The aim of the research carried out as part of this project was primarily to focus attention on various areas of social life. Within each area, attempts were made to capture the ongoing mental and institutional changes, describe and explain them analytically. The knowledge obtained in this way is, of course, fragmentary, but in a world constantly subject to the impact of fragmentation processes, such research procedures are best able to co-create a panorama illustrating contemporary processes of social transformation. This ultimately contributes to a better understanding of contemporary social reality.

 

Team members: prof. dr hab. Anna Karwińska (Full Professor), dr hab. Andrzej Słaboń, prof. UEK (Associate Professor), dr hab. Katarzyna Warmińska-Zygmunt, prof. UEK (Associate Professor), dr Magadalena Jelonek (Assistant Professor), dr Katarzyna Kwarcińska (Assistant Professor)

Project director:
dr hab. Przemysław Kisiel, prof. UEK (Associate Professor)

Project budget:
15 366,00 zł

Financing institution:
Internal program KUE – Badania statutowe

Project duration:
10.07.2019 – 31.03.2020

The issue of network management was introduced to considerations on management in the public sector by Hugh Hecl and A. Wildavsky (Heclo 1978; Heclo, Wildavsky 1974). It is to these researchers that we owe the formulation of key categories for network analysis. The issue of network management mechanisms attracts the attention of many theorists. It was undertaken by researchers: neo-corporatism (Schmitter 1974; Streeck, Schmitter 1985) and public management theorists (Marin, Mayntz 1991, Kooiman 1993; Scharpf 1994; March, Olsen 1995; Kickert, Klijn Koppenjan 1997; Rhodes 1997; Pierre, Peters 2000; Hill , Hupe 2002; Sorensen, Torfing 2007).

The assumption about the network nature of the social world and the potential of network mechanisms of public management is axiomatic for co-management. They are seen as a new convention for managing public affairs.

The aim of the research conducted as part of this project was to explore the following issues:

• limits of self-regulation of co-management sub-systems;
• fragmentation (functional division of society into many relatively autonomous sub-systems);
• comprehensiveness (the occurrence of many interdependent, difficult to define problems and threats and the inability to clearly determine the cause and effect relationships of these problems);
• types (interdependence of network actors and co-management systems)
• dynamics of social processes (intensification of social relations and blurring of boundaries between sectors, organizations and actors);
• various mechanisms for agreeing decisions and instruments for their implementation online: negotiations, deliberation, tenders, agreement, rarely unanimity);
• basic network management mechanisms: self-management; dominant narrative; support and facilitation; participation.

 

Team members: dr hab. Stanisław Mazur, prof. UEK (Associate Professor), dr hab. Przemysław Kisiel, prof. UEK (Associate Professor), prof. dr hab. inż. arch. Aleksander Noworól (Full Professor)

Project director:
dr hab. Marcin Zawicki, prof. UEK (Associate Professor)

Project budget:
29 481,00 zł

Financing institution:
Internal program KUE – Potencjał

Project duration:
10.07.2019 – 31.03.2020

 

Team members: dr Bartłomiej Biga (Assistant Professor), dr Barbara Grabińska (Assistant Professor), dr Magdalena Jelonek (Assistant Professor), dr Michał Możdżeń (Assistant Professor), mgr Anna Mirzyńska

Project director:
dr Marcin Kędzierski (Assistant Professor)

Project budget:
1 368 000,00 zł

Financing institution:
The National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR)

Project duration:
10.04.2019 – 30.09.2021

In our conditions, this phenomenon is particularly visible in medium-sized cities, where we can talk about the phenomenon of negative defunctionalization, i.e. a situation of permanent loss of the cities’ ability to perform their functions and deterioration of the socio-economic situation. In the report of the Institute of Geography and Spatial Development named after S. Leszczyński of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) identified a set of 64 cities (out of 255 so-called medium-sized cities) at risk of losing their functions. However, these units are very diverse both in terms of population (from 15,000 to over 200,000) and the scope of actions taken to marginalize the effects of population loss and, most importantly, the effects of the actions taken.

The main goal of the study is to develop a model to explain the interdependence between the type of urban leadership and strategies for adjusting (evolution) the role, function and scope of operation of depopulating cities using the “actor in action” theory. The research problem underlying the project is the search for interdependencies between types of urban leadership and adaptation strategies of medium-sized cities in the face of the phenomenon of negative defunctionalization. The theoretical model developed on this basis will constitute the basis for further theoretical and empirical work in the field of analysis and design of public policies at the local government level and the role of local actors in these activities. To achieve the project’s goal, quantitative and qualitative research will be carried out covering 20 cities at risk of permanent loss of functions. As part of qualitative research, it is planned to conduct, among others, approximately 100 interviews with key actors of local political, social and economic life. Quantitative research will allow for determining the degree of differentiation of cities affected by this phenomenon, verifying the effects of the undertaken action strategies and verifying the theoretical model. The issue of cities that have lost their functions and are experiencing a deterioration of their socio-economic situation has not been addressed by Polish researchers based on the institutional perspective. Searching for a model combining the type of urban leadership and the leaders’ action strategies in relation to the above-mentioned issues. cities is an original and innovative approach.

 

Team members: dr Jarosław Bober (Assistant Professor), dr Michał Żabiński (Assistant Professor), dr Magdalena Jelonek (Assistant Professor)

Project director:
dr hab. Stanisław Mazur, prof. UEK (Associate Professor)

Project budget:
268 111,00 zł

Financing institution:
National Science Centre (NCN)

Project duration:
 24.06.2019 – 23.06.2022

Project director:
dr Konrad Pędziwiatr (Assistant Professor)

Project budget:
55 000,00 zł

Financing institution:
Regional Studies Association

Project duration:
04.12.2019 – 01.01.2023

The project is being implemented in two phases: In the research phase (phase A), a definition of circular economy will be developed adapted to Polish conditions, circular economy areas of priority importance for socio-economic development will be identified, measures and indicators relating to circular economy issues will be indicated, and developed the so-called “Circular Economy indices”, i.e. aggregated circular economy indicators (to measure the transformation towards circular economy and assess the impact of circular economy on socio-economic development), which will be used in practice in shaping national and regional development policies.

In the phase of preparing scientific research results for practical application (phase B), the developed circular economy indices will be tested and implemented in selected Polish planning documents at the local level (in the strategy of the city of Krakow and in the strategy of Krakowski Holding Komunalny S.A.), regional (in the strategy of the Małopolska Voivodeship) and national (integration with the Road Map of Transformation towards circular economy). Including circular economy indices in planning/strategic documents at the regional and national level will be an incentive for the socio-economic development of the country and will enable monitoring the transition to circular economy in Poland.

 

Team members: dr hab. Łukasz Mamica, prof. UEK (Associate Professor), dr Jakub Głowacki (Assistant Professor), mgr Kamila Pilch

 

Project director:
dr Piotr Kopyciński (Assistant Professor)

Project budget:
321 900,00 zł

Financing institution:
The National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR)

Project duration:
27.02.2019 – 30.11.2021