Climate Adaptation Well-suited for New Network Collaboration Methodology

Windesheim researchers have recently given a presentation on the 4E model for value creation at the conference of the International Project Management Association (IPMA), using climate adaptation as a case.

Liesbeth Rijsdijk, who conducts research at Windesheim Honours College, states that climate adaptation is a complex issue. ‘Climate adaptation has numerous technical, spatial, social, economic and governance aspects. There are a great many stakeholders involved with different and sometimes also conflicting interests. We have developed the 4E model to promote collaboration on complex issues like climate adaptation with a lot of transition processes. Rijsdijk claims that the whole climate adaptation case depends on the question how we and all relevant stakeholders together will adapt our habitat in such a way as to be prepared for climate change. “In various parts of the Netherlands we see networks forming based on this issue. Networks consisting for example of local and provincial government, businesses, engineering firms, knowledge institutes, social organizations and citizens.”

Zwolle Climate Campus 

Zwolle Climate Campus is such a network. It consists of over 40 parties collaborating on climate adaptation in the IJssel-Vecht delta region. At the annual IPMA Conference Liesbeth Rijsdijk, together with her co-researcher Maike de Bot and Renate Postma from the municipality of Zwolle presented the principal findings of a case study on collaboration within the Climate Campus network. De Bot explains: “Climate adaptation is a complex and social challenge. A major player in this is the municipality of Zwolle. Citizens expect their municipality to take action with regard to climate adaptation. But the municipal authorities are so dependent on active participation by all stakeholders, also and especially by citizens, to make the transition to a climate-adaptive habitat happen.”

The methodology of the value creation model

“The municipal government operates less and less in a project management capacity and increasingly as a director and participant in a network of various stakeholders. The 4E value creation model, developed by Windesheim Honours College, is a methodology that may prove helpful. This methodology helps stakeholders in a network analyse a challenge in four steps and do so together. The model helps them find shared potential solutions, determine whether the right stakeholders are taking part in the meeting, explain each party’s role and determine also their common values. This is important to prevent parties from focusing exclusively on their different interests.”, is a methodology that may prove helpful. This methodology helps stakeholders in a network analyse a challenge in four steps and do so together. The model helps them find shared potential solutions, determine whether the right stakeholders are taking part in the meeting, explain each party’s role and determine also their common values. This is important to prevent parties from focusing exclusively on their different interests.”

Meeting participants

Renate Postma of the municipality of Zwolle is keen on using this methodology in future climate adaptation projects, so that there can be a more value-based focus on common potential solutions. Postma: “The fact that the model tells you who is not yet taking part in the meeting, but should be, is so positive. This makes it possible for you to adapt flexibly to what’s going on and for stakeholders to get on board at any stage in the process.

More information

For more information about this research project, the Climate Campus and/or the 4E model for Value Creation, please get in touch with Liesbeth Rijsdijk by email: e.rijsdijk@windesheim.nl(opens in new tab).