Search Results (4)

The growing complexity and dynamism of industrial and organizational projects require management approaches that can effectively adapt to uncertainty and rapidly changing operational environments. In this context, this study proposes a methodology to identify the most suitable management approach—predictive, agile, or hybrid—in complex projects. Building on the “Approach suitability tool” of the Project Management Institute’s (PMI), the methodology integrates quantitative assessments of complexity and systemic risk. This is achieved through the analysis of stakeholder and risk networks, using metrics such as cyclomatic complexity and the coevolution parameter g, which allow for a deeper understanding of interactions and the evolution of project elements. The methodology was validated in three peacekeeping missions of the United Nations: UNMISS in South Sudan, MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and MINUSTAH in Haiti. The results confirm that the methodology accurately identifies the most appropriate management approach, emphasizing the effectiveness of hybrid approaches in complex and volatile environments. The proposed methodology serves as a valuable tool for optimizing project management in diverse contexts, enabling a quantitative and systematic evaluation of complexity and risk. It is adaptable and applicable to a wide range of complex projects, improving decision-making and planning in uncertain settings. Furthermore, by incorporating resilience as a cross-cutting principle, the methodology strengthens the ability of projects and their teams to maintain functionality and sustain learning even in highly volatile environments, where continuous adaptation becomes a critical success factor. In this sense, resilience emerges as the property that allows projects to absorb disruptions, reorganize, and preserve their core purpose without losing cohesion or direction. Full article

In 2010, Haiti experienced one of the deadliest cholera outbreaks of the 21st century. United Nations (UN) peacekeepers are widely believed to have introduced cholera, and the UN has formally apologized to Haitians and accepted responsibility. The current analysis examines how Haitian community members experienced the epidemic and documents their attitudes around accountability. Using SenseMaker, Haitian research assistants collected micronarratives surrounding 10 UN bases in Haiti. Seventy-seven cholera-focused micronarratives were selected for a qualitative thematic analysis. The five following major themes were identified: (1) Cholera cases and deaths; (2) Accessing care and services; (3) Protests and riots against the UN; (4) Compensation; and (5) Anti-colonialism. Findings highlight fear, frustration, anger, and the devastating impact that cholera had on families and communities, which was sometimes compounded by an inability to access life-saving medical care. Most participants believed that the UN should compensate cholera victims through direct financial assistance but there was significant misinformation about the UN’s response. In conclusion, Haiti’s cholera victims and their families deserve transparent communication and appropriate remedies from the UN. To rebuild trust in the UN and foreign aid, adequate remedies must be provided in consultation with victims. Full article

During the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), reports of sexual abuse and exploitation and children fathered by peacekeepers were brought forward to the UN. In 2017, a cross-sectional mixed-methods survey was administered by Haitian research assistants using SenseMaker^® (Cognitive Edge, Singapore), a rapid data collection tool that allows participants to share a narrative on a topic of interest. In total, 2541 self-interpreted narratives in relation to the experiences of Haitian women and girls vis-à-vis peacekeepers were collected from a convenience sample of Haitian males and females across Haiti. This exploratory secondary data analysis analyzes whether narratives about sexual misconduct perpetrated by MINUSTAH peacekeepers were associated with rural, semi-urban, or urban locations and investigates the relationship between sharing narratives about sexual misconduct and the desire to engage with the UN/MINUSTAH. After adjustment, narratives addressing sexual misconduct were more likely to be shared in rural locations, compared to urban locations (RR_rural: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.38). Personal experiences of sexual misconduct were more likely (RR_sex: 4.52; 95% CI: 3.34, 6.12) to be associated with rejection of the UN/MINUSTAH, compared to personal narratives of positive/neutral experiences. This research is an empirical steppingstone to understanding the distribution and consequences of peacekeeper-perpetrated sexual abuse and exploitation in Haiti. Full article

Feminist scholarship has analyzed the gendered dynamics of national- and international-level risk factors for peacekeeper-perpetrated sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA); however, the gendered dynamics within the host country have not been adequately considered. Using the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) as a case study, this research analyzes gender differences within community-level perceptions of SEA. Using SenseMaker^® as a data collection tool, cross-sectional qualitative and quantitative data were collected by Haitian research assistants over an 8-week period in 2017. Participants first shared a narrative in relation to MINUSTAH and then self-interpreted their narratives by noting their perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs on a variety of questions. The self-coded perceptions were analyzed quantitatively to determine patterns, and this was complemented with a qualitative analysis of the narratives. Women/girls were more likely to perceive the sexual interactions as “relationships” compared to Haitian men/boys. Furthermore, women/girls were more likely to perceive the peacekeeper as “supportive”, whereas men/boys conceptualized the peacekeeper as “authoritative”. SEA-related policies/programs, such as the UN Trust Fund in Support for Victims of SEA, should engage with local Haitian actors and consider such nuanced and gendered perceptions to maximize community trust and program efficacy. Full article