Images of Environmental Management: Competing Metaphors in Focus Group Discussions of Swedish Environmental Quality Objectives |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">Victoria?WibeckEmail author |
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Institution: | 1.Department of Thematic Studies, Water and Environmental Studies, Centre for Climate Science and Policy Research,Link?ping University,Norrk?ping,Sweden |
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Abstract: | In managing environmental problems, several countries have chosen the management by objectives (MBO) approach. This paper
investigates how focus group participants from the Swedish environmental administration used metaphors to describe the mode
of organization needed to attain environmental objectives. Such analysis can shed light on how an MBO system is perceived
by actors and how it works in practice. Although the Swedish government intended to stimulate broad-based cooperation among
many actors, participants often saw themselves as located at a certain “level,” i.e., “higher” or “lower,” in the MBO system—that
is, their conceptions corresponded to a traditional, hierarchical interpretation of MBO. Prepositions such as “in” and “out”
contributed to feelings of inclusion and exclusion on the part of MBO actors. However, horizontal metaphors merged with vertical
ones, indicating ongoing competition for the right to interpret how the system of environmental objectives should best be
managed. The paper concludes that any organization applying MBO could benefit from discussing alternate ways of talking and
thinking about its constituent “levels.” |
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