19 research outputs found
Projectified Environmental Governance and Challenges of Institutional Change toward Sustainability
Research has shown that we are facing multiple urgent sustainability challenges in the ways in which our societies are organized. To address these challenges we need governance systems that are adaptive in order to absorb new knowledge and creative in order to generate innovative solutions. Yet, institutional inertia , or the tendency of institutions to resist change, slows down the adaptation to these complex challenges. A core concern is thus, how to address institutional inertia in the context of sustainability.
The goal of this dissertation is to evaluate the role of projects in generating institutional change toward sustainability. The use of projects cross-cutting organizations that are employed to reach well-defined objectives during a specified period of time to implement public policy has lately attracted scholarly attention. The increasing reliance on projects, or projectification , resonates with the need for managing uncertainties and unpredictabilities in contemporary environmental governance and involves cross-sectoral cooperation in society. To explore the role of projects in institutional change processes, this study focuses on two dimensions of institutional work : participation the processes of including actors and different knowledges in projects as well as promoting deliberation among project participants and innovation the generation and diffusion of new knowledge and ideas produced in projects.
This dissertation studies two programs that fund projects to implement public policy: the European Union s LEADER Program and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) implemented by the Natural Resource Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. While both programs rely on projects as funding mechanisms, they differ in how they are organized and in terms of their historical significance. Taken together, the differences between the two programs provide interesting insights into the role of projects in institutional change processes. The data from the two cases, including interviews and central policy documents, was analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
This dissertation highlights important contradictions regarding the question of projects serving as fruitful sites for instigating institutional change. The findings emphasize that institutional inertia is generated by a list of mechanisms including cost, uncertainty, path dependence, power, and legitimacy. The results also highlight that inertia has important temporal implications. Not only does inertia slow down change processes, challenging the development of timely responses to sustainability problems, but also calls for a temporally sensitive approach that acknowledges the multifaceted nature of time. The analysis of the empirical cases shows that projects can serve as vehicles for including actors from different sectors with different knowledges. The analysis also highlights the deliberative nature of project work, which serves as a basis for social learning among project participants. The lack of external participation in projects once they were initiated, however, raises some doubt as to the full extent of inclusion of actors and prompts the question of excluded critical voices in project work.
The question of innovation sheds critical light on the capacity of projects to initiate institutional change. The analysis suggests that the ability of projects to engage in exploration and generate innovations can be significantly restricted by bureaucratic rules and traditions of administrative top-down control. The dissertation also points to the challenges of diffusing project knowledge to permanent organizations. Two types of innovation diffusion in projectified environmental governance are identified. Vertical diffusion refers to the process of scaling up project knowledge to higher levels of decision making in permanent organizations, such as regulatory agencies and project-funding organizations. The analysis highlights the challenges of vertical diffusion for projects that are locally situated and have decentered decision-making procedures. Horizontal diffusion, in turn, assigns more weight to the project participants themselves to make sense of and utilize project knowledge in future instances, either in their own work or in new projects. Here, projects function as points of contact, where aggregated and accumulated knowledges converge, which in turn generates new combinations and the potential for broader change.
The dissertation expands the discussion of projectification in two ways. First, previous research on projectification has thus far relied on single-country or single-region analyses. While the aim of this dissertation is not to conduct a formal comparative analysis of LEADER and RCPP, it represents one of the first attempts to illustrate the significance of projects and projectification by building on empirical findings from Europe and the USA. Second, this dissertation introduces two ideal types, mechanistic and organic projectification, proposing an alternative approach to conceptualizing projects and their role in institutional change in a public policy setting. Deemphasizing rationalism and embracing tensions, inconsistencies, and the untidiness of projectification could help us gain a fuller understanding of different institutional change processes toward sustainability.Kohtaamme useita kestÀvyyshaasteita, jotka edellyttÀvÀt nopeita muutoksia siihen miten yhteiskuntamme on jÀrjestetty. NÀiden muutosten saavuttaminen vaatii, ettÀ organisaatioilla on tarvittavat edellytykset omaksua uutta tietoa ja luoda uusia innovatiivisia ratkaisuja. Olemassa olevilla instituutioilla, eli sÀÀnnöillÀ, normeilla ja kognitiivisilla rakenteilla, puolestaan on taipumus vastustaa muutosta. TÀtÀ yleensÀ kutsutaan institutionaaliseksi jÀykkyydeksi. Tarvitsemme toisin sanoen nopeita institutionaalisia muutoksia, jotka edistÀvÀt kestÀvÀÀ kehitystÀ tilanteessa, jossa olemassa olevat instituutiot hidastavat pyrkimyksiÀ luoda nÀitÀ muutoksia.
