More Is Not Always Better: Coping with Ambiguity in Natural Resources Management. Brugnach, M., Dewulf, A., Henriksen, H. J., & van der Keur , P. Journal of Environmental Management, 92(1):78–84, January, 2011.
doi  abstract   bibtex   
Coping with ambiguities in natural resources management has become unavoidable. Ambiguity is a distinct type of uncertainty that results from the simultaneous presence of multiple valid, and sometimes conflicting, ways of framing a problem. As such, it reflects discrepancies in meanings and interpretations. Under the presence of ambiguity it is not clear what problem is to be solved, who should be involved in the decision processes or what is an appropriate course of action. Despite the extensive literature about methodologies and tools to deal with uncertainty, not much has been said about how to handle ambiguities. In this paper, we discuss the notions of framing and ambiguity, and we identify five broad strategies to handle it: rational problem solving, persuasion, dialogical learning, negotiation and opposition. We compare these approaches in terms of their assumptions, mechanisms and outcomes and illustrate each approach with a number of concrete methods.
@article{brugnachMoreNotAlways2011,
  title = {More Is Not Always Better: Coping with Ambiguity in Natural Resources Management},
  author = {Brugnach, M. and Dewulf, A. and Henriksen, H. J. and {van der Keur}, P.},
  year = {2011},
  month = jan,
  volume = {92},
  pages = {78--84},
  issn = {0301-4797},
  doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.08.029},
  abstract = {Coping with ambiguities in natural resources management has become unavoidable. Ambiguity is a distinct type of uncertainty that results from the simultaneous presence of multiple valid, and sometimes conflicting, ways of framing a problem. As such, it reflects discrepancies in meanings and interpretations. Under the presence of ambiguity it is not clear what problem is to be solved, who should be involved in the decision processes or what is an appropriate course of action. Despite the extensive literature about methodologies and tools to deal with uncertainty, not much has been said about how to handle ambiguities. In this paper, we discuss the notions of framing and ambiguity, and we identify five broad strategies to handle it: rational problem solving, persuasion, dialogical learning, negotiation and opposition. We compare these approaches in terms of their assumptions, mechanisms and outcomes and illustrate each approach with a number of concrete methods.},
  journal = {Journal of Environmental Management},
  keywords = {*imported-from-citeulike-INRMM,~INRMM-MiD:c-7940628,ambiguity,comparison,natural-resources-interactions,science-based-decision-making,semantics,uncertainty},
  lccn = {INRMM-MiD:c-7940628},
  number = {1}
}

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