Proposal to Explore the Use of New Strategies to Create a Community Based Decision Making Process for Indigenous Peoples

Abstract

The area of project management by definition focuses on how a project is to be executed, monitored and controlled in a defined period of time. Companies routinely adopt project management as the preferred method of working (Eve 2007). The project management plan typically covers topics such as scope, resource risk and schedule management but, does not adequately address other associated issues. Integrating resource management strategies that address sustainability and community concerns provide challenges to the traditional discipline of project management. Inadequate opportunity to be actively involved adds another level of concern and raises questions about the effectiveness of existing tools and strategies to elicit community involvement and ensure a process that will produce effective long term results. Lack of consultation with the community regarding planning decisions also carries perceived risks of marginalisation of community attitudes, and can escalate controversy and associated political pressures surrounding decisions. New-generation project management tools afford the opportunity to create a collaborative space where project participants have the opportunity to be potential contributors. Running in parallel constructs such as Sense Of Place (SOP) is presented as a set of possible principles to consider in the planning and consultation process. Collaborative efforts in natural resource management and environmental dispute resolution continue to evolve. There is a need for periodic review and assessment of the collaborative process and the lessons that have been learned. Documenting and learning from the process needs to be a focus for all parties involved.