Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Analytic and Dynamic Approach to Collaboration: A Transdisciplinary Case Study on Sustainable Landscape Development in a Swiss Prealpine Region

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Systemic Practice and Action Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The involvement of stakeholders and the public in societal decision processes has lately received increased attention. We suggest that appropriate and tailored techniques should be selected and integrated to provide the prerequisites for inclusive involvement depending on the issue, type, goals and phase of the decision process in question, i.e. an analytic, systematic and dynamic approach to collaboration. In a transdisciplinary case study design we integrate diverse analytical methods whereby a process of mutual learning between science and people from outside academia is strived for. Our framework for collaboration is illustrated by a case study on sustainable landscape development in the Swiss prealpine region of Appenzell Ausserrhoden.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. We follow Chilvers (2007) in distinguishing between stakeholders, who represent interests of groups and publics, who represent primarily themselves but are potentially representative of different societal groups (see as well Pahl-Wostl 2002).

  2. We are thankful to an anonymous reviewer for this idea.

  3. low: open response mode, unstructured aggregation of information; medium: either closed response mode or structured aggregation; high: closed response mode and structured aggregation (based on Newig et al. this issue).

References

  • Ananda J, Herath G (2003) Incorporating stakeholder values into regional forest planning: a value function approach. Ecol Econom 45:75–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andsager JL (2000) How interest groups attempt to shape public opinion with competing news frames. J Mass Comm Q 77(3):577–592

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnstein SR (1969) A ladder of citizen participation. J Am Inst Plan 35:216–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ashby WR (1956) Introduction to cybernetics. Chapman & Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Beierle TC (2002) The quality of stakeholder-based decisions. Risk Anal 22:739–749

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beierle TC, Cayford J (2002) Democracy in practice. Public participation in environmental decisions. Resources for the Future Press, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Belton V, Pictet J (1997) A framework for group decision using a MCDA model: sharing, aggregating or comparing individual information). Revue des systèmes de décisions 6(3):283–303

    Google Scholar 

  • Bishop P, Davis G (2002) Mapping public participation in policy choices. Aust J Public Adms 61:14–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown K, Adger WN, Tompkins E, Bacon P, Shim D, Young K (2001) Trade-off analysis for marine protected area management. Ecol Econom 37:417–434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chambers S (2003) Deliberative democratic theory. Annu Rev Political Sci 6:307–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chilvers J (2007) Towards analytic-deliberative forms of risk governance in the UK? Reflecting on learning in radioactive waste. J Risk Res 10(2):197–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dahinden U (2006) Framing—Eine integrative Theorie der Massenkommunikation. UVK, Konstanz

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiorino DJ (1990) Citizen participation and environmental risk: a survey of institutional mechanisms. Sci Technol Human Values 15:226–243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flüeler T (2006) Decision making for complex socio-technical systems. Robustness from lessons learned in long-term radioactive waste governance (Series Environment & Policy, Vol. 42). Springer, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Flüeler T, Krütli P, Stauffacher M (2007) Tools for local stakeholders in radioactive waste governance: challenges and benefits of selected participatory technology assessment techniques. Final report, April 2007. Contribution to the EU STREP Community Waste Management COWAM 2, Work Package 1: Implementing Local Democracy and Participatory Assessment Methods. www.cowam.org

  • Forester J (1999) The deliberative practitioner: encouraging participatory planning processes. MIT, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Funtowicz SO, Ravetz JT (1993) Science for the post-normal age. Futures 25(7):739–755

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gottschick M (this issue) Participatory sustainable impact assessment of economic partnership agreements for the region Eastern and Southern Africa focused on sugar production. Syst Pract Action Res

  • Gregory R, Fischhoff B, McDaniels TL (2005) Acceptable input: using decision analysis to guide public policy deliberations. Decis Anal 2(1):4–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Häberli R, Bill A, Thompson Klein J, Scholz RW, Welti M (2001) Summary and synthesis. In: Thompson Klein J, Grossenbacher-Mansuy W, Häberli R, Bill A, Scholz RW, Welti M (eds) Transdisciplinarity: joint problem solving among science, technology, and society. Birkhäuser, Basel, pp 3–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Helgenberger S (2006) Evaluation der gesellschaftlichen Auswirkungen von transdisziplinären Forschungskooperationen. Ex-Post Untersuchung zu Veränderungen von Akteurswahrnehmungen und Netzwerken sowie zu deren Einfluss auf Akteursentscheidungen bei Wirtschafts- und Landschaftstransformationen, Unpublished diploma thesis. ETH-NSSI, Zurich

  • Hirsch G, Bradley D, Pohl C, Rist S, Wiesmann U (2006) Implications of transdisciplinarity for sustainability research. Ecol Econom 60:119–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hornecker E (2004) Analogies from didactics and moderation/facilitation methods: designing spaces for interaction and experience. Digit Creat 15(4):239–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hubacek K, Prell C (this issue) Combining formalised and non-formalised methods to stimulate social learning in resource management. Sys Pract Action Res

