i Laure Korenian-Chabert

TU811 Strategy making –

EMA submission

Laure Korenian-Chabert

Strategy making in the context of Hong Kong’s deteriorating marine

ecosystems due to reclamation

13th October 2011

Practitioner statement: 910 words

Project report: 2383 words

ii Laure Korenian-Chabert

c

Introduction

My chosen area of practice, ‘marine conservation’ is of personal interest to me as a sailor and a

scuba diver. Within marine conservation, I have chosen to focus on deteriorating marine ecosystems

in Hong Kong (HK) due to land reclamations which is of additional personal interest as an HK

resident. Reclamation in HK seems to be a tradition which has had and will continue to have

damaging effects on marine ecosystems if there is no strategy making to improve the situation going

forward. I thus chose to apply three complementary systems approaches enriched with People

Stream ideas for making strategy in this situation.

Strategy making in the context of deteriorating marine

ecosystems in Hong Kong due to reclamation-

Practitioner Statement

iii Laure Korenian-Chabert

Table 1 summarises the strengths and weaknesses of tools from the five approaches for making

strategy in my chosen situation.

Table 1: Summary assessment of using the five systems approaches

Appreciating

interrelationships

and

interdependencies

Engaging with multiple

perspectives

Dealing with boundary

matters

SD

SD enabled to highlight the

non-linearity of the system and

to unveil a wider network of

linkages than initially thought

of, such as the

interrelationship between

economic growth and the

number of reclamation

schemes.

As SD allows through its

causal loop diagram seeing

beyond the obvious, it

enabled to engage with the

HK government perspective

for instance as some

feedback loops highlighted

the potential economic

benefits of land reclamation.

Identifying feedback loops

pinpointed to some

intermediary elements that

needed to be taken into

account in future strategy

making, such as the

impacts of land reclamation

on pollution levels.

VSM

The VSM allows appreciating

that ‘the optimal functioning of

the whole organisation cannot

be achieved by optimising

individually each of the parts’

(TU811 Part3 p65); as such, it

would be most useful in marine

conservation to ‘model an

organisation whose parts

would interact, instead of

having a succession of

systems independently

addressing one part of marine

ecosystems degradation’

(Korenian-Chabert

TU811TMA02).

The VSM mainly requires the

system practitioner to engage

with the perspectives of the

(sub)managers whereas in

my chosen situation it

seemed a wider range of

stakeholders needed to

engage with each other’s

viewpoints.

The VSM allowed ‘moving

away from the focus on the

parts and to focus on the

whole system’ (TU811

Part3 p55) thus helping to

reflect on the boundaries of

the system.

SODA

Causal mapping could allow

decision makers ‘seeing how

strategic issues, values and

goals impact on one another

thus helping to appreciate the

consequences of doing one

strategic option over

another’(Korenian-Chabert

TU811TMA02).

‘The main strength of SODA

is its ability to allow for and

promote participation through

group discussions thus also

enabling to engage with

multiple perspectives’

(Korenian-Chabert

TU811TMA02).

While boundary judgement

is covert in SODA, the

analysis of a causal model

implied considering which

elements of the system

emerged as central and

should thus be taken into

account by decision

makers for strategy

making.

SSM

The SSM process highlighted

the interdependence between

the way I perceived the

One of the strengths of SSM

is that it allows, through the

comparison of the rich picture

SSM helped me realise that

the defined system was

only pertinent in the context

iv Laure Korenian-Chabert

situation and my worldview(s)

preventing from assuming

others perceived it the same

way.

with the conceptual model,

engaging with multiple

perspectives and promoting

active participation of a wide

range of stakeholders, such

as fishermen and

government representatives.

of a particular worldview

and purpose, i.e. within my

boundary of concern.

CSH

As CSH does not conflate

‘beneficiaries’ and ‘victims’, it

enabled to highlight ‘potential

unintended consequences

which considered in time might

avoid the viability of the

system being threatened’

(Korenian-Chabert

TU811TMA03).

