44
3.3.4 Multi-scale & -level Perspective (Including Transitions)
Another approach for understanding and structuring sustainability challenges is
through the multi-scale and -level perspective. This form of assessment has been
promoted and used for decades, and has been used for a variety of socio-ecological
systems including sustainable tourism (Crnogaj et al. 2014), wastewater treatment
systems (Molinos-Senante et al. 2014), water resources management (Daniell et al.
2014), climate change (Bulkeley and Betsill 2013), and renewable energy transformations (Di Lucia and Ericsson 2014), to name a few. Scale refers to the analytical
dimensions for measuring and studying objects and processes. Examples of different scales can be spatial, administrative, jurisdictional, managerial, or temporal.
Levels refer to locations along those scales (Gibson et al. 2000). Related to these is
hierarchy. A hierarchy is a conceptually linked system for grouping phenomena
along a particular scale.
The strength of the approach is not based on causal relationships between phenomena as with the initial two approaches; instead, applying the perspective creates
the ability to match usually distinct bio-geo-physical systems scales with social
system scales such as management systems (Cash and Moser 2000) where the practitioner gains a robust understanding of a problem constellation. Like the first two
approaches described, conceptualizations can be simple or sophisticated depending
on the phenomena assessed. Additionally, an important intention with this approach
is to detect where disconnects or mismatches can lie between different scales or
levels (Cash and Moser 2000).
Scales can be predominantly inclusive or exclusive (Gibson et al. 2000). An
inclusive (or nested) hierarchy is a group of objects or processes that is contained in
subdivisions of groups of higher systems such as the modern taxonomic classification. An exclusive hierarchy is where groups of objects (or processes) in a lower
ranked hierarchy are not included or as subdivisions of higher ranked groups such
as the military ranking system (Gibson et al. 2000).
3.3.5 Multi-level Perspective in Transition Theory
A particular type of approach for understanding processes of sustainable change,
often over time, is the multi-level perspective (MLP) in transition theory and management. Broadly, transitions are deliberate processes of societal change in culture,
practices and structure (e.g., agroecology in Uganda, renewable energy development in Sweden) (Nevens et al. 2013; Geels 2011). This mid-level theory is an
extension of socio-technical systems rooted in sociology, institutional theory, and
innovation studies (Geels 2004). Studies in this research field examine complex
adaptive systems from the perspectives of long-term processes and non-linearity
(Avelino and Rotmans 2009). The objects of focus of transitions are not abrupt, fast
societal (sustainable) change; rather, a transition is an incremental and constant
B. Ness
3.3.4 Multi-scale & -level Perspective (Including Transitions)
Another approach for understanding and structuring sustainability challenges is
through the multi-scale and -level perspective. This form of assessment has been
promoted and used for decades, and has been used for a variety of socio-ecological
systems including sustainable tourism (Crnogaj et al. 2014), wastewater treatment
systems (Molinos-Senante et al. 2014), water resources management (Daniell et al.
2014), climate change (Bulkeley and Betsill 2013), and renewable energy transformations (Di Lucia and Ericsson 2014), to name a few. Scale refers to the analytical
dimensions for measuring and studying objects and processes. Examples of different scales can be spatial, administrative, jurisdictional, managerial, or temporal.
Levels refer to locations along those scales (Gibson et al. 2000). Related to these is
hierarchy. A hierarchy is a conceptually linked system for grouping phenomena
along a particular scale.
The strength of the approach is not based on causal relationships between phenomena as with the initial two approaches; instead, applying the perspective creates
the ability to match usually distinct bio-geo-physical systems scales with social
system scales such as management systems (Cash and Moser 2000) where the practitioner gains a robust understanding of a problem constellation. Like the first two
approaches described, conceptualizations can be simple or sophisticated depending
on the phenomena assessed. Additionally, an important intention with this approach
is to detect where disconnects or mismatches can lie between different scales or
levels (Cash and Moser 2000).
Scales can be predominantly inclusive or exclusive (Gibson et al. 2000). An
inclusive (or nested) hierarchy is a group of objects or processes that is contained in
subdivisions of groups of higher systems such as the modern taxonomic classification. An exclusive hierarchy is where groups of objects (or processes) in a lower
ranked hierarchy are not included or as subdivisions of higher ranked groups such
as the military ranking system (Gibson et al. 2000).
3.3.5 Multi-level Perspective in Transition Theory
A particular type of approach for understanding processes of sustainable change,
often over time, is the multi-level perspective (MLP) in transition theory and management. Broadly, transitions are deliberate processes of societal change in culture,
practices and structure (e.g., agroecology in Uganda, renewable energy development in Sweden) (Nevens et al. 2013; Geels 2011). This mid-level theory is an
extension of socio-technical systems rooted in sociology, institutional theory, and
innovation studies (Geels 2004). Studies in this research field examine complex
adaptive systems from the perspectives of long-term processes and non-linearity
(Avelino and Rotmans 2009). The objects of focus of transitions are not abrupt, fast
societal (sustainable) change; rather, a transition is an incremental and constant
B. Ness