Sustainable development : the question of integration and coordination
Date
2004-09
Authors
Muller, K.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
South African Association of Public Administration and Management
Abstract
It could be argued that the quest for integration is at the core of sustainable development
implementation issues. Although there is no simple answer to the integration
challenge there is no doubt that organisational integration and coordination
comprise a critical ingredient in any prescription package. The reasons why
it is difficult to achieve integration is encapsulated by the notion of the ‘limits to
governance’ which describe the organisational complexities and constraints facing
traditional governance. At the basic theoretical level the interactions between
organisations are explained in terms of the two organising principles of competition
and collaboration, while coordination could be a product of three alternative
modes of governance. The general acceptance of the idea that a decentralised set
of formal and informal agreements among diverse groups and organisations in the
form of networks and partnerships holds the most promising institutional prospect,
is explored in from two angles: firstly from a macro perspective considering the
changing role of the state and secondly a bottom-up perspective focusing on the
notion of organisational innovation in resource management. Finally some conclusions
are drawn as to the prospects of networks being able to achieve integration
and coordination in environmental management.
Description
The original version is available from http://www.saapam.co.za/
Keywords
Sustainable development, Organizational innovation, Environmental management
Citation
Muller, K. 2004. Sustainable development: the question of integration and coordination. Journal of public administration, 39(3), 398-399.