Ulrich’s questions 10-12

enabled to consider the

interests of those affected but

not involved who do not have

a voice of their own, notably

future generations and

marine ecosystems. This

might permit a more

equitable and sustainable

strategy making’ (Korenian-

Chabert TU811TMA03).

CSH allowed defining the

boundaries of the system

by asking questions which

enabled me ‘to consider

what components ought to

be/are included in the

system’ (Korenian-Chabert

TU811TMA03).

Using People stream ideas provided another opportunity to assess these approaches.

Limits to knowledge and predictability

SD permits identifying potentially drastic events that are ‘unknown but not unknowable’ (People

Stream Part2.8) such as typhoons which could not only add to marine ecosystems degradation but

cause flooding in urban areas as reclaimed lands are at sea level. SD might thus also be useful to

enable the HK authorities to better prepare stakeholders in such events. The approach seems to

‘allow for the unknown’ (People Stream Part2.2).

Cognitive differences

While SD doesn’t overtly handle cognitive thinking as SODA would have, in my chosen situation SSM

and CSH complement SD in that sense notably via potential debates around the CSH matrix and

around the comparison of the rich picture with the conceptual model. Such conversations allow

stakeholders expressing themselves and thus better understanding their cognitive differences and

avoiding communication problems due to misunderstandings.

v Laure Korenian-Chabert

The nature of systems approaches

While systems approaches might enable the HK government to appreciate interdependencies thus

encouraging it to look beyond symptoms – e.g. ecosystems degradation - and to address their

causes, the psychological qualities of non-systems approaches might work as lubricants and permit

stakeholders ‘to see the world through the eyes of others’ (Churchman 1968) thus encouraging a

more equitable outcome.

Conclusion

There doesn’t appear to be any blue print approach to tackle problems but applying a combination of

three systems approaches to problem-solving could assist in bringing some light on my chosen

situation. While SD allows ‘seeing with new eyes’, SSM enables ‘orchestrating a debate’ (Mason and

Mitroff 1981) and CSH helps to reframe the situation, ’a key ingredient in negotiation and creative

thinking’ (People Stream Part2.4).

[910 words]

vi Laure Korenian-Chabert

References

Churchman, C.W. (1968) quoted in ‘Critical Systems Heuristics’, Strategic Options Development and

Analysis, Systems Approaches to Managing Change: A Practical Guide, Open University, Chapter 6,

page 243.

Korenian-Chabert, L. (2011) TU811 Strategy making TMA02 and TMA03.

Mason, R.O. and Mitroff, I.I. (1981) quoted in TU811 People Stream, Why is today so like yesterday?,

Open University, Part 2.4

The Open University (2010), TU811 Thinking strategically: systems tools for managing change, Open

University, Part 3 pages 55 and 65.

The Open University (2010), TU811 People Stream, Why is today so like yesterday?, Open

University, Part 2.2, 2.4 and 2.8.

1 Laure Korenian-Chabert

Contents list

page

Introduction 2

1. Methodology 3

2. Multiple perspectives on the situation 4

3. Exploring the effect of reclamation on marine ecosystems 5

4. Evaluating Hong Kong’s urban development strategy making 8

5. Identifying desirable and feasible changes 11

Strategy making in the context

of deteriorating marine

ecosystems in Hong Kong due

to reclamation-

Project Report

2 Laure Korenian-Chabert

6. Recommendations for action

Conclusion

18

18

Acknowledgements 19

References

Appendix

21

23

3 Laure Korenian-Chabert

Introduction

Land expansion through reclamation has been part of Hong Kong’s urban development strategy since

the 19th century. Since then, numerous projects, such as Hong Kong’s airport, have been built on

reclaimed land1. Nowadays, the Hong Kong government seems to continue to believe that the city’s

economic development involves expanding its landmass. However, in the past few decades there has

been growing realisation on part of local communities of the deterioration of the environment due to

reclamation schemes.

The following report on strategy making with the aim of improving the deterioration of marine

ecosystems by reclamation in Hong Kong explores the complexity, the range of perspectives and

issues this situation raises through applying a combination of People stream ideas and of three

systems approaches.

1 Cf. Appendix 1

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1. Methodology

To allow for a more holistic view of the situation, to avoid traps in thinking such as reductionism and

dogmatism and to find more creative strategic points of intervention, three complementary systems

approaches have been chosen for strategy making in the situation of interest.

The report starts by applying Systems Dynamics (SD) which has been chosen for its capacity to

uncover the influence of one variable on another in a complex and messy situation. While SD might

enable to appreciate interdependencies thus compelling to look beyond the environmental damages

caused by land reclamation, a critical reflection on the situation through applying Critical Systems

Heuristics (CSH) should allow reframing the situation to uncover ethical and political issues. The

inquiry finishes by using the Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) as a tool for reviewing the situation so

that a wide range of stakeholders can engage with and learn from each other’s perspectives and

purposeful actions for improvement of the situation be envisaged.

Each approach is enriched by incorporating non-systems approaches from the People Stream, such

as Synectics and Metaphors@Work, to enhance the capabilities of those systems approaches for

making strategy in the situation of interest.

5 Laure Korenian-Chabert

2. Multiple perspectives on the situation

Prior to engaging in the systems approach processes, it seemed beneficial to engage with

stakeholders to better comprehend their perspectives on the situation. To that effect, before drafting

this report several stakeholders were contacted and media reports read.

Table 1: Stakeholder perspectives on the situation

Stakeholding Stakeholder groups Perspectives

Involved The government of the

Hong Kong Special

Administrative Region

(HKSAR)

It seems to consider that the situation should be a system to

encourage economic development by all means so that Hong

Kong’s economic leadership in the region is maintained.

Environmental

government agencies

This situation should be a system to enable ‘thorough

environmental impact assessments in the planning of new

developments so that the environmental impacts are minimal’

(reference removed, environmental government agency

spokesperson).

Real Estate

developers

The situation should be a system to promote urban

development so that local industries can develop and housings

be built.

Industry and

Commerce

They seem to consider that the situation should be a system to

support commercial and industrial development so that the

city’s economy can grow.

Affected Environmental NGOs2 This situation should be a system to promote sustainable

development so that marine ecosystems are conserved.

Fisheries industry This situation should be a system to enable fishermen to catch

a decent amount of fish so that their livelihoods are sustained.

Residents Most residents felt this situation should be a system to balance

economic and environmental considerations so that the quality

2 Reference removed (NGOs for protection of wildlife, marine conservation and eco-responsible projects in

HK)

6 Laure Korenian-Chabert

of living in Hong Kong (HK) is ameliorated.

Tourists A large majority of tourists felt this situation should be a system

to maintain HK’s wide range of attractions, whether they be

cultural, environmental or shopping so that tourists get the

most out of their stay in the city.

3. Exploring the effect of reclamation on marine ecosystems

In a complex and messy situation involving a ‘multitude of interrelated variables [and a wide] range of

purposes associated with different perspectives’ (TU811 Part 1 p12) which are likely to change over

time and where a number of variables, such as Hong Kong’s economic development, ‘are beyond

direct control’ (Reynolds and Holwell, 2010), it seemed System Dynamics (SD) was best suited to

explore the interdependence and interrelationships between land reclamation and deteriorating

marine ecosystems in HK as well as the likely effects of changes.

SD is applied by developing and analysing a causal-loop diagram (Figure 1) to have an overview of

the impact of reclamation on marine ecosystems in HK.

