ORCID Profile
0000-0003-0450-7725
Current Organisation
University of New South Wales
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Publisher: Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand
Date: 16-12-2021
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-10-2022
DOI: 10.1002/EPA2.1162
Abstract: Within European Cohesion Policy, some regions manifest chronic problems with absorbing structural funds, probably due to inadequate administrative capacity. Despite the continuous assistance to improve capacity and the accumulation of learning and experience, poor performances still persist in some territories, rendering the initial explanation partial. By collecting (reports' analysis and field research), consolidating (grounded theory), and mapping (system dynamics) two Italian regions with contrasting absorption performance, this study investigates how regional authorities may be trapped in systemic decision‐making structures that prioritize short‐term outcomes perpetuating low absorption rates. Within a multilevel‐governance context, we suggest that these decision‐making traps stem from the discrepancy between European and local policy‐makers' mental models although European policies aim to promote timely absorption, sometimes they fail to acknowledge local authorities' actual agenda and may unintentionally prompt regions to overemphasize short term funds' expenditure instead of improving administrative capacity in the long term.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 10-10-2023
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-06-2021
DOI: 10.1002/SRES.2805
Abstract: As gamification has been gaining ground in research practice, system dynamics is no exemption. Despite the long tradition of system dynamics gamification, capitalizing on lessons learned from previous experiences is still challenging for practitioners. Specifically, the extant literature introduces a repertoire of system dynamics‐based simulators and games under quite ergent perspectives and nomenclatures, while a comprehensive set of practical ‘how‐to‐gamify’ guidelines and a resource repository are lacking. Thus, this research aims to propose a set of shared principles by (i) providing an embryonic definition of system dynamics gamification and (ii) framing the most relevant challenges and drivers, to fill in the literature gaps and allow for effective knowledge accumulation. Overall, this work anticipates rendering gamification as a recognized branch of the systems dynamics domain by establishing a common language and recommending directions to improve practice and research efforts.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2021
DOI: 10.1016/J.EVALPROGPLAN.2021.101964
Abstract: European Union's Cohesion Policy aims to foster development and reduce disparities among regions by redistributing more than one-third of the European budget. Given the policy's importance and complexity, an elaborated monitoring and evaluation system has been established. While attention has been dedicated to evaluating policy impact, the monitoring of inputs (i.e., allocated financial resources) has been limited to the control of financial dimensions (i.e., funds' absorption rate). As the implementation process entails a sequence of steps, this research explores whether financial proxies alone are adequate to monitor the policy inputs. To test this hypothesis, a system dynamics model is built. Simulations highlight that the absorption rate captures shocks that might occur during the inputs' expenditure with significant delay. To that end, we elaborate three novel operative monitoring indicators (i.e., funds' demand, funds' offer, procedural efficiency), which may overcome the financial indicators' mono-dimensionality and time lags' limitations.
