ABSTRACT

Purpose

This article explores to what extent a Delphi consensus study can help in designing a framework for assessing agricultural innovation systems (AIS), and this in a perspective of transformation of these systems in a diversity of countries.

Approach

First, we reviewed the diversity of existing assessment methodologies in terms of their assessment rationales and associated epistemological and methodological debates. Second, we facilitated a process of framework design through an adapted group-based Delphi technique that we developed, based on an expert dialogue format with an initial online survey and six rounds of enriched controlled feedback.

Findings

The adapted Delphi process appears to be effective since experts reached a consensus on a capacity-oriented assessment model with standardized and flexible components. Dissenting views remained but were suggested as a basis for further research, with a focus on the nature and use of high-level indicators and on ways facilitating the use of evidence by decision-makers in a capacity development perspective. Several factors that triggered and hindered consensus building during the Delphi process were detected.

Practical implications

A number of lessons were drawn to enhance participation and consensus in further Delphi studies applied to framework design.

Theoretical implications

Our study underscores the different worldviews on transformation and assessment of AIS. It opens the way for the use of group-based Delphi studies to initiate the co-production of knowledge on AIS science at the international level.

Originality

The value of Delphi studies in addressing framework design issues has been little explored so far.

中文翻译：

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如何从转型的角度评估农业创新系统：德尔福共识研究

摘要

目的

本文探讨了德尔福共识研究在多大程度上有助于设计评估农业创新系统 (AIS) 的框架，以及从这些系统在不同国家转型的角度来看。

方法

首先，我们回顾了现有评估方法在评估原理和相关认识论和方法论辩论方面的多样性。其次，我们通过我们开发的基于小组的适用 Delphi 技术促进了框架设计过程，该技术基于具有初始在线调查和六轮丰富受控反馈的专家对话格式。

发现

由于专家就具有标准化和灵活组件的以能力为导向的评估模型达成了共识，因此经过调整的 Delphi 流程似乎是有效的。不同意见仍然存在，但建议作为进一步研究的基础，重点关注高级指标的性质和使用，以及促进决策者从能力发展角度使用证据的方式。检测到在德尔福过程中触发和阻碍共识建立的几个因素。

实际影响

吸取了许多经验教训，以加强对应用于框架设计的进一步德尔福研究的参与和共识。

理论意义

我们的研究强调了关于 AIS 转型和评估的不同世界观。它为使用基于小组的 Delphi 研究在国际层面启动 AIS 科学知识的共同生产开辟了道路。

独创性

迄今为止，很少有人探讨德尔福研究在解决框架设计问题方面的价值。