7 Laure Korenian-Chabert

Figure 1: Causal loop diagram showing the impact of land reclamation on marine ecosystems

R1

R7

R5

R4

revenues

from cultural

tourism

R3

R6

R2

number of land

reclamation

schemes

amount

of plants

urban development

number of

industrial and

commercial

buildings

economic

development

amount of

micro pollutants

seawater

quality level

oxygenation fish stock

food

source

shelter

revenues

from

fisheries

amount of

solid waste

marine

habitat

water

pollution level

R1: revenue stream R2: revenue stream R3: revenue stream R4: decline in fishermen livelihoods vicious circle R5: deteriorating marine ecosystems vicious circle R6: seawater quality level growth engine R7: tragedy of the common spiral B1: air pollution vicious circle

+

-

+

+

+

+

+

+ +

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

-

-

-

- +

revenues from

Commerce and

Industry

number of

cultural

heritage

sites

+

+

+

DELAY

amount of

greenhouse gas

emissions

quality

of living

HK’s

attractiveness number of

expatriates

+ +

+

-

+

B1

amount of

overfishing

-

-

polluted

rainfalls

air quality

level

+

+ flooding

+ -

number of

visitors

revenues

from tourism

+

+

+

+

landmass available

for construction

-

DELAY

8 Laure Korenian-Chabert

A couple of common situation archetypes can be identified in the diagram (Figure 1) such as the

‘tragedy of the commons’ (R7) resulting from each fisherman taking more from the sea ‘even though

collectively it gets tougher and tougher [as fish stock dwindle] and in the end everyone suffers’

(TU811 Part 2 p51), ‘fixes that fail’ which is an underlying archetype in Figure 1 as economic benefits

from reclamation (fix) which is scheduled to boost economic growth through urban development might

overtime be less that the economic damages from the fix. As Morecroft (2010) notes ‘a delay

somewhere in the causal loop has a profound effect on how people perceive the consequences of

their actions’ (TU811 Part2 p39). This might explain why the HK government appears to ‘have a

limited understanding of the situation’ (TU811, Part1 p23) and to be trapped in thinking that

reclamation is part of the recipe for economic development. But the government’s reductionism goes

further as it appears to think that the only source of economic development can come from industrial

and commercial expansion. This trap in conventional thinking, probably driven by the Chinese

consumerism culture, could ultimately lead to marine ecosystems actually deteriorating further as

interrelationships between multiple variables are not considered. Reducing the number of variables

contributing to economic development to industrial and commercial expansion should not mean

discarding other important considerations such as environmental and social factors.

Using ‘mental frameworks and rationality’ (Headline issue 1.1) might help the HK government to

reframe the situation by discussing it with parties that it might consider as opponents to its own views,

such as with environmental NGOs. This might compel the government to challenge its own

assumptions therefore also hopefully helping avoid reductionism.

As Hoverstadt (2010) states, ‘far more powerful than problem solving is problem anticipation and

avoidance’. By highlighting the interdependence and interrelationships between environmental and

economic factors in reclamation, the causal-loop diagram enables to look beyond the capitalistic view

of the government to uncover less immediate and more vicious effects that land expansion can have

over time on the city’s economic development and environment.

Thus saying, as Barabási (2003) notes, ‘we are [still] as far as we have ever been from understanding

nature as a whole’ despite scientific progress. SD is no magic potion and won’t enable to identify all

potentially drastic events, such as black rains which could cause flooding in reclaimed areas thus

notably adding to marine pollution, especially in a situation involving natural elements. It thus seems

9 Laure Korenian-Chabert

that time should not be spent on attempting to predict the unpredictable but rather on preparing

stakeholders to accept the possibility of unknowable events and decision makers to adapt their

strategy making accordingly thus also leaving more space for creative thinking.

To complement these insights, CSH is now used to evaluate Hong Kong’s urban development

strategy making.

4. Evaluating Hong Kong’s urban development strategy making

‘CSH’s attempts to reframe the situation through boundary critique could be complemented by using

first Synectics. In effect the springboard activity facilitates ‘breaking down the existing framework of

thinking’ (Nolan 1989) to reframe the situation. In the situation of interest, starting the CSH process by

using Synectics might enhance the systems approach’s capabilities by avoiding some stakeholders,

[such as Hong Kong government representatives], getting ‘locked in at the logical/analytical end of the

spectrum and cutting [themselves] off from [their] ability to invent and innovate’ (Nolan 1989)’

(Korenian-Chabert, TU811TMA03).