  • Jessop B (2003) Governance and meta-governance: on reflexivity, requisite variety and requisite irony. In: Bang HB (ed) Governance as social and political communication. Manchester University Press, Manchester, pp 101–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnsen HCG, Normann R (2004) When research and practice collide: the role of action research when there is a conflict of interest with stakeholders. Syst Pract Action Res 17(3):207–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joubert AR, Leiman A, de Klerk HM, Katua S, Aggenbach JC (1997) Fynbos (fine bush) vegetation and the supply of water: a comparison of multi-criteria decision analysis and cost-benefit analysis. Ecol Econom 22:123–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kangas J, Kangas A (2005) Multiple criteria decision support in forest management. The approach, methods applied, and experiences gained. For Ecol Manag 207:133–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krütli P, Stauffacher M, Flüeler T, Scholz RW (2006) Public involvement in repository site selection for nuclear waste: towards a more dynamic view in the decision-making process. Conference proceedings. VALDOR 2006—VALues in decisions on risk. Stockholm, May 14–18, 2006. SKI, SEPA, SGI, SRCE, OECD/NEA, UK Nirex,pp 96–105

  • Loukopoulos P, Scholz RW (2004) Sustainable future urban mobility: using ‘area development negotiations’ for scenario assessment and participatory strategic planning. Environ Plan A 36:2203–2226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDaniels TL, Gregory R (2004) Learning as an objective within a structured risk management decision process. Environ Sci Technol 38(7):1921–1926

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDaniels TL, Trousdale W (2005) Resource compensation and negotiation support in an aboriginal context: using community-based multi-attribute analysis to evaluate non-market losses. Ecol Econom 55:173–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Midgley G (2003) Science as systemic intervention: some implications of systems thinking and complexity for the philosophy of science. Syst Pract Action Res 16(2):77–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newig J et al (this issue) The role of formalisation, participation and context factors for the success of public involvement mechanisms in resource management. Sys Pract Action Res

  • Otway H (1987) Experts, risk communication, and democracy. Risk Anal 7(2):125–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pahl-Wostl C (2002) Participative and stakeholder-based policy design, evaluation and modeling processes. Integr Assess 3(1):3–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petts J (2004) Barriers to participation and deliberation in risk decisions: evidence from waste management. J Risk Res 7:115–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pretty JN (1995) Participatory learning for sustainable agriculture. World Dev 23(8):1247–1263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renn O (2005) Partizipation—ein schillernder Begriff. Reaktion auf drei Beiträge zum Thema “Partizipation”. GAIA 14(3):227–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Rist S, Chiddambaranathan M, Escobar C, Wiesmann U (2006) “It was hard to come to mutual understanding…”. The multidimensionality of social learning processes concerned with sustainable natural resource use in India, Africa and Latin America. Syst Pract Action Res 19:219–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowe G, Frewer LL (2005) A typology of public engagement mechanisms. Sci Technol Human Values 30(2):251–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saether B (2007) From researching regions at a distance to participatory network building: integrating action research and economic geography. Syst Pract Action Res 20(1):15–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sager T (1994) Communicative planning theory. Avebury, Aldershot

    Google Scholar 

  • Sauer A (this issue) Conflict pattern analysis—preparing the ground for policy implementation. Syst Pract Action Res

  • Scholz RW (2000) Mutual learning as a basic principle for transdisciplinarity. In: Scholz RW et al (eds) Transdisciplinarity. Joint problem-solving among science, technology and society. Proceedings of the international transdisciplinarity 2000 conference, Zurich. Workbook II: mutual learning sessions. Haffmans Sachbuch, Zürich, pp 13–17

  • Scholz RW, Marks D (2001) Learning about transdisciplinarity: where are we? Where have we been? Where should we go? In: Thompson Klein J, Grossenbacher-Mansuy W, Häberli R, Bill A, Scholz RW, Welti M (eds) Transdisciplinarity: joint problem solving among science, technology, and society. Birkhäuser, Basel, pp 236–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Scholz RW, Stauffacher M (2002) Unsere Landschaft ist unser Kapital: Überblick zur ETH-UNS Fallstudie «Landschaftsnutzung für die Zukunft: der Fall Appenzell Ausserrhoden». In: Scholz RW, Stauffacher M, Bösch S, Wiek A (eds) Landschaftsnutzung für die Zukunft: der Fall Appenzell Ausserrhoden. ETH-UNS Fallstudie 2001. Rüegger und Pabst, Zürich, pp 13–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Scholz RW, Stauffacher M (2007) Managing transition in clusters: area development negotiations as a tool for sustaining traditional industries in a Swiss prealpine region. Environ Plan A 39(10):2518–2539

