Interactive Problem Structuring with ICZM Stakeholders

18 Pages Posted: 22 May 2007

See all articles by Frank van Kouwen

Frank van Kouwen

Utrecht University

Carel Dieperink

Copernicus Institute for Sustainable Development and Innovation, Utrecht University (the Netherlands)

Paul P. Schot

Utrecht University

Martin J. Wassen

Utrecht University

Date Written: May 2007

Abstract

Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is struggling with a lack of science-management integration. Many computer systems, usually known as "decision support systems", have been developed with the intention to make scientific knowledge about complex systems more accessible for coastal managers. These tools, allowing a multi-disciplinary approach with multi-criteria analyses, are designed for well-defined, structured problems. However, in practice stakeholder consensus on the problem structure is usually lacking. Aim of this paper is to explore the practical opportunities for the new so-called Quasta approach to structure complex problems in a group setting. This approach is based on a combination of Cognitive Mapping and Qualitative Probabilistic Networks. It comprehends a new type of computer system which is quite simple and flexible as well. The tool is tested in two workshops in which various coastal management issues were discussed. Evaluations of these workshops show that (1) this system helps stakeholders to make them aware of causal relationships, (2) it is useful for a qualitative exploration of scenarios, (3) it identifies the quantitative knowledge gaps of the problem being discussed and (4) the threshold for non technicians to use this tool is quite low.

Keywords: Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Problem Structuring, Stakeholder Participation, Cognitive Mapping, Interactive Policy Making

JEL Classification: Q5

Suggested Citation

van Kouwen, Frank and Dieperink, Carel and Schot, Paul P. and Wassen, Martin J., Interactive Problem Structuring with ICZM Stakeholders (May 2007). FEEM Working Paper No. 52.2007, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=987006 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.987006

Frank Van Kouwen (Contact Author)

Utrecht University ( email )

Vredenburg 138
Utrecht, 3511 BG
Netherlands

Carel Dieperink

Copernicus Institute for Sustainable Development and Innovation, Utrecht University (the Netherlands) ( email )

Heidelberglann 2
3508 TC Utrecht
Netherlands

Paul P. Schot

Utrecht University ( email )

Vredenburg 138
Utrecht, 3511 BG
Netherlands

Martin J. Wassen

Utrecht University ( email )

Vredenburg 138
Utrecht, 3511 BG
Netherlands

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