Social Network Of Stakeholders Research Articles

Social network analysis and application for ecosystem service perceptions by stakeholders for coastal wetland conservation

Stakeholders play a dominant role in shaping ecosystems and driving current environmental management; thus, social networks of stakeholders should be cleared up for ecosystem governance to maintain the ecosystem services and sustainable development. Based on the field survey and questionnaires, we constructed a social network framework for coastal wetland conservation and took the Yellow River Delta (YRD) as an example. We further explored the stakeholder network structure and function and took ecosystem service perceptions as an application by stakeholders impacting coastal wetland conservation. In this case study, we identified a non-cohesive network with low density and high centrality. Among all these stakeholders, provincial government (PGov), municipal government (MGov), and educational institutions (Edu) have high module-to-module participation (MP) scores with other organizations, indicating that they connect others tightly in the network. The main relationships between different stakeholder groups were concentrated in information sharing (79%), production-consumption (14%), and administrative management (7%) relationships, of which the information sharing relationships have a stronger correlation with productivity in the Quadratic Assignment Procedure (QAP) test. We also found that support and regulation services were of the most concern for the ecosystem services perception of stakeholders. Based on our findings, improving the closeness among relevant stakeholder groups, optimizing their overall relationships, and enhancing the protection of ecosystem services are greatly needed to benefit ecosystem conservation.

A Social-Relational Approach for Analyzing Trust and Collaboration Networks as Preconditions for Rangeland Comanagement

Social networks of stakeholders, especially those of adaptive comanagement, entailing a variety of collaboration and trustful relationships, have widely drawn the attention of researchers studying natural resource management. The structural pattern of relations of a social network has significant implications for how actors manage complex environmental challenges. This study aimed to specify whether existing network structure (trust and collaboration ties) and the position of actors within the social network of Nariyan village stakeholders have led to unsuccessful rangeland comanagement. The social network of stakeholders in the study region included rangeland users and governmental and nongovernmental agencies. Social network analysis is a recent tool that was applied in this study to quantitatively specify the roots of unsuccessful comanagement in the Nariyan village located in the Taleghan region. It is shown that there is a rather low level of trust and collaboration between local stakeholders (rangeland users) and regional governmental and nongovernmental organizations. This is one of the main challenges impeding successful rangeland comanagement in this region. Furthermore, the article specifies the actors who may contribute to the effective comanagement in advantageous positions.

The Diamond Model of Authentic Green Marketing: Evidence from the Sustainable Architecture Industry

AbstractWhile “green marketing” has emerged as powerful competitive force, many markets lack clear institutional standards or knowledgeable customers to allow firms committed to sustainable practices to differentiate themselves from opportunistic, green‐washing competitors. Within these contexts we propose a firm‐level lens based on authentic firm reputation as an important, yet poorly understood, competitive force. Drawing on interview data from the architectural design services context we identify the elements that firms use to communicate their own authenticity, as well as discourage green‐washing behavior of peers, and present these elements as the “Diamond” model of authentic green marketing, consisting of: (1) The ability to appear above commercial considerations; (2) The ability to frame production methods as craft; (3) The use of corporate visual identity; and (4) An organization's social network of stakeholders. We conclude by discussing the generalizability and implications of our framework for practitioners as well as opportunities for future research.

Finding shared decisions in stakeholder networks: An agent-based approach

We address the problem of a participatory decision-making process where a shared priority list of alternatives has to be obtained while avoiding inconsistent decisions. An agent-based model (ABM) is proposed to mimic this process in different social networks of stakeholders who interact according to an opinion dynamics model. Simulations' results show the efficacy of interaction in finding a transitive and, above all, shared decision. These findings are in agreement with real participation experiences regarding transport planning decisions and can give useful suggestions on how to plan an effective participation process for sustainable policy-making based on opinion consensus.

RESAERCH DESIGN FOR RESILIENCE OF URBAN INTERDEPENDENT CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURES AND SUPPLY CHAIN PROCESSES

ABSTRACT This article studies the resilience capabilities of urban supply chain processes and interdependent critical infrastructures (CIs). By proposing the use of high performance computing capabilities and real-time and historical big data processing, this research seeks to design simulation models and create an encompassing scenario library to provide response and recovery forecast of the interdependent CIs during disruption events of different scales and natures. We illustrate the oil and gas supply chain processes in the Greater Houston Metropolitan Area that control the petroleum and petrochemical supply chain distributions in the United States. The CI systems examined in this research included oil and gas refinery facilities, inbound and outbound distribution pipelines, power plant and electric generating systems, telecommunication systems, and social network of stakeholders. Directions of future research are also discussed. Keywords Supply Chain Management, Critical Infrastructure, Infrastructure Interdependency, Supply Chain Resilience

Fighting pathophobia: how to construct constructive public engagement with biocontrol for nature without augmenting public fears

Social networks of stakeholders are necessary to foster public support for classical biological control for nature. Drawing from recent scholarship in policy-relevant social science fields, this article describes two key concepts that can improve science communication strategies to support invasive species management and biocontrol: lay public risk perception, and public engagement with science. This article then recommends a fundamental communication strategy: construct public trust in invasive species control efforts using public engagement processes that link trustworthy messengers and appropriate messages with the public. It draws examples from biocontrol projects that used pathogens as the natural enemy of choice, but more broadly seeks to inform efforts to engage the public about the use of classical biocontrol agents in nature conservation efforts.

Review of Improving irrigation governance and management in Nepal edited by G. P. Shivakoti and E. Ostrom

266 / JOURNAL OF IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE ENGINEERING / JULY/A Issues that are often overlooked in intervention projects that are aimed at improving production of food resources in developing countries, include the sociological aspects that determine the long-term success of management of a limited resource such as irrigation water. Although technological fixes can be critical in improving the efficiency of water use in irrigation, work presented in this book demonstrates that without a stable, social network of stakeholders managing the system, the buy-in by farmers that is critical to the project success will be lacking. Control by outside parties, who do not have a direct stake in the success of the system, can result in political objectives taking precedence over efficient use and fair distribution of the resource. Furthermore, contribution of stakeholders’ time and resources depends on their receiving fair compensation in the form of reliable use of the water resource. A technological fix that does not involve the stakeholders can be expensive and may require continued support from outside financial interests. The writers touched on a key limitation to governance resting primarily with farmers, which is the question of what mechanisms would be available for dealing with external competition for resources that include increases in use by industrial and domestic sectors. This issue should be further developed considering the worldwide impact of increasing population pressures on water resources. In the same light, managing water resources on a watershed level during drought was not fully explored. However, the stakeholder process involving consortia of involved farmers appeared to be the best mechanism for maintaining fair distributions of water resources regardless of the source of limitations on overall water availability. The book has a broader appeal than just for those interested in irrigation in Nepal. People who are involved with the development or enhancment of irrigation systems in developing countries, including those directly involved in agriculture and those who commit funds to improving such activities, will learn much about what approaches are optimal and where obstacles lie in the management of irrigation systems. Review of Improving irrigation governance and management in Nepal edited by G. P. Shivakoti and E. Ostrom