TÀssÀ vÀitöskirjassa tutkin projektiorganisaatioiden merkitystÀ institutionaalisessa muutoksessa kohti kestÀvÀÀ kehitystÀ. Projekteja luonnehditaan usein eri sektoreita yhdistÀviksi organisaatioiksi, joiden tarkoitus on saavuttaa tarkasti mÀÀriteltyjÀ tavoitteita rajallisessa ajassa. Projektien lisÀÀntynyt kÀyttö, eli projektifiointi , poliittisten tavoitteiden saavuttamiseksi on viime aikoina herÀttÀnyt keskustelua ja liittyy vahvasti epÀvarmuuksien ja ennakoimattomuuden hallitsemisen tarpeeseen ympÀristöpolitiikassa. Tarkastellakseni projektien roolia muutosprosesseissa keskityn tÀssÀ tutkimuksessa seuraaviin kysymyksiin: MitkÀ ovat projektien mahdollisuudet osallistaa erilaisia toimijoita sekÀ hyödyntÀÀ erilaista tietoa projektitoiminnassa? EdistÀvÀtkö hankkeet keskustelua ja mielipiteiden jakamista projekteihin osallistuvien kesken? Miten projektit luovat uutta tietoa ja miten tÀtÀ tietoa levitetÀÀn muiden organisaatioiden kÀytettÀvÀksi? TÀssÀ tutkimuksessa analysoin kahta julkisen sektorin ohjelmaa, jotka rahoittavat hankkeita saavuttaakseen tavoitteitaan: Euroopan unionin luomaa LEADER-ohjelmaa sekÀ Yhdysvaltojen maatalousministeriön perustamaa Regional Conservation Partnership Program -ohjelmaa. KerÀtty aineisto on analysoitu laadullista sisÀllönanalyysiÀ hyödyntÀen.
Tutkimus kuvaa projektien ristiriitaista roolia institutionaalisessa muutoksessa kestÀvÀn kehityksen edistÀmiseksi. Tulokset osoittavat, ettÀ institutionaalinen jÀykkyys on seurausta erilaisista mekanismeista, kuten kustannuksista, epÀvarmuudesta, polkuriippuvuudesta, vallasta ja legitimiteetistÀ. Tulokset myös korostavat jÀykkyyden ajallista merkitystÀ, joka kannustaa tutkimaan aikaa eri nÀkökulmista. Tutkimus osoittaa, ettÀ projekteilla on mahdollisuus saattaa yhteen toimijoita eri sektoreilta sekÀ yhdistÀÀ erilaisia tiedon muotoja. Tulokset korostavat myös projektitoiminnan deliberatiivisuutta, joka vuorostaan on edellytys sosiaaliseen oppimiseen. VÀitöskirja painottaa uuden tiedon tuottamisen haasteita osoittamalla kuinka byrokraattiset sÀÀnnöt ja keskitetty valvonta voivat rajoittaa uusien innovaatioiden syntyÀ. Projekteissa syntyneen tiedon levittÀminen muihin organisaatioihin osoittautui haasteelliseksi. Tutkimuksessa ilmeni, ettÀ tiedon kerÀÀmiseen kÀytetyt työkalut epÀonnistuvat sisÀllyttÀmÀÀn projekteissa tuotetut erilaiset tiedon muodot.
VÀitöskirja laajentaa ymmÀrrystÀmme institutionaalisesta muutoksesta esittÀmÀllÀ kaksi tapaa hahmottaa projektifiointia. Mekaaninen projektifiointi olettaa, ettÀ hankkeiden vahva yhteys laajempiin poliittisiin ohjelmiin sekÀ hallinto-organisaatioihin toimii institutionaalisen muutoksen perustana. Orgaaninen projektifiointi puolestaan painottaa projektien autonomiaa ja olettaa, ettÀ projektien vahva side paikalliseen yhteisöön sekÀ laaja osallistuminen ovat muutosprosesseissa keskeisessÀ roolissa.Vi stÄr inför flera hÄllbarhetsutmaningar som krÀver snabba förÀndringar i hur vÄra samhÀllen Àr organiserade. För att Ästadkomma dessa förÀndringar krÀvs det att organisationer Àr kapabla att uppta ny kunskap och att skapa nya innovativa lösningar. Möjligheterna att uppnÄ detta Àr starkt beroende av existerande institutioner, d.v.s. regler, normer och kognitiva strukturer, vilka i sin tur tenderar att motsÀtta sig förÀndring (Àven kallad för institutionell tröghet). Vi stÄr dÀrför inför ett dilemma: vi behöver snabba institutionell förÀndringar som frÀmjar hÄllbarhet samtidigt som insatserna för att skapa förÀndring oftast saktas in av existerande institutioner.
