposed reforms by mapping outcomes observed under past regulations onto the legal criteria of proposed future policies (i.e., by “relabeling”). We apply this framework to study changes in jurisdiction of the US Clean Water Act (CWA). We compare our ex ante deep learning projection of jurisdiction under the Supreme Court’s Sackett decision against widely used projections from domain experts. Ex ante machine learning generates exceptional performance improvements over the leading domain expert model that the US Environmental Protection Agency currently uses, with 65 times more accurate identification of jurisdictional sites. We also develop an ex post deep learning model trained with data after policy implementation. Ex post deep learning performs best. Sackett deregulates one-third of all previously regulated US waters, particularly floodplains and pristine fish habitats, totaling 700, 000 deregulated stream miles and 17 million deregulated wetland acres. Deep learning can effectively project consequences of far-reaching regulatory reforms before they are implemented, when projections are both most uncertain and most useful. |
| Keywords: | Social and Behavioral Sciences, Environmental policy, Clean Water Act, machine learning |
| Date: | 2026–02–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:agrebk:qt6tx6m2fn |
| By: | Charles Hawksley (University of Wollongong [Australia]); Jonas Brouillon (IAC - Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien); Nichole Georgeou (Western Sydney University); Severine Blaise (LARJE - Laboratoire de Recherches Juridique et Economique - UNC - Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie); Nidhi Wali (Western Sydney University); Severine Bouard (IAC - Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien) |
| Abstract: | BackgroundDevelopment aid to Pacific Islands states tends to take the form of grants to provide services in health, education and transport, however Melanesian states are largely rural, and it may be time to consider stronger support for the agricultural sector as a mode of development to provide for future food security, decreased reliance on imports, and improved nutrition in an era of climate change adaptation. MethodsTo understand the place of family farming in the donor development strategies of four Melanesian states we first assess the place of foreign aid in total development finance to Papua New Guinea (PNG), Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji between 2008-2021. Using data from the Lowy Institute a detailed study of aid flows highlights the respective place of official development assistance (ODA), other financial flows, private flows and remittances in the financial flows for each recipient state. We then focus on donor aid flows and their sectoral breakdown concentrating on the 'Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' (AFF) sector, and within AFF on the sub-sectors of donor intervention. |
| Keywords: | Writing -Review & Editing, Agriculture Melanesia Aid Food Security Nutrition Conceptualization Formal Analysis Methodology Validation Writing -Original Draft Preparation Writing -Review Conceptualization Data Curation Investigation Resources Software Validation Visualization Writing -Review & Editing, Georgeou N: Conceptualization Formal Analysis Investigation Methodology Writing -Original Draft Preparation Writing -Review Curation Investigation Validation Writing -Review Conceptualization Data Curation Funding Acquisition Methodology Project Administration Resources, Agriculture, Melanesia, Aid, Project Administration, Funding Acquisition, Writing -Review Curation, Georgeou N: Conceptualization, Food Security, Visualization, Software, Resources, Investigation, Data Curation, Writing -Review Conceptualization, Writing -Original Draft Preparation, Validation, Methodology, Formal Analysis, Nutrition Conceptualization |
| Date: | 2025–01–29 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05369898 |
| By: | Matteo Picchio (Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Universita' Politecnica delle Marche); Raffaella Santolini (Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Universita' Politecnica delle Marche) |
| Abstract: | We study the role of mayoral gender in attracting public funding in Italian municipalities. We exploit a novel administrative dataset containing detailed information on all projects aimed at the digitalisation of local public administrations and funded under Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan between 2022 and 2024. Exogenous variation in the timing of municipal elections and switches from male to female mayors provides quasiexperimental identification within a staggered difference-in-differences framework. We find that female mayors attract significantly larger amounts of national public funding for the digitalisation of municipal administrative services. This effect is particularly strong when female leadership is combined with high levels of human, or supported by a high quality local bureaucrats, and a policy environment characterised by substantial funding opportunities. By contrast, the share of women in municipal councils and executives does not play a significant role. We also find that our main results are driven by small and territorially fragile municipalities. |
| Keywords: | Public funding, female political leadership, local governments, difference-in-differences, event-study, causal inference |
| JEL: | D72 H72 H76 J16 R58 |
| Date: | 2026–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:anc:wpaper:504 |