Date: June 3, 2024
Time: 10:00 EET to 13:00 EET
Location: Online
Participants: 10
The kick-off meeting for Working Packages 2 (WP2) and 5 (WP5) marked a pivotal moment in the project’s journey, focusing on case studies and environmental impact assessment. Here are the key highlights from the session:
Agenda Highlights:
- Introduction and Objective Refinement
- Literature Review
- Discussion on Scaling Out and Scaling Up
- Data Collection and Analysis
- Budgetary Considerations
- Physical vs. Digital Spaces
- Case Study Focus
- Break and Further Planning
- Future Meetings and External Collaboration
Discussion Points:
The kick-off meeting for Working Packages 2 (WP2) and 5 (WP5) commenced with a focused agenda aimed at aligning objectives, refining methodologies, and setting the stage for collaborative research efforts.
Introduction and Objective Refinement: Participants began by delineating the objectives of WP2 and WP5, emphasizing the exploration of synergies beyond material flows to include networking and institutionalization. Challenges associated with integrating social practice theory into research were acknowledged, prompting a focused discussion on identifying pertinent research gaps within the project framework.
Literature Review: The meeting highlighted the scarcity of literature at the intersection of social practice theory and scaling up/out initiatives. Recent research by Shatsky from March 2024 was noted, stimulating debate on the applicability of Elizabeth Schaff and Shatsky’s sub-theory within the context of social practice theory.
Discussion on Scaling Out and Scaling Up: A critical distinction was drawn between scaling out (expansion) and scaling up (increased influence and formalization), underscoring the importance of mapping infrastructures to facilitate scaling up initiatives. Discussions also encompassed the integration of interview guides for WP2 and WP5 data collection to ensure comprehensive research insights.
Data Collection and Analysis: Participants deliberated on the availability and utilization of data for robust analysis, including queries regarding the origin and relevance of data used in previous reports. Considerations extended to both qualitative and quantitative research aspects, encompassing comprehensive environmental assessments.
Budgetary Considerations: Concerns regarding budget allocations for surveys across diverse countries were raised, recognizing their pivotal role in enabling comparative analyses and facilitating widespread publication. Challenges associated with reallocating budgets to accommodate additional survey expenses, particularly for partners adhering to stringent funding guidelines, were also addressed.
Physical vs. Digital Spaces: The meeting explored the roles of physical and digital spaces in research and case study analysis, contemplating potential transitions from physical to digital platforms for specific project initiatives. Discussions further encompassed the formulation of survey questions to gauge participant preferences for interaction modalities.
Case Study Focus: Participants engaged in discussions surrounding potential focal points for case studies, highlighting second-hand furniture sales as a prospective topic of investigation. Emphasis was placed on analyzing participant preferences and behaviors to steer the direction of case study endeavors.
Further Planning: Proposals were put forth to integrate interview guides, update data collection methodologies, and strategize environmental assessments based on accumulated data insights.
Future Meetings and External Collaboration: Plans were outlined to convene an external meeting in the ensuing week to bolster collaborative efforts, with expectations set for substantial progress during the forthcoming summer months.
Closing: The meeting concluded on an optimistic note, with participants attaining a mutual understanding of assigned tasks and exhibiting unwavering commitment. Clear action items were delineated, setting the stage for substantial advancements in project objectives in the ensuing weeks.
For further updates and detailed insights into the project’s progress, stay tuned to our website.