Doktorsavhandlingens syfte Ă€r att utforska projektorganisationers roll i frambringandet av institutionell förĂ€ndring mot hĂ„llbarhet. AnvĂ€ndningen av projekt â m.a.o. tvĂ€rsektoriella organisationer vars uppgift Ă€r att uppnĂ„ vĂ€l definierade mĂ„lsĂ€ttningar under en begrĂ€nsad tid â för att uppnĂ„ politiskt uppsatta mĂ„l har under den senaste tiden vĂ€ckt uppmĂ€rksamhet bland forskare. En ökad tilltro till projekt, Ă€ven kallad för âprojektifieringâ, relaterar till behovet av att hantera ovisshet och oförutsĂ€gbarhet inom miljöpolitik. För att studera projektens roll inom institutionell förĂ€ndring fokuserar jag i denna avhandling pĂ„ följande frĂ„gestĂ€llningar: Vilka möjligheter har projekt att inkludera olika aktörer och kunskapsformer? Kan projekt frĂ€mja diskussion och meningsutbyte bland projektdeltagare? Hur kan projekt skapa ny kunskap och nya idĂ©er samt föra dessa vidare till andra organisationer? I denna avhandling analyserar jag tvĂ„ offentligt finansierade program som anvĂ€nder sig av projekt för att uppnĂ„ utsatta mĂ„l: LEADER programmet som skapats av Europeiska unionen och Regional Conservation Partnership Program som inrĂ€ttats av jordbruksministeriet i USA. Med hjĂ€lp av fallstudier och kvalitativ innehĂ„llsanalys visar denna studie vilka förutsĂ€ttningar projekten har för att skapa institutionell förĂ€ndring.
Avhandlingen belyser projektens motstridiga roll i att uppnÄ institutionell förÀndring som frÀmjar hÄllbarhet. Resultaten visar att institutionell tröghet Àr ett resultat av olika mekanismer, sÄsom kostnader, ovisshet, stigberoende, makt och legitimitet. Tiden har Àven en betydande roll i detta avseende. Förutom att trögheten leder till att förÀndringsprocesserna blir lÄngsamma, manar den till ett betrakta tid ur olika perspektiv. Resultaten visar att projekt har möjlighet att föra samman aktörer frÄn olika samhÀllssektorer och att inkludera olika kunskapsformer. Resultaten framhÀver Àven projektverksamhetens deliberativa natur som Àr en förutsÀttning för social inlÀrning. Avhandlingen belyser Àven projektens utmaningar att skapa ny kunskap och visar hur byrÄkratiska regler och centraliserad styrning kan begrÀnsa skapandet av innovationer. Spridningen av kunskap som producerats i projekt visade sig ocksÄ vara utmanande. Resultaten visar att verktygen som anvÀnds för att samla in projektresultat och -kunskap inte Àr mottagliga för den bredd av kunskap som projekten skapar.
Avhandlingen bidrar till en ökad förstÄelse för institutionell förÀndring genom att introducera tvÄ sÀrskiljande sÀtt att förstÄ projektifiering. Mekanisk projektifiering utgÄr ifrÄn att projektens starka koppling till bredare program och administrativa organisationer ligger till grund för institutionell förÀndring. Organisk projektifiering betonar projektens autonomi och ser att projektens lokala förankring och breda deltagande Àr utgÄngspunkterna för att skapa förÀndring
Internally Incentivized Interdisciplinarity : Organizational Restructuring of Research and Emerging Tensions
Interdisciplinarity is widely considered necessary to solving many contemporary problems, and new funding structures and instruments have been created to encourage interdisciplinary research at universities. In this article, we study a small technical university specializing in green technology which implemented a strategy aimed at promoting and developing interdisciplinary collaboration. It did so by reallocating its internal research funds for at least five years to âresearch platformsâ that required researchers from at least two of the three schools within the university to participate. Using data from semi-structured interviews from researchers in three of these platforms, we identify specific tensions that the strategy has generated in this case: (1) in the allocation of platform resources, (2) in the division of labor and disciplinary relations, (3) in choices over scientific output and academic careers. We further show how the particular platform format exacerbates the identified tensions in our case. We suggest that certain features of the current platform policy incentivize shallow interdisciplinary interactions, highlighting potential limits on the value of attempting to push for interdisciplinarity through internal funding.Peer reviewe
Toward projectified environmental governance?
