Journal on Policy & Complex Systems Volume 4, Number 1, Spring 2018 | Page 71

Journal on Policy and Complex Systems
The data collection included semistructured interviews conducted between 2009 and 2012 , and documentation of varying publication dates , collected in 2012 . Data included 100 documents ( annual management reports , strategic and action plans of ministries , working documents ) and 61 interviews with key actors of the reform ( 86.7 % of interviewees were from 15 ministries and 13.3 % from 5 scientific collaborating institutions ). Ministries and scientific collaborating institutions reached are listed in Table 2 . Data are complementary . Interviews were recorded , lasted between 31 minutes and 1 hour 58 minutes , and were fully translated .
To help guide the analysis , Morin ’ s metatheory of complexity was mobilized ( Morin , 2005 ). Morin ’ s metatheory presents the advantages of ( 1 ) integrating several units of analysis , for example , one administration and cross-administration structures ; ( 2 ) taking into account the interactions of implementation structures and processes with the external environment instead of focusing solely on the structure of the implementing agencies ; ( 3 ) situating events in a timeline where they are generated and producing outcomes over time ; ( 4 ) presenting the conciliation of opposing dynamics , such as adapting to contingencies but conserving part of the status quo settings ; and ( 5 ) postulating all the above as part of an integrated understanding of complex systems .
Morin ( 2005 ) refers to three principles , subdivided into two subprinciples each , to understand a complex phenomenon — the dialogic principle , the recursive principle , and the hologrammatic principle . The first principle , the dialogic principle ( A ), refers to the complementary and antagonistic functions of adaptation to the environment ( subprinciple A1 ) and maintaining one ’ s identity ( subprinciple A2 ). The second principle , the recursive principle ( B ), refers to the inner energy of a system where one can be a means ( subprinciple B1 ) and an end at different points in time ( subprinciple B2 ). The third principle , the hologrammatic principle ( C ), generally represents the integration of outside features or logics ( whole in parts ) ( subprinciple C1 ) and the transposition of some inner features or logics to others ( parts in whole ) ( subprinciple C2 ).
One person oversaw coding interviews with QDA Miner v 4.0 ; another coded document . Coding consisted of identifying facts , resources , conditions , activities , and results that illustrated each of the principles and subprinciples . A summary table of data related to each subprinciple is available ( Table 3 ). That was the first step of analysis . Morin also refers to the above principles as being in movement , evolving over time ( Morin , 2005 , p . 101 ). The second step of the analysis consisted in identifying the movements at stake : how each subprinciple was enhanced or constrained . One person was in charge of reorganizing outcome-related data into coherent stepwise processes that impede or reinforce a subprinciple ( thereafter named loops ) ( Cairney , 2012 ; Coyle , 1983 , 1996 ).
The third step of analysis consisted in weighting the relative im-
70