Factors influencing peoples' innovation in conflict situations: a case of Hargesia, Somaliland

Abstract

Conflict can be defined as a disagreement through which parties involved perceive a threat to their needs, interests or concern. It arises when two or more parties have incompatible goals. Innovation is where people create value through introduction of new ideas, practices and business models. Somalia has three autonomous regions namely: South Central, Somaliland and Puntland. This study sought to access the factors influencing peoples' innovation in conflict situations through studying Somaliland, a region that has been unstable for now more than two decades.

The motivation of the study was based on the need to determine how the citizens' of Somaliland have continued to live and thrive in a state where the government does not provide some key services to its people. The study reviewed relevant literature in countries that have experienced similar conflicts namely: Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Rwanda and The Democratic Republic of Congo. The study of innovation and conflict theories and analysis sought to explore the root causes of innovation, conflict, structure, dynamics and sovereignty and suggested possible solutions.

The citizens of Somaliland have continued to innovate and improve their lives in a conflict situation. Therefore, analysis of Somaliland, availability of opportunities and resources, how instability affects its people was carried out. The methodology used in the study was descriptive analysis. This is because the study was not only restricted to fact finding but also in the formulation of important principles and sought to find solutions to the paramount problems.

The target population was fifty officers. Simple random sampling was used to select 20 banking employees and 15 employees from the communication and hotel industries. Purposive sampling technique was used in selecting samples from senior managers among them, three from banking and communication and two from hotel sectors. The researcher administered questionnaires and conducted interviews to collect data from the selected citizens in Somaliland. The researcher used purposive sampling technique to select the sample size. The research study sought to add knowledge on innovation in conflict situations.