Answers of the exam questions from exam pool 1 for the course YSS-33806 - Interdisciplinary Themes in Food & Sustainability. This is a mandatory course for the master MSc Management, Economics and Consumer Studies (MME) at Wageningen University & Research. 5 questions from exam pool 1 & 2 will be u...
Pool of possible exam questions of YSS33806 (2020-2021)
Session 1 (PP and two articles):
1. a) What is the main difference between interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary
research? (powerpoint)
Interdisciplinary research is (multidisciplinary) research within academia.
Goal: learning, new ideas.
Transdisciplinary research is research that goes beyond academia and involves stakeholders
from policy, civil society etc.
Goal: problem oriented.
b) Would you qualify the social and environmental audits conducted by
Zeeman (as presented by Kelly Kristelijn at session 7B) as an example of
transdisciplinary research? Please explain.
Social and environmental audits for Zeeman, are conducted by an independent third party at
different 250 points. These audits result in CAPs (corrective action plans), which contain advice
for non-conformances. These audits can be qualified as an example of transdisciplinary
research, because these audits go beyond academia and involve different stakeholders
(factory workers, suppliers, local policy makers). Besides, the aim of these audits is to discover
and solve problems/non-conformances, which is a characteristic of transdisciplinary research,
namely that is it problem oriented.
2. Based on his review of literature and research projects, Hospes distinguished
three pre- conditions for successful interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary
research. What are these three pre-conditions?
Precondition 1) recognition and respect for different knowledge systems is required.
Precondition 2) some kind of umbrella or bridging concept is needed to guide the process of
knowledge co-creation.
Precondition 3) institutional and personal incentive structures need to be (made) compatible.
3. Please explain why and how the concept of risk can serve as a bridging
concept in transdisciplinary research.
o Why: it has links across scientific disciplines, shared/mutual understanding across
disciplines. Besides, Risk is well-positioned to act as a bridging concept between
different scientific disciplines and practitioners due to its broad scope, focus on solving
real-world problems, and integration of natural and social science.
o How: facilitating communication and understanding across disciplines, coordinates
stakeholders and build consensus around a particular policy issue. Made relevant in the
context of corporate practice (Ahlström). And, through co-created activities, it is possible
to use risk as bridging concept in transdisciplinary research collaboration for corporate
sustainability.
4. Ahlstrom et al. (2020) refer to two common approaches to integrating research
and practice in their article on systems thinking and transdisciplinary approaches:
1
, “first of all, using the input from laypersons in scientific research while
maintaining the ‘primacy of science’, and secondly using research as input in
decision support, ensuring the ‘primacy of practice”. Suppose these two
approaches are two extremes of a continuum. Where would Ahlstrom et al. (2020)
position transdisciplinary approaches? Please explain.
Ahlström et al. (2020), would position transdisciplinary approaches on neither ends of the
continuum. They would position it somewhere in the middle. Ahlström et al. (2020) argue that
neither the hierarchical superiority of either academics’ or practitioners’ knowledge should be
accepted, but the focus should be on the interesting co-benefits of how they complement each
other.
Session 2 (PP):
1. In his on-line lecture Hospes presented 11 differences between CSR and RBC.
Please mention five.
CSR RBC
Difference 1 Formulated as a ‘Why-question’ Formulated as a ‘How-
question’
Difference 2 Norm Conduct
Difference 3 Voluntary regulation Due diligence becomes
binding
Difference 4 Social Social and environmental
Difference 5 International private business self-regulation International public regulation
2. A key element of RBC is the due diligence process.
a) What is due diligence?
Due diligence = “The steps that a company must take to become aware of, prevent and
address adverse impact.”
b) CSR can be seen as international private business self-regulation. In what step
of the due diligence process, CSR could possibly be used or referred to? Please
explain.
CSR can be used/referred to in step 1 of the due diligence process. Step 1: “Embed
responsible business conduct into policies and management systems.”
In the first step of the Due Diligence Management process, you embed RBC policies in your
company’s management systems to make sure that these policies become part of your regular
business processes.
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