Ensayo teórico de interacción química entre elementos básicos empleando el Software de simulación Mopac.

This section provides a glance of the chapters and sections that are covered in this thesis. Each chapter presents a short introduction highlighting the areas that will be covered in the different sections of the chapter. A summary and conclusion are provided at the end of each chapter to help the reader focus on issues that have been discussed and also guide the reader on the subsequent chapter. The thesis is structured into six chapters.

1.10.1 Chapter One: Introduction and the Study Background

This is a summary of the thesis highlighting what the thesis is all about. The section explains circumstances relating to drinking water projects challenges in developing countries, particularly hand-pump maintenance. The section also explains how and why hand-pump maintenance has emerged as a critical problem in rural areas of Sub- Saharan Africa including Malawi. Poor hand-pump maintenance, therefore, emerges as the research problem and research questions are formed to answer or solve the research problem which is formulated. The scope of the study is also briefly presented followed by research questions and objectives. Qualitative realist approach is identified as most ideals to answer the research questions. The section also explains why findings are relevant to solve the research problem; under justification for undertaking the research. The Malawi profile is also highlighted and how it informs operations and maintenance of drinking water projects. Lastly, the structure of the thesis for each chapter is presented.

21 1.10.2 Chapter Two: Literature Review

The chapter is outlining the literature selection criteria followed by a discussion on the major thematic issues regarding hand-pump maintenance in rural developing countries. The literature review, therefore, positions this thesis within the context of existing research. The chapter also provides analyses of the conceptual constructs of drinking-water project maintenance identified in the literature review and thereafter analyses their interrelationships outlining the unit of analysis. The first part outlines project management scholarship and lays a foundation of studying rural project management, which includes drinking water projects. A brief discussion is made relating to the state of functional /non-functional hand-pumps; government and donor policy commitments, stakeholder roles and risk issues. These discussions assists in bringing out insights of factors related to hand–pump maintenance. The stakeholder and the inclusive rural development models forms the basis for the study theoretical framework. The study focus converges the unit of analysis in a form of a conceptual framework highlighting hand-pump maintenance factors in a of : monetary/material, technical and organisational factors. The theoretical and conceptual framework eventually guides data collection and analysis in the subsequent chapters. The last section but not least, further highlight Malawi situation analysis in terms of demographics, history, politics, geography and trade and how these directly or indirectly informs the hand-pump maintenance in Malawi. Finally, the case study context is also presented in details.

22 1.10.3 Chapter Three: Research Methodology

The chapter justifies the choice of appropriate methods to lead to data necessary to answer the research questions. Firstly, a diagrammed sketch is provided highlighting interdependences of : the conceptual framework, methods, data collection techniques, findings, recommendations and conclusions. The sketch acts as a guide on how the research is undertaken and also show relationships of different research phases. This chapter introduces philosophical issues related to drinking water research. Common philosophical paradigms namely positivism, interpretivism and realism are reviewed. The differences between positivism, interpretivism and realism are described and a detailed account is given why a qualitative realist approach is most appropriate to answer the research question. Strengths and weaknesses are highlighted when applied to hand-pump maintenance. Based on consideration of research questions and literature review, realism qualitative research emerges as offering more advantages or strengths hence ultimately chosen as a research paradigm in the study. The next section details why case study was the most suitable research approach to answer the research questions in comparison to other forms like experiments, surveys and grounded theory. The case study is chosen as most ideal because it allows to study hand-pump maintenance as a phenomena in details using multiple sources of data while at the same time allows theoretical replication (Yin, 2009). The following section considers data- collection techniques which helped to answer the research question. Data collection methods included secondary as well as primary data. Secondary data was in a form of documents and observations. Primary data collection techniques included Convergence Interviews, Individual Case Interviews and Focus Group Discussions. Data collection process in terms of how hand-pumps were purposively sampled, whilst details are also given related to choice of respondents using snow-ball sampling.

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The next section explains how data was analysed using content analysis for documents and reports as described by Sapsford & Jump (2006); Robsons (2011) and Miles & Huberman (1984). Convergence Interviews were analysed using a matrix to identify categories whilst Individual Case interviews used likert-type scales to identify the most occurring hand–pump maintenance categories. Finally Focus Groups are manually analysed using content analysis as well, so as to engage with the data which may not have been possible in computerised analysis. The last section outlines the principles of conducting the study which included validity, reliability and ethical issues. The section also points out methodological limitations which were encountered and measures taken to overcome them. The chapter ends with a summary and conclusions.

1.10.4 Chapter Four : Study Findings and Analysis

The chapter highlights contextual view of hand–pump maintenance in the villages of Khuwi, Mavule,Chadza, Kachepa, Kamjeda, Mphenzu, Gute, Bulaki and Kapsyepsye. This chapter findings is presented based on each of the data collection techniques used namely: documents, observations and interviews. As interviews comprise the primary and the main data collection; each section also highlights how each of the different objectives was met. The key finding is that end-users are able to contribute to small/medium hand-pump maintenance but unable to do complex faults and/or hand-pump rehabilitation. The factors which promote end-user hand-pump maintenance include: household end-user labour and financial contributions, training of the local committees and active roles of the local committees. Conversely, factors that limit hand–pump maintenance include lack of sponsor support when pumps are handed over to them as unable to manage complicated faults both financially and technically. The section ends with the overall summary.

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1.10.5 Chapter Five: Discussion and Recommendations

A more detailed discussion of the results is given with particular reference to the implications of the results; how the results relate to the existing body of knowledge; as to whether they agree or are contrary to the current drinking water research and findings; and the new insight offered. This chapter also discusses and interprets the findings in relation to the models of rural development, the study adopted. Specifically, the chapter discusses what the results mean and how they fit in the existing hand-pump maintenance literature and project management broadly; as to whether they are consistent with, contradictory or brings new insights in the body of knowledge. Firstly a summary of findings on each hand-pump is presented. Findings are integrated through a cross case analysis and the literature reviewed. Hand-pump maintenance factors and limitations are discussed in terms of how they influence or impact the functionality of hand-pumps.

1.10.6 Chapter Six : Conclusion and Implications

This is the final chapter and explains how the research problem is resolved by the means of answering the research question. This is followed by the claim the study presents in a form of contribution of knowledge to project management scholarly, practice and research. Finally, a discussion on the study limitations is presented. Recommendations for further practice is highlighted. The last section is the final conclusion of the thesis.