Identification and characterization of factors involved in the initiation of consensus-building efforts to resolve coastal issues

Consensus-building methods have the potential of being an effective strategy in resolving coastal issues because integrated planning requires cooperation among stakeholders and governments. However, a recent study showed that few coastal managers are using such methods. The potential of consensus building is dependent upon overcoming difficulties associated with the use of consensus building. This research identifies one of the major challenges in getting parties to the table and proposes strategies to help overcome this difficulty. The research is divided into four phases: an electronic forum, a literature review, a case study, and an intervention model. Each phase has a different and complementary purpose. The electronic forum identifies the problem of getting parties to the table as one of the major challenges of using consensus-building methods. The literature review describes the three major functions of the initiation phase and nine factors involved in the initiation of a consensus-building effort. The case study characterizes the initiation process of four cases and formulates six major recommendations. Finally, the initiation model proposes strategies to facilitate the initiation of consensus building efforts based on the findings of the literature review and case study. The dissertation's recommendations will guide coastal managers and facilitators through the consensus-building initiation process.