Applying organization science to assess the management performance of Marine Protected Areas: An exploratory study. (1st October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Scianna, Claudia; Niccolini, Federico; Bianchi, Carlo Nike; Guidetti, Paolo
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental management. Volume 223(2018)
• Page Start: 175
• Page End: 184
• Publication Date: 2018-10-01
• Subjects: Mediterranean MPA -- Organizational features -- Performance assessment -- Performance index; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; 363.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.05.097
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4797

Abstract

Abstract: Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are important tools to achieve marine conservation and resources management goals. The management effectiveness of MPAs (the degree to which MPAs achieve their goals) is highly variable and can be affected by many MPA attributes, for example their design, enforcement and age. Another key factor possibly affecting MPA management effectiveness is the management performance, here conceived according to Horigue et al. definition (2014) as the "level of effort exerted to enhance and sustain management of MPAs". Organization Science (OS), the discipline that studies organizations, can offer a useful framework to assess and interpret MPA management performance. Using an exploratory multiple case study approach, we applied OS principles to 11 Mediterranean MPAs in order to: i) characterize several MPA organizational features; ii) assess MPA management performance (evaluated as the effort deployed in, for example, planning the future, formalizing measurable goals, and implementing specific strategies). Results show that a number of organizational features and networking attributes are highly variable among the MPAs we have studied. For instance, goals are seldom measurable and the strategy to achieve goals is not systematically pursued. Two relevant outcomes emerge from this exploratory study: i) the management performance of the MPAs considered needs considerable improvements; ii) the methods and the approach proposed could help MPAs' managers and policy makers to understand how to improve their management performance and, consequently, their effectiveness. Highlights: MPA organizational features and performance can influence their effectiveness. Organization Science framework has been applied to a sample of Mediterranean MPAs. Seven new indices have been created to collect factual data on MPA performance. From an organizational perspective the MPAs considered are highly variable. Our methodology is applicable worldwide and represent a step forward in MPA science.