Facilitating adaptive management in a government program: A household energy efficiency case study

Area of Science:

• Environmental policy
• Program management
• Public administration

Background:

• Interim evaluations of government programs may show suboptimal outcomes, necessitating in-program adjustments.
• Adaptive management frameworks offer a roadmap for such adjustments, but their application is often hindered by implementation challenges and limited successful learning.
• Energy efficiency programs targeting low-income households present a relevant case for studying adaptive management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide evidence supporting the facilitation and application of adaptive management in government programs.
• To identify key factors that enable successful adaptive management within a real-world program context.
• To explore the link between adaptive management in a specific program and broader organizational learning.

Main Methods:

• A case study approach was employed, focusing on a government energy efficiency program for low-income households.
• Qualitative analysis of factors influencing program adjustments and learning.
• Examination of leadership, stakeholder engagement, and research-practice interfaces.

Main Results:

• Proactive leadership and responsiveness were crucial for guiding program adjustments.
• Establishing a research-practice interface facilitated knowledge exchange and adaptation.
• Recognition of diverse stakeholder expertise enhanced program effectiveness and learning.
• Successful adaptive management led to broader organizational learning impacting other programs.

Conclusions:

• Adaptive management can be effectively facilitated and applied in government programs, even with initial suboptimal outcomes.
• Key enablers include strong leadership, stakeholder inclusivity, and integrated research-practice mechanisms.
• The case demonstrates how adaptive management can foster organizational learning, improving future program delivery and policy.