Course content

In a time with great societal transformations and complex challenges, participation becomes important. Climate change, digitalization and changing geo-political conditions demand transitions that will affect many peoples lives both in the workplace and society. At the same time we see an increased recognition that traditional top-down approaches to change fail because they do not take the experience and knowledge of affected groups into consideration. A good transition demand active involvement of many different actors and forms of knowledge.

Participation is first and foremost focused on participation in decision processes, but it is also about knowledge: Especially in larger transition processes expert knowledge alone is not enough. Local populations with experience based knowledge about their local environments, employees insight in their own work, or indigenous populations traditional knowldges can be decisive to find good solutions. At the same time, digitalization and new technologies challenge established democratic processes and create a need for new methods for ensuring participation.

The course is based on perspectives from science and technology studies (STS) that show how knowledge and technology is closely woven together with societal developments. The students are introduced to central theoretical perspectives on:

• democracy and expertise: we explore the tension between expert knowledge and other ways of knowing, and how expertise can be brought into dialogue. We are particularly interested in "lay-expertise" and experience based knowledge
• socio-technical systems: we study ho technology, organizations and society affect each other, and the implications of this for participatory processes
• material participation: we look closer at the literature discussing how tools, material frames and processes affect the potential gains of participation
• power and knowledge: we analyze how power relations affect what knowledge is see as legitimate, and how participatory processes can contribute to challenging or reifying existing power structures
• the public as diverse and fleeting: we look closer at who or what the public or the audience might be, and discuss ideas about a external "public" waiting to be discovered and mobilized

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The candidates have knowledge about

• central theoretical perspectives on participation from science and technology studies
• different forms of knowledge and their role in societal development
• relations between power, knowledge and participation in concrete cases

Skills

The candidates

• can map relevant actors and forms of knowledge in a given context
• can map and understand controversies and potential problems
• can translate between different forms of knowledge
• can designe inclusive participatory processes
• can evaluate and document participatory processes

General competence

The candidates can

• critically evaluate strengths and weaknesses of various approaches to participation
• reflect on their own role as facilitators of participatory processes
• communicate with different actor groups on complex problems
• contribute to developing knowledge about participation through systematic documentation and analysis

The course combines theoretical readings with practical experience. The students work on concrete cases, for instance from their own workplace, and gets experience with different methods for participation. Through critical reflection over their own and others practices the students develop a deep understanding for benefits and challenges of participation in todays society.

Learning methods and activities

The teaching is in the form of lectures, discussions and group work. Some preparation before each gattering must be assumed. During the course, participants will be encouraged to reflect on their own experieces and challenges in their organization or workplace.

Compulsory assignments

• Two compulsory assignments

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

See the description of the master programme in organization and management.

Course materials

To be announced

Credit reductions