Storytelling, sensemaking and sustainability agendas

This chapter considers the complex and dynamic nature of the environment as it affects knowledge creation, including the limitations of a rationalist mindset when identifying and responding to global problem sets. Sensemaking and storytelling by stakeholders in complex problem settings is proposed as a basis for decision-making based on plausibility when taking action in emergencies. Critique of the work of Weick, Boje and others contributes to a conceptual framework to interrogate stakeholder influence on responses to an emergency situation through a critical appraisal of stakeholder stories and narratives. The response of ASA Philippines to COVID was interrogated through such a framework to understand the evolution of 'knowledge' seen as pertinent, plausible and facilitative of the organisation's adaptation of its microfinance service to meet the challenges of a global emergency. This approach is relevant to sustainable development research, promoting alignment between ontology, epistemology and research design that recognises the importance of stakeholder input into problem definition and resolution, accepting that stakeholder stories will reflect varied experience, stakes and capability. Eliciting stakeholder stories for comparison and critique facilitates nuanced understanding of stakeholder actions and interactions whilst supporting insight into cultural and power-based influences on emergent, urgent and innovative forms of actionable knowledge.