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scholz RW, Tietje O (2002) Embedded case study methods: integrating quantitative and qualitative knowledge. Sage, Thousand Oaks

    Google Scholar 

  • Scholz RW, Mieg HA, Oswald JE (2000) Transdisciplinarity in groundwater management: towards mutual learning of science and society. Water Air Soil Pollut 123:477–487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scholz RW, Stauffacher M, Bösch S, Wiek A (2002) Landschaftsnutzung für die Zukunft: der Fall Appenzell Ausserrhoden. ETH-UNS Fallstudie 2001. Rüegger und Pabst, Zürich

    Google Scholar 

  • Scholz RW, Lang D, Walter AI, Wiek A, Stauffacher M (2006) Transdisciplinary case studies as a means of sustainability learning: historical framework and theory. Int J Sustain High Educ 7(3):226–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scholz RW, Stauffacher M, Bösch S, Krütli P, Wiek A (2007) Entscheidungsprozesse Wellenberg—Lagerung radioaktiver Abfälle in der Schweiz. ETH-UNS Fallstudie 2006. Rüegger, Zürich

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheppard SRJ, Meitner M (2005) Using multi-criteria analysis and visualisation for sustainable forest management planning with stakeholder groups. For Ecol Manag 207:171–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stauffacher M (2006) Beyond neocorporatism: new practices of collective decision making. Transdisciplinary case studies as a means for societal learning in sustainable development: thesis for doctor of philosophy. Faculty of Arts, University of Zurich. Available online: http://www.dissertationen.unizh.ch/2006/stauffacher/abstract.html

  • Stauffacher M, Walter A, Lang D, Wiek A, Scholz RW (2006) Learning to research environmental problems from a functional socio-cultural constructivism perspective: the transdisciplinary case study approach. Int J Sustain High Educ 7(3):252–275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stringer LC, Dougill AJ, Fraser E, Hubacek K, Prell C, Reed MS (2006) Unpacking “participation” in the adaptive management of social-ecological systems: a critical review. Ecol Soc 11(2):39 [online] URL: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol11/iss32/art39/

    Google Scholar 

  • van Asselt MBA, Rijkens-Klomp N (2002) A look in the mirror: reflection on participation in Integrated Assessment from a methodological perspective. Glob Environ Change 12:167–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Volkery A et al (this issue) Your vision or my model? Lessons from participatory land-use scenario development at the European scale. Syst Pract Action Res

  • Walter AI, Helgenberger S, Wiek A, Scholz RW (2007) Measuring social effects of transdisciplinary research—design and application of an evaluation method. Eval Program Plan 30(4):325–338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webler T (1999) The craft and theory of public participation: a dialectical process. J Risk Res 2(1):55–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiek A, Scholz RW, Deér S, Liechtenhan W, Tietje O (2002) Rahmenszenarien für die Entwicklung der Landschaftsnutzung im Kanton Appenzell Ausserrhoden - Kurzfassung. In: Scholz RW, Stauffacher M, Bösch S, Wiek A (eds) Landschaftsnutzung für die Zukunft: der Fall Appenzell Ausserrhoden. ETH-UNS Fallstudie 2001. Rüegger und Pabst, Zürich, pp 249–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiek AH, Binder CR, Scholz RW (2006) Functions of scenarios in transition processes. Futures 38(7):740–766

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiek A, Zemp S, Siegrist M, Walter A (2007) Sustainable governance of emerging technologies—critical constellations in the agent network of nanotechnology. Technol Soc 29(4):388–406

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank the participants of the workshop “Formalised and Non-Formalised Methods in Resource Management—Knowledge and Learning in Participatory Processes” in Osnabrück, and especially Claudia Pahl-Wostl, Jens Newig and the anonymous reviewer for their valuable comments to earlier versions of this paper. We are grateful to Sebastian Helgenberger for his collection of verbatim statements gathered in his diploma thesis (Helgenberger 2006; see as well Walter et al. 2007).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ETH Zurich, Institute for Environmental Decisions, Natural and Social Science Interface, Universitätstrasse 22 CHN J 71, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    Michael Stauffacher, Thomas Flüeler, Pius Krütli & Roland W. Scholz

  2. Umweltrecherchen & -gutachten, Hausen (AG), Switzerland

    Thomas Flüeler

Authors
  1. Michael Stauffacher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Thomas Flüeler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Pius Krütli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Roland W. Scholz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Stauffacher.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stauffacher, M., Flüeler, T., Krütli, P. et al. Analytic and Dynamic Approach to Collaboration: A Transdisciplinary Case Study on Sustainable Landscape Development in a Swiss Prealpine Region. Syst Pract Action Res 21, 409–422 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11213-008-9107-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11213-008-9107-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation