2.2. Challenges and limitations

2.2. Challenges and Limitations

For methods there were several challenges and limitations. We approached the project trying to collect as much information from the people connected to Svartlamo(e)n as possible in order to come up with solutions based on their experiences and needs; as well as using their resources in hope to create connections between the people and the projects. However, this turned out to be a challenge as we got few interviews and interactions with the people. With the interviews also being qualitative and semi-structured or unstructured the data was limited to a few subjective opinions from a few individuals.

Another factor that limited our project was our own position as outsiders coming in to come up with solutions. This was specifically shown in the topics of discussion in interviews, comments, and through lack of participation in our planned workshop. The residents expressed a focus on the conflict with the municipality and when trying to collect information on other needs it was clear that they appreciate doing things on their own and that if they wanted something done, they would do it themselves. For our planned workshop no one showed up and from conversation with our contact we understood that this may be due to participation fatigue, and a lack of trust in outsiders.

With few interviews and interactions with the residents we relied on secondhand information and when shaping the SWOT analysis, stakeholder maps, and other models we have based some content on our own observations, as well as the information we got from contacts in an interview. With such a small pool of people, the information in the forms and maps aren’t necessarily reliable and some viewpoints may be unrepresented.

With these challenges and limitations in mind we tried to be mindful of the residents and effected actors in creating our solutions. The focus of the solutions has been to keep the residents, and their privacy, and local resources in mind; and to come up with solutions where the effected actors and residents can be part of developing and shaping the solutions further.

Figure 10: Workshop Area of Svartlamo(e)n, Huan Chan