Centralized decision making, users' participation and satisfaction in post-disaster reconstruction: The case of Tunisia

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a study of a post-flood reconstruction project conducted in 2003 in the village of Bousalem in Tunisia, a country that is poorly documented in reconstruction literature and that is known for its high levels of centralization in decision making. It examines the relations between project stakeholders, the structure of the team established to conduct the project (the Temporary Multi-Organisation, TMO) and the most important concerns of end-users. It particularly shows the drawbacks of neglecting a participatory approach and favouring instead the centralization of decision making at different levels of the TMO organisational structure. Design/methodology/approach: Users' satisfaction was assessed through technology transfer indicators, based on the qualitative analysis of several interviews with end-users. The analysis of the organizational system was based on a qualitative analysis of the TMOs' formal and informal structuring. Findings: The results confirm the need to decentralize decisions at a level that: optimizes the efficiency of local stakeholders; facilitates the participation of end-users; and allows an appropriate distribution of responsibilities and risks among stakeholders. Originality/value: The results show how certain decisions related to the structure and functioning of the TMO affect the match between the project initiators' capacity to provide an adequate solution and the users' expectations and requirements after the disaster.