A Co-ordination Diagnostic for Improving Integrated Environmental Management

Abstract

Integrated approachesto environmental management are increasingly being advocated in literature and practice. One of the keys to operationalizing the concept is stakeholder co-ordination. In this paper, the authors present a systematic, descriptive framework for examining co-ordination practice. The framework is a diagnostic tool which can be used to examine the range of formal and informal rules that define stakeholder interaction. We do not propose that any one type of arrangement is more effective than another, but argue that clearly specified arrangementsare a prerequisite for developing an effective integrated approach. The co-ordination diagnostic can be used to analyse co-ordination settings; when combined with evaluation criteria and participant knowledge, it can be used to develop options for improving co-ordination arrangements.