Three frameworks to understand and manage social processes for integrated catchment management

Abstract

Integrated catchment management (ICM) initiatives involve many complex social interactions. Project leaders and participants face challenges in managing multiple demands for engagement, communication and integration of different knowledge across agencies, sectors, research disciplines and communities. Social frameworks can be practical management tools that help project leaders and participants: (1) make sense of the social and management context of a project; (2) design strategies to meet social process needs such as communication and engagement; and (3) evaluate the effectiveness of the project with a view to improving it. This paper examines the role of social frameworks in supporting ICM research in the Motueka catchment over 10 years. It reviews use of the ISKM (Integrated Systems for Knowledge Management) framework for sharing information between different stakeholder groups and the Orders of Outcomes framework for evaluating outcomes over long periods. In particular, it introduces the Social Spaces framework as a new tool for visualising diverse communication and collaboration needs across a project. We conclude with suggestions on using frameworks in conjunction with participatory evaluation to build capacity and strengthen relationships among project participants. © 2011 The Royal Society of New Zealand.