Values mapping to predict conflict

Trust and relationships, not facts and education, are the key to community acceptance of major projects that bring change to lives, lifestyles and livelihoods.

Trust and relationships depend on honesty, authentic communication, equitable distribution of benefits and development that accords with a community’s deep-seated and diverse values.

Senior Adviser Jane Munday has spent the past four years as a PhD candidate with Charles Darwin University researching a model of social and cultural impact assessment that will deliver socially, culturally, economically and ecologically sustainable development of Northern Australia. 

Jane has produced a Guide to Social Impact Assessment that draws on her engagement and social impact assessment practice with True North Strategic Communication as well as research for her PhD and the Northern Territory Government.

The guide captures ideas from brainstorming with Senior Consultant Claire Butler over the past few years to develop an efficient and effective approach to social impact assessment that gives affected people and communities a genuine voice in project planning and regulatory approvals.

A key finding from Jane’s research is the importance of values mapping in predicting conflict. People are particularly sensitive to projects that disturb their sentimental - or household - values.  

A growing showstopper issue for projects is disturbance of societal values as people worry about climate change and the use of the earths’ finite resources.

“The Guide to Social Impact Assessment is written for other practitioners. However, with luck, it may be useful for community groups interested in understanding what social impact assessment should be delivering for them. It may guide regulators who want to do their job better. ”