Publisher: Asociacion Espanola de Ciencia Regional
Date: 07-04-2020
DOI: 10.38191/IIRR-JORR.20.007
Abstract: As Cohesion Policy constitutes the major funding scheme of the European Union, not only does literature explore if the policy’s performance is satisfactory but as well investigates the extent to which the policy is effectively communicated to citizens. To integrate analysis of implementation and communication, we develop a novel qualitative framework that elicits a holistic analysis of the causal mechanisms behind: (i) the distribution of the Cohesion Policy funds, their management at a local managing authority level and the related impact on projects’ quality, and (ii) the communication processes that underpin citizens’ awareness about the Union’s role in funded projects. The multilevel nature and the dynamic behaviour of the system, as well as its multiple feedback loops, render System Dynamics as the appropriate approach to model its complexity. The proposed framework aims at stimulating a focused discussion on Cohesion Policy through providing policy-making insights for designing efficient schemes to improve not only actual performance but, more importantly, perceived performances, as well as for supporting research in the field from a new organisational point of view.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-06-2022
DOI: 10.1007/S44168-022-00010-9
Abstract: As a concept challenging the growth paradigm, degrowth is put into practice in different ways. Ones of which are degrowth-oriented cooperatives: organisations composed of producers and consumers that intend to keep a locally oriented focus and embrace more responsible economic practices to promote socio-ecological sustainability. Despite their flourishing relevance, a robust understanding of their functioning is still missing. This becomes essential to comprehend how they differ from normal cooperatives and support their diffusion. Therefore, this work investigates the internal organisational dynamics in a degrowth cooperative through a case study. We used a participatory system dynamics modelling approach involving the cooperative’s members to develop a causal-loop model describing the cooperative’s main functioning. Several dynamics appeared to take place within the cooperative, reinforcing ones favouring cooperative growth and balancing ones limiting its expansion. While growth dynamics and conflict emergence resemble normal cooperatives’ behaviour, limiting mechanisms, depending on the local focus and the potential setting of income sufficiency thresholds, are expected to prevent the cooperative from excessive expansion and lose its degrowth ethos. Moreover, the participatory modelling method used appeared to contribute to improving the members’ understanding of the problems, identifying shared solutions, and enhancing communication. This study's contribution is two-fold: first, it reports the organisational dynamics of a cooperative practising degrowth and, second, highlights how participatory modelling can be a powerful tool in those contexts to increase members’ engagement and enhance communication.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2021
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 14-04-2022
Abstract: Cyber-security incidents show how difficult it is to make optimal strategic decisions in such a complex environment. Given that it is hard for researchers to observe organisations’ decision-making processes driving cyber-security strategy, we developed a board game that mimics this real-life environment and shows the challenges of decision-making. We observed cyber-security experts participating in the game. The results showed that decision-makers who performed poorly tended to employ heuristics, leading to fallacious decision approaches (overreaction strategies in place of proactive ones), and were not always aware of their poor performances. We advocate the need for decision support tools that capture this complex dynamic nature.
Publisher: Asociacion Espanola de Ciencia Regional
Date: 07-04-2020
DOI: 10.38191/IIRR-JORR.20.007
Abstract: As Cohesion Policy constitutes the major funding scheme of the European Union, not only does literature explore if the policy’s performance is satisfactory but as well investigates the extent to which the policy is effectively communicated to citizens. To integrate analysis of implementation and communication, we develop a novel qualitative framework that elicits a holistic analysis of the causal mechanisms behind: (i) the distribution of the Cohesion Policy funds, their management at a local managing authority level and the related impact on projects’ quality, and (ii) the communication processes that underpin citizens’ awareness about the Union’s role in funded projects. The multilevel nature and the dynamic behaviour of the system, as well as its multiple feedback loops, render System Dynamics as the appropriate approach to model its complexity. The proposed framework aims at stimulating a focused discussion on Cohesion Policy through providing policy-making insights for designing efficient schemes to improve not only actual performance but, more importantly, perceived performances, as well as for supporting research in the field from a new organisational point of view.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 07-2020
Abstract: Although the EU structural funds aim to alleviate disparities through supporting regional development, their impact on local economies and societies is considered as uneven. As existing studies explore the absorption rate of the EU share of contribution as a point-in-time indicator at the end of the policy cycle, evidence about regional co-finance and the factors dynamically affecting absorption performance is lacking. To that end, this paper aims to provide a new longitudinal investigation of the absorption time series and develop an original indicator, supported by a statistical error analysis, for offering a transparent view of the total funds’ absorption. The analysis highlights that undesired regional strategies due to low administrative capacity may increase the absorption rate, though without supporting regional growth. The proposed approach could further facilitate the equitable allocation of political accountability regarding the structural funds’ absorption to the EU and the regions. Overall, it is anticipated that this research will support the EU in monitoring actual regional performance for prompting local managing authorities to improve their administrative capacity.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Giovanni Cunico.