Boundary Work and the Complexity of Natural Resources Management

This paper discusses how research on natural resources management systems can address the complexity of such systems. Three different types of complexity are identified: ontological, societal, and analytical. Significant ideas for “dealing with complexity” are extracted from U.S., Swiss, and U.K. li...

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Autor principal: Mollinga, Peter P.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Wiley 2010
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/128789
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author Mollinga, Peter P.
author_browse Mollinga, Peter P.
author_facet Mollinga, Peter P.
author_sort Mollinga, Peter P.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This paper discusses how research on natural resources management systems can address the complexity of such systems. Three different types of complexity are identified: ontological, societal, and analytical. Significant ideas for “dealing with complexity” are extracted from U.S., Swiss, and U.K. literature on inter‐ and transdisciplinary research. Based on this, the “boundary work” framework is presented to systematically think through complexity challenges. The framework suggests that inter‐ and transdisciplinary research on natural research management requires three types of work: (i) the development of suitable boundary concepts that allow thinking of the multidimensionality of NRM issues; (ii) the configuration of adequate boundary objects as devices and methods that allow acting in situations of incomplete knowledge, nonlinearity, and divergent interests; and (iii) the shaping of conducive boundary settings in which these concepts, devices, and methods can be fruitfully developed and effectively put to work. The ideas presented are illustrated with an example of a research program on sustainable land and water management in Uzbekistan. The concluding section highlights three issues important for increasing the effectiveness of inter‐ and transdisciplinary research on natural resources management.
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spelling CGSpace1287892023-10-02T08:37:44Z Boundary Work and the Complexity of Natural Resources Management Mollinga, Peter P. This paper discusses how research on natural resources management systems can address the complexity of such systems. Three different types of complexity are identified: ontological, societal, and analytical. Significant ideas for “dealing with complexity” are extracted from U.S., Swiss, and U.K. literature on inter‐ and transdisciplinary research. Based on this, the “boundary work” framework is presented to systematically think through complexity challenges. The framework suggests that inter‐ and transdisciplinary research on natural research management requires three types of work: (i) the development of suitable boundary concepts that allow thinking of the multidimensionality of NRM issues; (ii) the configuration of adequate boundary objects as devices and methods that allow acting in situations of incomplete knowledge, nonlinearity, and divergent interests; and (iii) the shaping of conducive boundary settings in which these concepts, devices, and methods can be fruitfully developed and effectively put to work. The ideas presented are illustrated with an example of a research program on sustainable land and water management in Uzbekistan. The concluding section highlights three issues important for increasing the effectiveness of inter‐ and transdisciplinary research on natural resources management. 2010-03 2023-02-20T18:56:08Z 2023-02-20T18:56:08Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/128789 en Open Access Wiley Mollinga, Peter P.. 2010. Boundary Work and the Complexity of Natural Resources Management. Crop Science 50 (1): 1-9
spellingShingle Mollinga, Peter P.
Boundary Work and the Complexity of Natural Resources Management
title Boundary Work and the Complexity of Natural Resources Management
title_full Boundary Work and the Complexity of Natural Resources Management
title_fullStr Boundary Work and the Complexity of Natural Resources Management
title_full_unstemmed Boundary Work and the Complexity of Natural Resources Management
title_short Boundary Work and the Complexity of Natural Resources Management
title_sort boundary work and the complexity of natural resources management
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/128789
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