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Story telling in sustainable development projects

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  • Simon Bell

    (Open Systems Research Group, Systems Department, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK)

  • Stephen Morse

    (Department of Geography, University of Reading, Reading, UK)

Abstract

This paper constitutes an attempt to find a means to represent multiple stories in the strong narrative of conventional sustainable development (SD) projects. The authors' experience of such projects in various parts of the world indicates that they have a tendency to arise from and reflect a dominant mindset, placing the SD project in what can be a working environment that is inimical to the very ideals that SD is supposed to represent. Short-termism and value for money drive project formats and objectives, whilst counter-narratives and alternative stories arising from stakeholders in such projects are often ignored. Yet these alternative threads often contain strong SD messages of their own and could, if effectively utilized, enhance the SD project process. This paper sets out the case for a new field - 'project ethnography' - allied with the growing use of meta-analysis to compare project 'stories'. The analytical model applied to compare projects is based on the Kolb learning cycle and involves a (3 × 4)-fold questioning of project conceptualization and roll-out. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Simon Bell & Stephen Morse, 2007. "Story telling in sustainable development projects," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 15(2), pages 97-110.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:15:y:2007:i:2:p:97-110
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.305
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    Cited by:

    1. Kim Suzanne Alexander & Joanne Millar & Neil Lipscombe, 2010. "Sustainable development in the uplands of Lao PDR," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 18(1), pages 62-70.
    2. Simon Bell & Judi Farren Bradley, 2012. "London’s Olympic legacy and the Imagine methodology," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 27(1), pages 55-67, February.
    3. Simon Bell & Amanda Lane, 2009. "Creating Sustainable Communities - A Means to Enhance Social Mobility?," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 24(8), pages 646-657, December.
    4. Peter Dobers & Delyse Springett, 2010. "Corporate social responsibility: discourse, narratives and communication," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(2), pages 63-69, March.
    5. Bell, Simon, 2012. "DPSIR=A Problem Structuring Method? An exploration from the “Imagine” approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 222(2), pages 350-360.
    6. Jari Lyytimäki & Ulla Rosenström, 2008. "Skeletons out of the closet: effectiveness of conceptual frameworks for communicating sustainable development indicators," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 16(5), pages 301-313.

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