Projects are often praised for their efficiency, responsiveness to local context, and capacity to spur innovation, especially in comparison to more permanent organizations. Projects â crosscutting organizational forms chartered to advance well-defined objectives during a specified period of time â have been a staple organizational form in the private sector, but only recently have scholars started to evaluate their relevance to governance within developed economies. In this paper, we explore projectification â i.e. expanded reliance on temporally bounded organizations â as a conceptual frame to advance understanding of environmental governance and as an empirical vehicle to incorporate temporal scales into a literature that has largely been focused on questions of spatial scale and levels of social organization. Through a case study of the United States Department of Agricultureâs recently created Regional Conservation Partnership Program, we critically assess the concept of projectification. Based on interviews with key policy analysts and administrators and a review of policy documents, we critically evaluate prospects for project forms to empower local actors, produce new knowledge, and disrupt the policy field.Peer reviewe
Addressing the temporal fit of institutions: the regulation of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in Europe
Peer reviewe
Moving from incremental to transformational change in climate adaptation policy? : An institutionalist perspective
In this chapter we address the relationship between climate adaptation strategies and the broader institutional context. Institutions, we argue, shape policy responses to climate change. Questions in the literature have been raised whether incremental, often technocratic, adaptation strategies are sufficient to address the future risks of climate change. Instead, broader societal transitions and transformations may be required, embedded in adaptation strategies resulting from drastic, catalytic change. Transformational policy responses to climate change are apt to reshape interactions between, and within, human and natural systems. However, scaling up adaptation strategies to spur catalytic change encounters significant institutional constraints, leading to inertia. We study the adaptation literature to discern drivers that generate institutional inertia and discuss their implications for employing incremental and transformational adaptation strategies. These drivers are also discussed critically by exploring how institutional inertia can be challenged.Peer reviewe
Ilmastonmuutokseen liittyvÀt riskit ja haavoittuvuudet Suomessa : Tarkastelu kansallisen ilmastonmuutoksen sopeutumissuunnitelman 2030 taustaksi
KansainvÀlisessÀ vertailussa Suomi on hyvin varautunut ilmastonmuutoksen vaikutuksiin ja seurauksiin. TÀstÀ huolimatta ilmastonmuutokseen liittyy myös Suomessa merkittÀviÀ riskejÀ. TÀhÀn raporttiin on koottu uusin tieto ilmastonmuutoksen vaikutuksista ja sen aiheuttamista riskeistÀ luonnonympÀristölle ja eri toimialoille. Raportti on tehty valtioneuvoston selontekona eduskunnalle annettun kansallisen ilmastonmuutokseen sopeutumissuunnitelman 2030 taustaselvitykseksi. TÀstÀ dokumentista löytyvÀt myös selonteon luvun 2.2 lÀhdeviitteet.
Kansallinen ilmastonmuutokseen sopeutumissuunnitelma 2030 on osa ilmastolain mukaista ilmastopolitiikan suunnittelujÀrjestelmÀÀ. Ilmastolaki 609/2015 ja 423/2022 edellyttÀvÀt, ettÀ riski- ja haavoittuvuustarkastelu ottaa huomioon uusimman tieteellisen tiedon. Ilmastonmuutokseen liittyvÀt riskit ja haavoittuvuudet Suomessa -raportti on kooste eri alojen ajankohtaisista julkaisuista ilmastonmuutokseen sopeutumista koskien. Se on toteututtu laajassa asiantuntijayhteistyössÀ.
Raportti on koottu maa- ja metsÀtalousministeriössÀ vuoden 2022 aikana ja toimitettu julkaisuksi vuonna 2023
Inducing institutional change through projects? : Three models of projectified governance
The study of short-term projects to implement policy has lately gained ground among scholars of environmental governance and public administration. The increasing reliance on and prevalence of projects, or âprojectificationâ, has spurred critical debates on the ability of projects to contribute to long-term goals, including sustainability, as well as institutional change. Yet, the literature on projectification lacks specificity in terms of how projects are understood, how the relationship between projects and permanent organizations looks like, and how projects can influence institutional orders. The aim of this paper is to systematize the literature in order to uncover the process of transforming project outputs into institutional change. Three models of projectified governance â mechanistic, organic, and adaptive â is presented, providing a conceptual apparatus that advances the study of projects in environmental policy and governance. The paper argues that the adaptive model, with its reliance on multi-scalar networks for the coordination of project activities and knowledge, shows most promise in achieving institutional change to address complex environmental problems.Peer reviewe
Adaptation to climate change in Finland : Current state and future prospects
The KOKOSOPU project has aimed at a comprehensive evaluation of the national adaptation policy with particular emphasis on the National Adaptation Plan and international policy development. In addition, future challenges related to societal development have been taken into account. Projections of climate change, Finlandâs Climate Act and the strengthened adaptation policy in the EU emphasise the importance of the national adaptation policy. A key objective of the National Adaptation Plan 2014â2022 was to strengthen the adaptive capacity of Finnish society. This objective is still relevant. The conditions for reaching the objective have, however, partly changed. First, cross border consequences of climate change are increasingly emphasised. Second, issues of justice and fairness with respect to the consequences of climate change and adaptation actions are being identified as central. Third, greater weight is given to the overall sustainability of adaptation and climate action. The changing conditions for climate change adaptation should be reflected in the allocation of resources, in improved coordination within the administration and in co-operation between the public and private sector. In addition, knowledge and education should be enhanced, and resources provided for RDI, and for monitoring and evaluation that supports continued improvement of adaptation activities