TY - JOUR
T1 - An Exploratory Study in Community Perspectives of Sustainability Leadership in the Murray Darling Basin
AU - Harley, Christine
AU - Metcalf, Louise
AU - Irwin, Julia
PY - 2014/10/31
Y1 - 2014/10/31
N2 - This article explores the emergence of leadership during implementation of a water saving initiative in the rural community surrounding Barren Box Swamp in the Murray Darling Basin, Australia. Qualitative data analysis indicated that the system elements affecting the type of leadership to emerge included the extent to which the groups were engaged in the process, the level of access to resources, and the level of investment in the outcomes of the project. Although these results reinforced key aspects of complex problem-solving through collaboration, they demonstrated varying degrees and types of both engagement and leadership within the case community. Given the current finding that these varying elements can coincide within one system, this case suggests that each community’s characteristics, resources and context will determine the optimal combination of leadership style and level of collaboration needed to facilitate sustainable community development.
AB - This article explores the emergence of leadership during implementation of a water saving initiative in the rural community surrounding Barren Box Swamp in the Murray Darling Basin, Australia. Qualitative data analysis indicated that the system elements affecting the type of leadership to emerge included the extent to which the groups were engaged in the process, the level of access to resources, and the level of investment in the outcomes of the project. Although these results reinforced key aspects of complex problem-solving through collaboration, they demonstrated varying degrees and types of both engagement and leadership within the case community. Given the current finding that these varying elements can coincide within one system, this case suggests that each community’s characteristics, resources and context will determine the optimal combination of leadership style and level of collaboration needed to facilitate sustainable community development.
KW - Community collaboration
KW - Complex systems
KW - Leadership emergence
KW - Sustainability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84943010941&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10551-013-1877-x
DO - 10.1007/s10551-013-1877-x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84943010941
VL - 124
SP - 413
EP - 433
JO - Journal of Business Ethics
JF - Journal of Business Ethics
SN - 0167-4544
IS - 3
ER -