APPENDIX 1. TYPOLOGY OF DECISION-MAKERS
Figure A1.1. Typology of decision-makers
Notes on decision-maker types
The following groups, which appear in the typology key, have been developed following a quantitative survey. These were then mapped onto the updated typology diagram. The characteristics of each group are outlined briefly below.
Ecological Land Stewards
This group tends to:
- Place a high level of importance on land steward priorities, ecological attitudes and responsibility.
- Acknowledge that land management decisions have an impact on the ecology of the area.
- Are aware that land management is part of a wider environmental framework, which includes government policy and non-land based primary industries.
E conomic Land Stewards
This group tends to:
- Demonstrate high land care, in conjunction with high income related priorities, indicating greater awareness of the underlying economic drivers of land use production.
- Agree with diversification themes, but also indicate an underlying ecological awareness of production methods.
- Demonstrate a low level of agreement with community related social attitudes, which may indicate a more individualist approach to land use management.
Multi-functionalists
This group tends to:
- Place a high level of importance on economic, environmental and social themes. Consequently, they represent a multi-functional approach to land use management.
- Be orientated towards both land based production but also to opportunities for diversification.
- Be aware of the ecological impacts of production activity.
- Focus land use management decision making with respect to the local community context.
Community Stewards
This group tends to:
- be indifferent to, or in disagreement with, production, land stewarding and ecological themes.
- Strongly believe in community based priorities and attitudes, suggesting that their decision making considers impacts at both a community and national level.
RLUS1 Question Guide
The purpose of the Rural Land Use Study, which consists of a number of research projects, is to provide an evidence base on the potential contributions of Scotland's rural land to delivering sustainable economic growth, and the major policy challenges it faces in relation to land use. The focus of the specific project we are involved in is rural land use decision-making: how people make strategic decisions about what to do with land they own or manage. Please see letter outlining the purpose of the research for additional information.
The interview will include:
Introductory description about research purpose, and agreement regarding recording, confidentiality, etc.
We would like to make a recording of this interview. The recording will be used primarily to make notes on our conversation, but we may use some direct quotations in the research report or publications unless you ask us not to. It would be very useful if we could associate the comments you make with your organisation, but if prefer we will keep your statements anonymous or not quote you at all.
1. Background of the key informant
A. Clarify their position/ role in their organisation, how long they've worked there, general experience there; and other biographical history that might be useful to contextualise their answers.
B. Clarify which types of sectors they are competent to provide insight into.
C. Establish the past major rural land-use trends and changes they have observed.
D. Establish the future major rural land-use trends and changes they anticipate.
E. Establish what they think is driving land-use changes.
F. Identify the land-use decisions they will be describing from now on: Emphasise that this is what we will mean by strategic land-use decisions in the rest of the interview.
2. Process of Decision-Making
A. Describe what prompts a land use decision.
B. Describe the chain of events for decision making.
C. Identify the decision-making authority.
D. Frequency of decision-making.
E. Timescale for action.
3. Roles and interactions
A. Financial institutions [banks, credit unions, insurance?].
B. Subsidies and grants [ SFP, agri-environment, LFASS, RDC, WGS, forestry grants, LEADER].
C. Regulations [environmental, H&S, processing, transport, bio-security, planning, building, energy quotas …].
D. Sources of information.
E. Rural Communities.
F. Attitudes of peers [other farmers/foresters/estates etc].
4. Identifying decision making types
A. Identify main priorities of decision-makers in their sector.
B. Identify other motivations.
C. Discuss our actor-typology. [we will send this to you on the day].
D. Address economic issues (if not already raised).
E. Identify constraint.
F. Summarise revisions to Actor - typology.
5. Conclusion
Opportunity to add any further comments, on or off the record. Information on next stage of process (results to Scottish Government in July, Land Use Summit led by Minister Lochhead in November 2009).
Key Informant Interview Participants
John Muir Trust
Crown Estates
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Scottish Renewables
Scottish Enterprise
Rural Housing Service
Factor from Highlands and Grampian
Deer Commission
Scottish Estates Business Group
Agricultural Banker (Northern Scotland)
Crofters Commission
Defence Estates
Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority
Scottish Borders Councilor
RSPB
Deer Commission
National Trust Scotland
Scottish Rural Property and Business Association
Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust
National Farmers Union
Tennant Farmers Forum
Confederation of Forest Industries
Agricultural Estate Agent (Inverness)