Dynamism in policy-affiliated transition intermediaries

Madis Talmar, Bob Walrave, Rob Raven and A. Georges L. Romme

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2022, vol. 159, issue C

Abstract: Transition intermediaries are actors that support socio-technical transition processes by bridging structural deficiencies in a transitioning domain. Previous research has identified what roles transition intermediaries perform and how. However, while transitioning domains are by definition in a state of change, the dynamics of transition intermediaries have hardly been studied. Therefore, we explore what mechanisms are driving change in transition-supportive roles of intermediaries, and what kind of conditions enable an intermediary to be dynamically adaptive in supporting a transitioning domain. These questions are addressed in a longitudinal case study of a major European intermediary in sustainable energy. We find this intermediary changed its transition support activities as a result of the frontline staff continually exploring the needs of transition stakeholders and designing new value offerings in response. These role dynamics are enabled by a structure where the policy principal delegates the choice of support activity and external accountability to the intermediary, which organizes itself in a customer-oriented manner. As such, we conclude that the dynamics in intermediaries’ transition activities arise from the interplay between policy mandate, organizational structure/design and staff agency.

Keywords: Transition intermediary; Energy transition; Transition policy; Organization design; Longitudinal study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2022.112210

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