Soft Systems Approach in Facilitating Regional Forest Policy Processes

Transcription

1 Soft Systems Approach in Facilitating Regional Forest Policy Processes IFORS2008, Sandton, South Africa TC-4: Applications of OR in Forestry I (Tue ) Teppo Hujala (Mr.) Researcher, M.Sc. (Agr. & For.) Finnish Forest Research Institute Metla, Finland In collaboration with Jukka Tikkanen (Oulu Univ. of Applied Sciences), Annika Kangas (Univ. of Helsinki), Pekka Leskinen (Finnish Environment Institute), Mikko Kurttila (Univ. of Joensuu), and Leena Leskinen (Metla) Metsäntutkimuslaitos Skogsforskningsinstitutet Finnish Forest Research Institute

2 Contents of the Presentation 1. Context and Case 2. Development Task & Research Tasks 3. Application of Soft Systems Methodology 4. Observations and Findings 5. Inferences in the Light of Decision Aid

3 Context and Case: Regional Forest Policy Processes in Finland National forest policy National Forest Programme (NFP) Prepared on the basis of 13 Regional Forest Programmes (RFP) RFPs establish objectives for e.g. loggings, silvicultural work, and the preservation of biodiversity Formulated through participatory planning, incorporating key stakeholder groups Use of forest resource data shapes the negotiation process Both legitimacy and effectivity have been questioned NFP 2015 (2008) includes the development of new participative methods for RFPs in order to improve the societal acceptability of forest branch

4 Project HyVAMO: Regional Forest Programme as an Acceptable and Influencing Process ( A) Development Task 1. Enhancing the acceptability and effectiveness of the RFP processes 2. Improving the methodology for participation Devising argued recommendations for RFP processes B) Research Tasks 1. Investigating the acceptability and effectiveness of the past/current RFP processes 2. Testing and assessing alternative decision support methods in the context of RFPs 3. Using and evaluating Soft systems methodology (SSM) as a framework, along with collaborative learning view

5 Application of Soft Systems Methodology (1) Collaborative problem structuring and facilitated modelling as well as surveys and interviews serve the applied SSM Three case areas: Regional Forestry Centers of Southwestern Finland (Turku region), Central Finland (Jyväskylä region) and Northern Ostrobothnia (Oulu Region) Acceptability enquiry: Q-sorting Survey on experiences and wishes related to RFPs Workshops and in-depth interviews Systematic problem structuring Analysis of political and social context Testing of facilitated decision support methods

6 A WOT Scenarios Application of Soft Systems Methodology (2) Interviews Enquiries Perceived Real-world Problem Situation Rich picture Checkland (2000), p. S16 Leads to selection of Analysis of components, inputs and outputs, and relationships CATWOE Understanding of the political context and the social community Action to improve Experiments: HIPRE, MESTA Collaborative learning Recommendations Comparison (question situation using models) Find Facilitated workshops Accommodations which enable Models of relevant purposeful activity systems with declared worldviews Core concepts Core visions Desirability and feasibility

7 Example of Facilitated Workshop Activities: Elaborating 9 Core Concepts Collaboratively Group work 2: Vision Group work 1: Present stage Group work 3: Concrete actions (i.e. desirable and feasible change)

8 Observations and Findings Features of RFP with the greatest variation in perspectives among stakeholders (Q sort result): 1. Roles of forestry experts and NGOs 2. Importance of scientific knowledge 3. Neutrality of the process leader 4. Using workshops in participation 5. Multiple use versus roundwood production Core concepts that will be focused on (workshop outcome): 1. Concretisizing RFP objectives 2. Comparing alternatives 3. Incorporating public opinions in RFPs 4. Commitment of the board and the actors 5. Division of labour (roles, responsibilities, decision power) 6. Working methods and tools (decision support) 7. Clear and transparent reporting 8. Monitoring RFPs 9. Regional cross-sectoral cooperation

9 Inferences in the Light of Decision Aid SSM does provide a useful framework for assessing and developing regional forest policy processes Structured however flexible view on a messy problem Both qualitative problem structuring methods and quantitative decision analysis are needed in RFPs The challenge is to bind them meaninfully together The preliminary results indicate that major elaborations in RFP processes could be made More focus on problem structuring and monitoring Genuine decisions on strategic actions through comparing alternatives Intensive facilitation to frame discussions

10 References 1 Checkland, P Systems Thinking, Systems Practice. Wiley Soft Systems Methodology: A Thirty Year Retrospective. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 17, S11 S58. & Scholes, J Soft Systems in Action. Wiley & Holwel, S Information, Systems and Information Systems. Wiley & Poulter, J Learning For Action: A Short Definitive Account of Soft Systems Methodology, and its use, for Practitioners, Teachers and Students. Wiley Daniels, S. & Walker, B Working through environmental conflict. The collaborative learning approach. 299 p. Praeger. Eden, C. & Ackermann, F Where next for problem structuring methods. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 57, Leskinen, L.A., Leskinen, P., Kurttila, M., Kangas, J. & Kajanus, M Adapting modern strategic decision support tools in the participatory strategy process - a case study of a forest research station. Forest Policy and Economics 8:

11 References 2 Leskinen, P., Leskinen, L.A. & Tikkanen, J Assessing objectives of regional forest policy in northern Finland. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 19: Macadam, R., Van Asch, R., Hedley, B., Pitt., E. & Carroll, P A Case Study in Development Planning Using a Systems Learning Approach: Generating a Master Plan for the Livestock Sector in Nepal. Agricultural Systems, 49, Pasanen, K., Kurttila, M., Pykäläinen, J., Kangas, J. & Leskinen, P MESTA - Nonindustrial private forest owners' decision-support environment for the evaluation of alternative forest plans over the internet. International Journal of Information Technology & Decision Making 4(4): Ormerod, R.J OR and systems some comments on Checkland's reply to Eden and Ackerman. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 59, Rouwette, E.A.J.A. & Vennix, J.A.M Team Learning on Messy Problems. In V.L. Sessa & M. London (eds.). Work Group Learning Understanding, Improving and Assessing How Groups Learn in Organizations, pp Routledge, New York. White, L Evaluating problem-structuring methods: developing an approach to show the value and effectiveness of PSMs. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 57, Wilson, B Soft Systems Methodology. Conceptual model building and its contribution. 260 p. Wiley

12 Thank you for your kind attention! Contact: Research network: Methods and processes of decision making in forestry