The consultant’s personal reference system for the evaluation is defined as a system to reconcile

economic development and sustainable management of natural resources for assisting protection and

preservation of marine ecosystems in Hong Kong.

Table 2 illustrates the unfolding of the ideal and descriptive mapping exercises constructed by means

of answering Ulrich’s 12 questions in the normative (ought) mode followed by the descriptive (is)

mode. The subsequent critiques ‘provide a platform for improving understanding and practice

associated with [the] situation of interest’(Ulrich and Reynolds 2010) as this boundary reflection

permits having ‘a more realistic picture of what the situation is about - getting real’ (TU811 Part6

p146).

10 Laure Korenian-Chabert

Table 2: CSH matrix on evaluating Hong Kong’s urban strategy making

Sources of

Influence

Stakeholders

(social roles)

Stakes (role-specific

concern)

Stakeholding

(key problems)

Motivation

1 Beneficiary/client 2 Purpose 3 Measure of success

‘ought’ HK residents and visitors, local industries, future generations and non-human beings

To improve

management of

natural resources

Ameliorated quality of living

and conditions of marine

ecosystems

‘is’ HK government, real

estate developers,

commerce and industry

organisations

Hong Kong to be a

driver of economic

growth in the region

Short term profitability

critique ‘is’

against ‘ought’

The current urban development strategy making seems to primarily favour the

interests of particular industries such as the real estate industry. To what extent are

the interests of residents, future generations and non-human beings taken into

account?

The key measure of success seems to be immediate profitability. But are these

profits sustainable if environmental and social factors are overlooked?

Control 4 Decision maker

5 Resources 6 Decision environment

‘ought’ HK government bodies

alongside local

communities, industry

representatives and

environmental NGOS

Political will;

environmental, social

and economic

quantitative and

qualitative data

Transparent and participative

decision making process

‘is’ HK government, real

estate developers

Quantitative economic

and environmental

data provided by HK

government bodies

Economic opportunities for

HK’s industries

critique ‘is’

against ‘ought’

To what extent is there collusion between the Hong Kong government and real

estate developers? If the urban development strategy making is controlled by those

with vested interests in particular research results, aren’t resources likely to be

biased towards guaranteeing vested interests results?

Knowledge 7 Expert

8 Expertise 9 Guarantor

‘ought’ Independent

researchers, systems

practitioners

Interdisciplinary and

transdisciplinary

Consensus amongst experts;

Environmental Impact

Assessments (EIA) open to

public consultation and

participation

Knowledge ‘is’ Researchers

commissioned by the

Technical/economic

and environmental

EIAs based on data provided

by environmental government

11 Laure Korenian-Chabert

government

agencies

critique ‘is’

against ‘ought’

Recognising the ‘limits of our knowledge’ (Headline issue 2.1) on nature could avoid

taking current scientific knowledge for granted. This could notably allow keeping an

open mind when considering other stakeholder perspectives thus also potentially

widening the spectrum of potential strategic points of intervention.

Moreover, some of the skills identified by Baltes and Staudinger (2000) such as the

ability to put a situation into context, thus understanding its specificity and avoiding

using blueprint best practice -such as EIAs- blindly, could help to further promote a

holistic approach thus avoiding over reliance on particular experts, such as those

from environmental government agencies, which might lead to reductionism.

Legitimacy

10 Witness 11 Emancipation 12 Worldviews

‘ought’ Advocates for local

communities, non-

human nature and

future generations

HK government urban

development plans

‘open to challenge

from those adversely

affected’(Ulrich and

Reynolds, 2010)

Manage manifest conflicts of interests between economic growth and sustainable management of natural resources

‘is’ Few local community

and environmental

NGOs protests; media

reports

Questionable levels of

integration of social

considerations; no

integration of

environmental factors

No opportunities for the public

to directly discuss and express

its concerns with decision

makers

critique ‘is’

against ‘ought’

The underlying worldview on which these answers are based is the consultant’s

which is that ‘sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the

present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own

needs’ (WCED, 1987).

