University of Twente Student Theses
Embedding Planning Support Systems (PSS) in the spatial planning process: The case of the Spatial Development Framework (SDF) methods in Rwanda.
Oyeku, Deborah Adeola (2020) Embedding Planning Support Systems (PSS) in the spatial planning process: The case of the Spatial Development Framework (SDF) methods in Rwanda.
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| Abstract: | The gaps in embedding planning support systems (PSS) in spatial planning practice has been on for decades. There are countless studies to highlight the gaps in embedding PSS in practice. Some studies claim that the limited use of PSS in practice is a result of the mismatch between developers instrument capabilities and users requirements. Others identify implementation gaps such as instrument capabilities, usefulness and user acceptance. Nevertheless, none of the studies has been able to explain the changes in PSS implementation process that contribute to the lack of embeddedness in practice. Therefore, it is vital to challenge the recommendations from previous studies as specific solutions to bridge the gaps in embedding PSS in practice. Hence, this thesis explores a different perspective to understand the role of changes in PSS implementation process that impacts the embeddedness in practice. It builds on the concept of “drift” in technical system implementation as a means to predict the occurrence of the existing gaps and proffer solutions to enhances PSS embeddedness in practice. This thesis aims to understand the role of drift in embedding PSS in practice using the spatial development framework (SDF) methods in Rwanda. It considers the most comprehensive theoretical view to study drift – the interaction-context. The drift interaction-context research considers both human and non-human elements that trigger drift in the technical system implementation process to achieve actual use. Though due to the timeline of this thesis, achieving the drift interaction-context research was impossible. As such, this thesis adopts the actor research context that considers just the human role in drift during technical systems implementation to describe users’ acceptance of the SDF methods that triggers drift in embedding it as a PSS in planning practice. This thesis illustrates how users acceptance can predict the drift in PSS implementation process and achieve embeddedness in practice. In this research, drift is the implementation tactics, adjustments or compromises users identify as essential to adopt PSS in practice. Thus, this thesis is an early warning system to highlight the role of drift in embedding PSS in practice. Concerning the case study area, the thesis gives an overview of the land use planning (LUP) process at the national and local levels to understand the need for the SDF methods adoption in practice. It adopts the drift actor research to describe the users understanding and perceived ease of use and usefulness of the SDF methods that trigger drift in embedding the SDF methods in practice. Lastly, a description of the results of the SDF methods adoption identifies where the methods are embedding as PSS in Rwanda. The result analysis reflects a need for PSS adoption in practice and signs of drift required to embed the SDF methods in the planning practice at the national and local levels. Hence, this thesis establishes the need to consider the role of drift in embedding PSS in practice as a possible solution to bridging the gaps in PSS adoption in practice. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | ITC: Faculty of Geo-information Science and Earth Observation |
| Programme: | Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation MSc (75014) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/85183 |
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