Abstract
The reader is invited to reflect on how understanding arises in relation to language, metaphor and dialogue; and how, as environmental managers, we use these to interpret our learning and experience.
This chapter provides reflections on how particular understandings can become institutionalised and on the different ways ‘institution’, ‘organisation’ and ‘structure’ can be understood in the practice of environmental management.
Together, these reflections open up ideas of how we can become aware of our own understandings when working to incorporate social learning in environmental management.
Research on social learning in the implementation of the European water framework directive is used to ground the ideas discussed in this chapter.
Source: Ison (2005). Reproduced with permission of Earthscan Ltd., www.earthscan.co.uk
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Ison, R. (2010). Traditions of Understanding: Language, Dialogue and Experience. In: Blackmore, C. (eds) Social Learning Systems and Communities of Practice. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-133-2_5
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