The HK government seems to think that it is doing what’s right and what’s good for

its citizens, trapped in thinking that economic growth brings happiness

(reductionism) and assuming that all stakeholders see it that way (dogmatism). The

HK government should bear in mind that ‘what you do to increase [economic

development] doesn’t necessarily lead to improvement’ (Ackermann and Eden,

2010).

However, not only does the underlying worldview of the current system seem to lack

social legitimacy but the lack of regulatory oversight also raises the issue of

governance. Decision makers might want to reflect on the fact that ‘widening the

scope and involving participants helps to avoid making poor decisions that are

either unsustainable or not owned’ (Nutt 2002).

Overall, answering Ulrich’s boundary questions enabled to bring to light differences between planned

- urban development will benefit all - and actual outcomes - overdevelopment can bring adverse

12 Laure Korenian-Chabert

effects- and to ‘surface political and ethical issues arising from [urban development] strategy making’

(TU811 Part6 p155) uncovering the strong capitalistic perspective of the HK government.

It seems from the analysis of the CSH matrix that the bone of contention in this situation goes beyond

what now appears to be only a symptom of the problem- deteriorating marine ecosystems due to land

reclamation – and is actually the lack of ecological and social considerations in Hong Kong’s urban

development strategy making.

The second CSH mode of boundary critique, ‘boundary discourse’ enables ‘understanding the local

‘culture’ at a level beyond that of individual worldviews’ (Checkland and Poulter, 2010) thus potentially

generating ‘some mutually acceptable strategy’ (TU811 Part6 p154). This boundary critique could

thus be used by the government to help it to engage ‘with other stakeholders and their reference

systems, moving towards ‘getting it right’’ (TU811 Part6 p145).

As using CSH highlighted decision makers’ apparent dogmatism in this situation, SSM is now applied

as a tool to enhance stakeholders’ understanding of each other’s perceptions of the situation.

5. Identifying desirable and feasible changes

The SSM process starts by drawing a rich picture to help structuring the consultant’s thinking about

the real situation bearing in mind the insights gained through applying SD and CSH. The user-

friendliness of the rich picture could also prove to be a good facilitation tool to enable stakeholders

less versed in written literacy to engage in the SSM process and to voice their concerns.

The consultant’s worldview in relation to the way the rich picture (Figure 2) is depicted is that natural

resources, in this case coastal and seawater resources, should be managed in a sustainable manner

in order to ‘meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to

meet their own needs’ (WCED, 1987).

12 Laure Korenian-Chabert

Figure 2: Rich picture of HK’s environmental degradation due to reclamation

e

n

c

y

Environmental government

agency researchers

13 Laure Korenian-Chabert

The investigation continues by making a purposeful activity model defining a conceptual system,

modelling it and checking the coherence of both sets of activities.

Considering the insights from the rich picture as well as from applying SD and CSH which illustrate a

lack of appropriate regulatory framework and governance and of consideration for environmental and

social factors in urban development strategy making, the chosen purposeful activity is defined as:

- A system to promote sustainable urbanisation (P) by means of reforming urban development

policies and regulations (Q) in order to protect and preserve Hong Kong’s marine ecosystems

(R).

