Logo image
Back
Crossing disciplines: Exploring the contribution of a critical futures approach to democratising community engagement with a focus on the gas industry
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Crossing disciplines: Exploring the contribution of a critical futures approach to democratising community engagement with a focus on the gas industry

Marcelle Holdaway
Pacific Accounting Review, Vol.31(1), pp.159-180
2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/PAR-11-2017-0093
url
https://doi.org/10.1108/PAR-11-2017-0093View
Published Version

Abstract

corporate social responsibility causal layered analysis agonistic pluralism critical futures dialogic engagement unconventional gas
Purpose - Social and environmental accountability by firms can be compromised by a lack of democracy within community engagement and decision-making processes. This is particularly evident in potential conflict situations such as with unconventional gas (UCG) extraction. Dialogic engagement sits within dialogic accounting theory and offers a potentially valuable contribution to democratisation. This study aims to contribute to dialogic engagement as practice through the application of critical futures theory and methodology, causal layered analysis (CLA). Design/methodology/approach - CLA was applied in field research firstly in interviews and then in a workshop setting involving participants with diverse perspectives on UCG. The workshop was planned around activities designed to: implement dialogic engagement as practice, critically unpack views on the present and future of UCG and energy needs through CLA; and evaluate the usefulness of the methodology. Findings - Findings suggest that CLA enables access to multiple, complex and nuanced perspectives and facilitates, a deeper understanding of participants own views and of other differing views in relation to UCG, 1) a deeper understanding of participants own views, and of other differing views in relation to UCG, 2) a deeper analysis in the identification of key themes in discussions around UCG, and, 3) the identification by participants of "preferred futures" and "uncertainties" concerning energy needs. Practical implications - CLA is a valuable tool for undertaking genuine community engagement and has wide-ranging application, one example being with interviews and focus groups. Moreover, with the inclusion of diverse perspectives, options and solutions emerging for consideration are increased. This in turn provides opportunities for creative decision-making through scenario identification and strategic development that potentially give rise to transformative possibilities. Social implications - CLA may well assist in moving firms, and indeed civil society, closer to reaching preferable social and environmental outcomes. Originality/value - This cross-disciplinary research applies an innovative approach and methodology, taking democratic engagement to new depths.

Details

Metrics

207 Record Views
6 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Web Of Science research areas
Business, Finance

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Source: InCites

Logo image