vision project

Vision project

Alternative vision (6)
Collective vision (6)
Desired vision (10)
Different vision (7)
Guiding vision (7)
Long-term vision (20)
Shared vision (28)
Vision (743)
Vision papers (7)
Vision project (26)

Synopsis: Vision: Vision project:

ART29.pdf

The case of stakeholder image construction in a municipal vision project Stefanie Jenssen a a Centre for technology, innovation and culture (TIK), University of Oslo, Norway Published online:

The case of stakeholder image construction in a municipal vision project, Technology analysis & Strategic management, 21:8, 971-986, DOI:

The case of stakeholder image construction in a municipal vision project Stefanie Jenssen*Centre for technology, innovation and culture (TIK), University of Oslo, Norway The article addresses the theme of foresight and equality in the area of stakeholder participation

Drawing on fieldwork studies of a Norwegian municipal vision project conducted in 2006 it is shown how a specific image of young people was constructed

This specific case of municipal visioning illustrates how an image of young people was created in order to endow them with stakeholder characteristics that fit the objectives of the vision project.

The present case of a Norwegian municipal vision project points to the often implicitly assumed shared understanding of who young people are

‘All pupils and students in secondary schools and colleges should be invited to participate in a vision project organised by the municipality to create a desired picture of their community in 2020'.

The participation of the young people was part of the vision project and their contributions were considered important for how this future picture should be developed.

The project proposal written by the municipal administrative leadership underlined the powerful position of the political representatives in the vision project:

i e. their contributions to the vision project. This paper argues that constructing a specific image of young people as stakeholders points towards a dilemma of inclusive foresight that cannot be rectified by specific management and process principles.

Social-economic, cognitive and political stakeholder image construction The initial justification for involving young people in the vision project

Rainer Ehrt used by the vision project leader to underline the lack of capitalist interests in young people's ideas about the future.

'16 Result and outcome of the vision project According to the municipality's official project report, nine out of 20 secondary schools and colleges participated, with a reported outcome of 300 different ideas.

979 Figure 3. The design of the municipal vision project according to the project group, February 2006. schools systematically and created three future pictures,

The project leader commented on these aspects at the end of the vision project: I cannot claim that there have been many revolutionary ideas.

The vision project organiser later explained in an interview that there were several reasons why the politicians refused to discuss

from authority to authenticity This specific case of a municipal vision project is not about the involvement of authoritative experts in foresight.

'18 In the case of the Lundal vision project, long-term social planningwas intended to be influenced by young people between 14 and 19 years of age.

The participation of young people as stakeholders in the vision project is an example of a wider legitimation movement that does not base stakeholder participation on authority but on authenticity (Brown and Michael 2002.

This was also the original intention expressed by the municipal leadership to explain why the young people were asked to participate in this vision project.

As I have tried to show in my presentation of Lundal's vision project, an additional stakeholder and participant construction by the project leaders was needed to ensure a desired outcome of the project.

According to vision project members participating in school lessons at one college in Lundal, at least the older among this age group reflected upon

Power point presentation employed by the vision project leader, March 2006 italics added. 13. Invitation sent by Lundal's head of schools to all secondary schools and colleges,

Interview with vision project leader, April 2006. All interviews were conducted in confidentiality, and the names of interviewees are withheld by mutual agreement. 16.

Interview with vision project leader April 2006.17. Interview with vision project leader, June 2006.18. In this respect, foresight practises

and guidance literature interact with research areas of science and technology studies (STS), especially regarding insights about the relationships between‘given facts and future values'.

< Back - Next >