Second-order cybernetics as a tool to understand why pastoralists do what they do

摘要: Abstract The notion that pastoralists are irrational managers due to strong adherence tradition and culture is still common in livestock production sciences. Researchers development practitioners tend fall back on this when target groups do not adopt their proposed innovations without any obvious reason. It however difficult identify fit into resource-poor systems, often lack of the reason why taken up. Understanding what they do, learning about constraints face regulating processes, a prerequisite for identifying viable improvement possibilities. This study focuses understanding reasoning behind pastoralists’ actions. knowledge underlying regulation processes analysed with method based second-order cybernetics offers insight system view actors system. uses feedback control principles understand human activity systems. For analysis purposes, loop model systematically assess, each management practice, keepers’ observations rules upon which base cybernetic illustrated using example milk offtake pastoral camel northern Kenya. chosen because complex led widespread preconception poor as cause high calf mortality. reveals keepers consider information process, well inform enables distinguish between practices serve as: (i) routine control; (ii) problem-solving or (iii) selection. useful transdisciplinary studies involve local other stakeholders finding solutions real-world problems. Through methodology, scientists can learn abilities, but also aspects where weak new possibilities sought after. yields how try achieve goals despite restrictions disturbances given by environment. importance low-external-input systems have little scope conditions adapt them.