The CATWOE is used as a device to help formulating the root definition of the defined system:

Customers: HK residents, visitors and industries

Actors: HK government bodies, local authorities and communities, real estate, construction, transport,

retail, manufacturing, energy, fisheries and tourism industries, NGOs, experts

Transformation: HK marine ecosystems deteriorated by reclamation reduced reclamation in HK

Worldview: Natural resources should be managed in a sustainable manner in order to ‘meet the

needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’

(WCED, 1987)

Owners: HKSAR legislators, regulators and local authorities

Environmental constraints: local economic development; political climate; change in HK regulatory

framework; natural environmental disasters

Root definition: HKSAR legislators, regulators and local authorities’ system, in which Hong Kong

government bodies, local communities and businesses, together with NGOs and experts act in the

benefits of HK residents, visitors and industries to promote sustainable urbanisation in reducing

reclamations by means of reforming urban development policies and regulations in order to protect

and preserve Hong Kong’s marine ecosystems, bearing in mind the local political and economic

context as well as potential natural environmental disasters and changes in the regulatory framework,

in the belief that natural resources should be managed in a sustainable manner in order to ‘meet the

14 Laure Korenian-Chabert

needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’

(WCED, 1987).

The measures of performance would be:

- Efficiency: Did the system make the best use of its resources to promote sustainable

urbanisation?

- Effectiveness: Has marine ecosystems degradation due to reclamation in HK been reduced?

- Ethicality: Is reducing environmental deterioration from land reclamation morally correct?

15 Laure Korenian-Chabert

Figure 3: My conceptual model of a system to promote sustainable urbanisation in Hong Kong

1. Collect data

on

environmental

impacts of

reclamation

2. Analyse

the data

3. Devise

policy

changes 4. Engage

with

stakeholders

Monitor 1-7

Take

control

action

Define measures

of performance

5. Draft new

regulatory

framework

7. Implement

policy changes,

new regulatory

framework and

campaign

6. Design

accompanying

educational

campaign

16 Laure Korenian-Chabert

Comparing the rich picture with the conceptual model should allow having a structured discussion

about the situation and be an opportunity for stakeholders to express themselves enabling worldviews

to be surfaced and decision makers to consider taking into account a wider range of perspectives in

their strategy making, thus ‘redistributing power more equally’ (People Stream Part2.4) and coming up

with arguably desirable and culturally feasible changes for promoting sustainable urbanisation in

Hong Kong.

Table 3: Comparison of the rich picture (Figure 1) and the conceptual model (Figure 2)

Activities and connections from the conceptual model

Issues arising from the comparison

Questions to be asked

Comments

Activity 1 Data availability

What data is currently available?

What other data would be needed?

How could they be collected?

The rich picture illustrates that both the environmental government agency and the NGOs have researchers collecting and analysing data. Though the rich picture highlights that the findings from both types of organisation conflict, combining research efforts might be an issue to be discussed for the sake of comprehensiveness and efficiency. The latter factor might particularly appeal to economic-orientated stakeholders such as the HK government.

Activity 2 Expert resources Who currently analyses this kind of data?

Should there be other experts involved?

Activities 3 and 4

Responsibility Who is currently in charge of the decision making process regarding changes in policy? Regulation?

As depicted in the rich picture, the decision making process regarding reclamation schemes seems to be owned by the HK government and real estate developers. Involving of a wider range of stakeholders, such as local communities and NGOs, might avoid media reporting on action group protests and conflicting findings as illustrated in the rich picture. Such reports could not only harm the city’s reputation but also lead to wider disapprovals.

Activity 5 Stakeholder participation

Does the current decision making process regarding regulations involve other stakeholder than?

Activity 6 Resources Who drafts regulatory changes?

Should it be different?

Activity 7 Implementation How are regulation changes currently implemented?

Should it be done differently?

Decision makers might want to consider how NGOs and local communities mentioned in the rich picture might be involved for a smoother implementation of policy changes.

17 Laure Korenian-Chabert

Monitor 1-7

Monitoring of activities

How are decision making processes currently being monitored?

Should it be different?

Implementing changes to decision making processes should generate new insights and promote new inquiry and change.

Measures of performance

Criteria What criteria would indicate the degree to which the activity is Efficient? Effective? Ethical?

The process of answering the questions from Table 3 should not ‘become mechanical drudgery’

(Checkland and Poulter, 2010). However as decision makers tend to feel more comfortable with

learned conventions which can be ‘windowless fortresses which exclude viewing the world in new

ways’ (Gordon 1961), the facilitator of the discussion might want to consider using Synectics again to

help them coming with more open-minded answers.

