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The Community of Practice 'Dikes & Nature' : a qualitative analysis of collaboration and transition processes

Vries, R. de (2025) The Community of Practice 'Dikes & Nature' : a qualitative analysis of collaboration and transition processes.

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Abstract:Dike reinforcement is needed in the Netherlands due to climate change and rising sea levels. However, these dike reinforcements projects could take place in protected natural areas. This results in discussion on how dike reinforcement structures can be built with the needs of the environment taken into account. Therefore, in 2022 the Community of Practice Dikes & Nature has been established to address this problem. This is a collaboration that was introduced by the National Flood Protection Program (NFPP) in 2022. With the help of this Community of Practice (CoP), the NFPP wanted to form an answer to the question of how dike reinforcement can be implemented in natural areas (Natura 2000). However, this Community has not defined a future structure on how to continue, due to the ending of the overall project of the NFPP in 2024. Therefore, the project team is looking for opportunities to continue the collaboration and to keep the community alive. The topic of dike reinforcement implementation in nature-based areas is still a relevant topic that needs attention. Therefore, the CoP (leaders) want to make sure the transition in this field keeps going with the base they built in their collaboration. This results in the following research question: “How can the Community of Practice Dikes & Nature transition to a new collaborative to continue cocreating and disseminating knowledge for the integration of flood management and nature-based solutions in dike reinforcement projects?” With this pending question, research on three different topics is needed to write a recommendation about the possibilities of continuation of this technical Community of Practice. With the help of three theoretical perspectives in literature (transition paths, the collaboration life cycle and other forms of collaboration (also known as learning communities)) the basis for this research is built. The next step was to set up a focus group and conduct interviews to verify if the insights of the literature review are applicable and relevant to the CoP Dikes & Nature. The results in this research are based on the collaboration life cycle (phases where a collaboration goes through in their process). An important finding is therefore that the Community of Practice Dikes & Nature spent some time in each of the phases, but for some of the phases they did not take the time they needed. This resulted in that the next phase did not have enough foundation to be completed in the most optimal way. To be precise, the CoP did not spent enough time in the issue phase and the assembly and structure phase (the phases where the problem and the boundaries of the project are defined). Which resulted in confusion in the next phase (productivity phase). With the result of a group of participants that were involved and informed each on different levels. Moreover, by structuring the collaboration (in some kind of form) and choosing a path that will help to start and keep an implementation of a solution possible (transition paths) the overall productivity might increase. Therefore, it is advised to go back to the issue phase and take the time needed. This research offers a complete model that could guide the Community of Practice Dikes & Nature through this process.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:ET: Engineering Technology
Programme:Civil Engineering BSc (56952)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/107170
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