CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.3 Key Implementing Factors for Sister City Relationship
2.3.2 Case Study Reflecting Key Success Factors
understanding, build trust, and reduce uncertainty, which even eventually become grassroots for economic development such as trade and investment.
In addition to the integrated approach, Ramasamy and Cremer (1998) identified other key success factors for managing the sister city relationship in New Zealand as follows:
1) Strategic plan - an organization needs to have a clear objective plan that can be quantified and realistically achieved as well as determine the budget, human resources, facilities, the organization structure, and process required to manage sister city
2) Concentration of resource to limited number of partnerships 3) Commitment leadership and support of city affiliation 4) Budget and Staff
Some other researchers also identified similar key success factors for sister city relationship. Tjandradewi, Marcotullio, and Kidokoro (2006) for example share similar key success factors, explaining that “cost sharing cost effectiveness, free-flow of information, raising public awareness, demand-driven focus, and reciprocation play an important role in creating sustainable relationship” (p. 372). Tjandradewi et al.
(2006) also suggested that political support from higher levels of government, as well as consistent leadership from senior level officials and decision-makers, are required for creating long-term relationships and that raising public awareness also plays an important role in creating sustainable relationships.
Baycan-Levent, Gülümser Akgün, and Kundak (2010, p. 1187) suggest in their study on urban networking that “the visible contribution of the relationship to economic benefit and new business and investment opportunities” also contribute to the success of a partnership.
research was conducted on the city-to-city initiative in different areas, including urban design, solid waste management, and road maintenance, all of which turned out to be successful; both partners received benefits and fulfilled their objectives and goals, especially the Penang Municipal Council. The results from the case study identify five elements that contribute to successful partnership as follows:
(1) Commitment to the link - “the commitment was demonstrated through time and resources spent by both cities” (p. 370), although Yokahama City spent more resources than the Penang municipality, but both cities contributed to the initiative through traveling expenses, accommodations, and basic hospitalities
(2) Community-wide participation - initially, the lack of participation delayed the program’s process; however, once the Penang municipality convinced the local association and the people to participate, the program became successful. However, only a few chose to participate, and therefore it was noted in the case study that active participation of the community should be encouraged in the future.
(3) Understanding - the MOU clearly states the objectives and time frame of cooperation.
(4) Reciprocity - both organizations benefit from each other where Penang received the most tangible benefits, such as road construction and waste management plans, while Yokohama City officials received intangible benefit such as English communications skills which can promote long-term contact between the officers.
(5) Results through real examples - more than 18 exchange visits occurred which “stimulated processes of learning through the power of examples” (p.
371).
2) Case Study 2: Surabaya (Indonesia) and Kitakyushu (Japan)
Kurniawan, de Oliveira, Premakumara, and Nagaishi (2013) conducted a case study on city-to-city cooperation on waste management between Surabaya (Indonesia) and Kitakyushu (Japan) in order to determine the characteristics of city- to-city cooperation and the benefits that both cities received through cooperation, especially on waste management. Through document reviews and semi-structured interviews with 40 local stakeholders, the researchers concluded that the partnership
was successful. Surabaya received professional consultation and strategic plans to tackle ongoing waste problems in the city, which were eventually reduced, while Kitakyushu was able to transfer local technology (Takakura bin) to Surabaya city.
This partnership became a case study on how a partnership can promote technology transfer. The key success factors that can be identified in this partnership are the following:
(1) Partner selection - Sarabuya selected Kitakyushu as a partner because it was in need of waste management technology and Kitakyushu had the technology and knowledge required. Kurniawan et al. (2013) explain that the relationship was initiated to select the most appropriate technology for processing organic waste at the source.
(2) Broad-based community involvement - the citizens realized the importance of the program and utilized the technology through awareness rising with support of the local government and NGO involvement, one of institutional key players, (Kurniawan et al., 2013). Kurniawan et al. (2013) added that “the support from local institution environment, both government and non-government actors is essential to facilitate the adaptation of [technology]” (p. 49).
(3) Community awareness - Sarabuya wanted to manage waste at the source, and the community was in need of new innovation to tackle the problem.
“There was an increasing demand and interests from local community and government for innovations that could address their local needs…[The technology]
bridged interests and filled the existing gaps of their need” (Kurniawan et al., 2013, p.
49).
(4) Contains strategic plans or policy - the plan and activities are clear for acquiring technology and know-how from the partner city.
(5) Reciprocity – the waste in Sarabuya was reduced by 30% and Kitakyushu received economic benefits from the technology transferred; the bins have been distributed to about 40,000 households in 8,800 districts.
(6) Engaging with the media - the media within the city also promote the technology to raise awareness: “Due to extensive public campaigns both by environmental facilitators and their cadres and by local medial, environment
awareness among local households has significantly improved” (Kurniawan et al., 2013, p. 48).
(7) Access to resources - Sarabuya was able to acquire financial support from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Through these two cases study, it can be concluded that the key success factors in both cases study contain some of the key success factors that De Villiers, Cremer, and Gibbs have identified in their research. For the purpose of this study, the key implementing factors will be derived from the key success factors of the sister city relationship from the literature study and case study, as the scope of this study is limited to examining the characteristics and factors regarding implementation by provincial governments.
Table 2.1 Key Implmenting Factors of Sister City Relationship Key Implementing
Factors Description Source
Clear Strategic Plan - Having clear objectives, goals, projects, and planned activities that can be achieved prior to the signing of the partnership
De Villiers et al.
Gibbs et al.
Cremer et al.
Enabling Environment - Having institutional support for sister city relationship policy
De Villiers et al.
Suitable Partner - Being able to identify a suitable partner through common areas of interest and demands and having a limited number of partners for resource allocation
De Villiers et al.
Gibbs et al.
Cremer et al.
Tjandradewi et al.
Local Participation - Strong local participation through local organization participation, community awareness, and media support
De Villiers et al., Gibbs et al.
Tjandradewi et al.
Strong Leadership - Constant leadership support such as constant engagement in
activities
- Having political leadership stability
De Villiers et al.
Gibbs et al.
Cremer et al.
Effective Management - Having dedicated and capable staff and being able to access resources for initiatives
- Organizations have the ability to achieve expectations through their autonomy
De Villiers et al.
Cremer et al.
Positive Attitude toward Relationship
- Reciprocation: both parties receive equal benefit
De Villiers et al.
Gibbs et al.
Key Implementing
Factors Description Source
- Strong commitment: regular exchange activities and communication, and adequate staffing and resources allocated
Tjandradewi et al.
Different Area of Cooperation
- Having different areas of cooperation including but not limited to cultural and economic cooperation
Gibbs et al.
Cremer et al.
Levent
2.3.3 Tentative Model of Successful Sister City Relationship