Moreover, it would seem that the SSM process could benefit from prior sessions of Metaphors@Work

as group metaphor elicitation might permit stakeholders with a wide variety of backgrounds and

sometimes conflicting perspectives, such as those from the real estate industry and wildlife

conservation and protection NGOs, to have ‘their different worlds meet constructively rather than

destructively’ (People Stream Part 5.4) and learn from one another.

Overall, it seems applying SSM would permit ‘relationships to be productive and helpful, rather than

judgmental and unresponsive’ (Walker 2010) and thus facilitate finding the necessary

accommodations to allow moving forward from discussions to actions to improve the situation.

18 Laure Korenian-Chabert

6. Recommendations for action

In making strategy for new urban developments, the HK government is advised to call on experts,

including from non-governmental bodies, from a wide variety of disciplines to avoid reductionism.

In addition, implementing stakeholder participation processes could enable decision makers to

engage with multiple perspectives thus avoiding dogmatism. To that effect, it seems public

participation and consultation should be part of every EIA process. Relevant documents could be

circulated and available on appropriate websites, preliminary discussions held with local authorities

and interest groups, forum meetings and workshops conducted to offer exchange of information

between developers and local communities and public exhibitions organised to present the results of

EIAs and connect with the public. SD, CSH and Synectics could be used in small group meetings to

help reframing the situation as well as providing a holistic overview from which new insights could

arise and SSM to engage with multiple perspectives. Using Synectics and Metaphors@Work could

also aid ‘to develop facilitators and participants skills to deal with group dynamic issues’ (People

Stream Part6Appendix2). An indicator of success could be social learning and constructive dialogue

between stakeholders with conflicting perspectives such as environmental NGOs and the real estate

industry. Such learning and dialogues could allow innovating solutions to emerge and be the premises

of long-term improvements in the situation.

Conclusion

Though three systems approaches were applied and enriched with People stream ideas in an effort to

avoid traps in thinking, to get a more holistic view of the situation and to engage with multiple

perspectives, it is important to bear in mind that this report’s ‘achievement can never be more that a

tiny part of the whole picture’ (People Stream Part6.5).

[2383 words]

19 Laure Korenian-Chabert

Acknowledgements

Grateful acknowledgement is made to the following sources:

Figures

Photo page1: Wikipedia (June 2011) Central and Wan Chai Reclamation Available from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_and_Wan_Chai_Reclamation (Accessed 16 September 2011)

Participants – References removed

Spokespeople from diverse government agencies

Estate Agents

NGO for the protection of dolphins in HK

NGO for marine conservation in HK

NGO for eco-responsible projects in HK and China

NGO for wildlife conservation and protection in HK

HK residents and visitors who kindly accepted to answer my questions

TU811

TU811 Course team

TU811 Colleague students

TU811 Tutor

References

20 Laure Korenian-Chabert

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22 Laure Korenian-Chabert

Appendix

Land reclamation in Hong Kong

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Land reclamation in Hong Kong: Grey (built), Red (proposed or under development). Note

that most of the urban area (not shown in map) of Hong Kong is on the reclaimed land.

Marker in Causeway Bay showing the former location of the coastline.

Land is in short supply in Hong Kong, and land reclamation has been conducted there since

the mid-19th century.

Projects

One of the earliest and famous project was the Praya Reclamation Scheme, which added 50

to 60 acres (240,000 m2) of land in 1890 during the second phase of construction. It was one

of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken during the Colonial Hong Kong era.

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Hong Kong International Airport, and its predecessor, Kai

Tak Airport, were all built on reclaimed land.

In addition, as the city expands, new towns in different decades were mostly built on

reclaimed land, such as Tuen Mun, Tai Po, Shatin, Ma On Shan, West Kowloon, Kwun Tong

and Tseung Kwan O.