Boundary spanners as trust ambassadors in collaborative natural resource management. Issue 2 (28th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Coleman, Kimberly; Stern, Marc J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental planning and management. Volume 61:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 291
• Page End: 308
• Publication Date: 2018-01-28
• Subjects: trust -- boundary spanners -- relationship building -- natural resource management -- stakeholder accountabilities; City planning -- Periodicals; City planning -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Regional planning -- Periodicals; Regional planning -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 333.7
• DOI: 10.1080/09640568.2017.1303462
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0964-0568

Abstract

Abstract : Collaboration is a growing trend in agency-led natural resource management in the USA, carrying the promise of defusing conflict and incorporating a broader range of stakeholder ideas. However, concerns exist that confrontational or litigious groups may use collaborative forums to their organization's own advantage. We conducted case studies on three collaboratives to understand how these efforts have influenced the behavior of environmental groups who were previously at odds with the managing agency, the US Forest Service. Results suggest that trust between boundary spanners from historically adversarial groups can support a realignment of the accountabilities they feel. As rational, affinitive, and procedural trust developed, boundary spanners began to advocate, within their home organizations, for the collaborative's goals. Key activities driving these realignments included the development of fair and transparent procedures governing the collaborative group, structured interaction designed to build consensus, and planned informal interactions that revealed shared values among collaborative participants.