Enabling conditions
From all that I have reported in Session 7 and in this session, we found that there were four conditions for enabling a Living Lab to ‘succeed’, considering the range of contexts, issues and innovations in agricultural advisory services that were involved.
Complexity of the challenge
This condition relates to the level of challenge, indications of the expected ease or difficulty of running a Living Lab. Key questions might include the following:
| Do stakeholders agree about the direction of change? |
| Do stakeholders agree on the possible solutions to the challenge? |
| Is the sustainability challenge in alignment with the private interest of the end user? |
Enabling setting
This condition refers to the whether the setting (context) is conducive to the establishment and continuation of the Living Lab over time. Some key questions to assess this condition include the following:
| Is there room for experimentation and flexibility in the outcome of the process? |
| Can organisers and participants in the LL mobilise enough resources (time, capacity, finance) for the process? |
| Are the consequences of failure acceptable? |
| Are stakeholders used to discussing and participating? |
Energy to move
This condition refers to the existence of a ‘pressing issue’ recognised by stakeholders which generates and focuses the energy of participants to convene the LL and to ensure its continuation. Key questions for assessing this condition include:
| Do the stakeholders experience a sense of urgency/pressing issue to change? |
| Do the stakeholders have the capacity to engage in the LL? |
| Do stakeholders recognise their interdependence in solving the challenge? |
| Do stakeholders trust each other enough to collaborate? |
Methodological preparation
The fourth condition relates mostly to the influence sphere of the facilitator or similar intermediary. This role requires knowledge and experience of methodologies and relevant tools in combination with a reflexive approach and experience to select appropriate tools as required. Relevant questions to assess this condition include the following:
| Does the facilitator combine leadership and mandate with a curious and flexible attitude? |
| Does the facilitator have influence and/or knowledge to convene and shape the LL? |
| Does the facilitator have access to diversity of methods and tools? |
| Is the facilitator experienced to select appropriate tools in unexpected situations? |
Although expressed separately, in practice, the conditions and the elements within them overlap. The list of conditions is not exhaustive, but they have emerged as significant in the range of contexts encountered with AgriLink. No single condition emerges as key for the success or otherwise of Living Lab, but some are important for ‘go/no go’ decision-making on whether to embark on a Living Lab in the first place.
A positive decision not to pursue a Living Lab, if determined with insight and agreement, is a positive result and should not be considered as a failure. The conditions also provide insights into the processes and key challenges associated with implementing and continuing a Living Lab.
To help with making a decision on running a Living Lab or not, we have produced a document Assessment tool – Conditions for a Living Lab [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] to use with other people
Efficacy, efficiency and effectiveness