Tessa Vaendel,
Noor Debets,
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concept 1. Socio-technical and Innovation Systems |
interpretation of literature |
lessons learned/application own topic |
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Ivo |
Innovations only diffuse when they are accepted by the users. Engineers have to be aware of the interaction their technology has with society and act accordingly | In our sub-system lifestyle, we will not have an process or artifact to focus on but groups of people. So our topic is already very much societal and behavioral related. To me we will have to focus mainly on behavioral change, and technical solution can help supporting that change. | ||
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Tessa |
A technical system (or artefact) is never functioning on its own, interactions with the social system are needed in order to let the technical aspects become meaningful in reality. |
The sub-system “sustain lifestyles” is closely related to the social part in the socio-technical system, rather than the technical part. However, the lifestyles of the different actors are relevant for the interactions that take place within the system. |
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Noor |
A socio-technical system is a ensemble and not only about the technical entities, but seeks beyond. How can you communicate the technical principles? It is important to understand the translation from a technical perspective to a social one. |
The subsystem that explores the sustainable lifestyle is directly correlated to the ensemble of socio and technical. The interaction between all the technical innovations on one hand and how this should be/is implemented in the system on the other is part of our investigation. |
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Anne |
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concept 2. governance of change |
interpretation |
lessons learned |
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Ivo |
Change is hardly reached by a top down approach. political institutions interact with social systems in a complex and dynamic way. Therefore the governance of change is a combination and interaction of both state and social factors. | Focus on the bottom-up initiatives. Governance can be reached by stimulating these projects. |
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Tessa |
The intentional interaction between different actors in the ST&I system which leads to a change, the economic dominance and political power of the actors play a major role in this. |
Within Texel there are several different lifestyles to identify, these all have different values and goals, and the individuals within these lifestyles have their specific economic dominance and political power. These play a part in the governance of change and determine whether this will lead to sustainable lifestyles in Texel. |
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Noor |
The governance of change is not only stated by political institutions since social systems are complex and dynamic. Therefore the governance of change is a combination and interaction of both state and social factors. Together they strive for the transformation of ST&I systems. |
in order to reach a sustainable lifestyle on the island of texel it is important to keep in mind that there will be different situations with all kinds of actors and their interaction. Hereby it is vital to note the possibility of intentions that are not always contested. Political power and the dominance of the economy are in the end greatly determinative. |
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Anne |
Governance starts when one actor (proactive) introduces something new into the system. This upsets stakeholders who are connected to this system. These stakeholders are reactive, and then bring their opinions into the discussion. This interaction, which ends up changing the socio-technical system in some way is governance. | In any situation where governance happens, there will always be many different types of stakeholders. Some are positive towards the change, some negative. But within these stakeholders some hold more power than others, due to their economical, societal or state situation, and their opinions often end up dominating others, and determine whether or not the original change actor is successful. |
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concept 3. sustainability transition |
interpretation |
lessons learned |
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Ivo |
Support by society is key when ik comes to transition towards a sustainable system. | Initiate change bottum-up. |
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Tessa |
A sustainable transition is a radical and structural change in society towards sustainability. Within the concept the role of the agency and establishment and scaling up of a niche are important and need to be further developed. |
For a transition towards sustainable lifestyles, it should be emphasized on the role of the agency, this is interpreted as the role of the individuals in Texel with their own specific lifestyle. It should also be emphasized on the establishment of a niche and scaling this niche up to the level of the regime. |
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Noor |
A change from a non-sustainable environment to a sustainable one, whereby changes in the technical scene has to be supported by changes in the social system too, to be well embedded |
The transition Texel is facing is about the challenge of steering towards a more sustainable environment. Working on this issue it appears to be very important to embed the social changes too. |
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Anne |
A sustainable transition is a widespread change in lifestyle where a new technical adaption is accepted by the social system, and then embedded into the culture of the place. | Even though technologies can have proven that they are a trustworthy, advantageous alternative to existing technology, the transition will not be successful until the social system has accepted it as a worthy investment. |
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concept 4. socio-technical niche |
interpretation |
lessons learned |
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Ivo |
In the SNM the niche is a protected space of the market in which a innovation can 'grow' and diffuse. Eventually it can on the long run influence the technical regime. | Niches can be levers for change. I think all the local projects can be defined as niches. We should use these projects to influence the current (unsustainable) regime. |
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Tessa |
A socio-technical niche is a protected market space with a specific innovation, within this protected space the innovation has room to fully develop. So there is also room for experiment and learning processes. Gradually the niche can be implement in the regime (if successful/relevant). |
With the use of socio-technical niches, new sustainable innovations for a sustainable lifestyle in Texel can gradually move into the regime and eventually into the landscape. |
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Noor |
Niches are protected spaces that form a basis for change and are therefore crucial. In the niche is room for discussion and meandering to change, while a regime is in contrast and is constrained. Niches are needed prior to sustainable changes. |
Object of interest will be how to form a niche, since these niche-innovations stand at the basis of the sustainable change. People willing to work, engaged and inspiring. Besides, there are already niches existing; hereby it will be important to seek ways to upscale these and thereby not to forget to look out for a wider societal context. |
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Anne |
A niche is often the start for a new technology that can change the surrounding system. In order to get the space and time it needs to develop and experiment, a niche is a protected space. This protection is often created through government funding or a grant. After it has developed into a viable technology, it can start spreading further. |
A niche is often created by funding through an outside source. While this is the most commonly succeeding way of creating a new technology, there is not a clear strategy for it yet. The main problem will be after the technology is viable, when it has to grow from a niche to a regime to an accepted system. It is in this phase when getting acceptance from the social system will be very important. |