Understanding the societal impact of intermediaries in the energy transition.
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2020-12-14
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en
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Transitions have become the desired approach to solve contemporary environmental problems. Academics appoint intermediaries capable of handling this complex approach appropriately, due to their in-between position. The skill of intermediaries has made them indispensable. But their impact remains vague, an impression shared by diep, a Dutch intermediary and initiator of this research. Because intermediation is formless and dependent on the intermediary and context in question, was chosen for a fluid measurement framework, namely public value (PV). Vital is PV’s precondition of contact with the public, this excluded other sustainability transitions and left the energy transition (ET) in which participation is central. In addition, research revealed decentralised governments (i.e., municipalities) tend to illustrate intermediary characteristics in the ET, to verify whether these findings apply to the Dutch context, 3 cases with municipalities were chosen. This qualitative two-step multiple case study research, with a focus on 1) diep followed by 2) associated public servants, illustrated diep has a clear orientation towards involving all essential elements, such as the public. To create a holistic portrayal of the problem at hand and avoid narrow-mindedness in finding the right solution. Furthermore, municipalities illustrate intermediary characteristics but lack workforce, expertise and neutrality to properly fulfil this role, which leads to the consultation of conscious intermediary-actors. Overall, diep’s holistic approach impacted the municipalities’ viewpoint of involving the public and their respective publics.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen