Evaluation of Organizational Adaptation Mechanisms to Socio-Ecological Change: A Case Study in an Agrarian Community in South Sulawesi

Bahar, Nur Anita

Adaptive Governance Research
Vol. 1 No. 2 (2024): Adaptive Governance Research

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the mechanisms through which agrarian organizations in South Sulawesi adapt to socio-ecological changes. Specifically, it investigates how institutional flexibility, the integration of traditional and modern agricultural knowledge, and collaborative networks contribute to enhancing organizational resilience and community sustainability. Subjects and Methods: The study employed a qualitative case study approach in a selected agrarian community. Data were collected over three months using semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and document analysis. Twenty-five participants were purposively selected, including farmer group leaders, cooperative members, irrigation association heads, traditional leaders, government agricultural officers, and NGO facilitators. Thematic analysis was applied to identify patterns and themes related to organizational adaptation and adaptive management processes. Results: The study found that institutional flexibility enabled organizations to adjust leadership structures, redistribute responsibilities, and adopt participatory decision-making to address environmental uncertainties such as irregular rainfall and pest outbreaks. The integration of traditional ecological knowledge with modern agricultural practices generated context-specific and culturally grounded strategies that supported productivity and ecological balance. Collaborative networks, both within the community and with government and NGOs, strengthened knowledge exchange, resource mobilization, and coordinated responses to socio-ecological challenges, collectively enhancing community resilience. Conclusions: The study concludes that flexible organizational structures, hybrid knowledge systems, and strong collaborative networks are essential for sustaining agrarian communities under environmental variability. These insights advance management theory by emphasizing adaptive, inclusive, and network-based strategies, offering practical guidance for policymakers and practitioners seeking to build resilient and sustainable agricultural systems in complex socio-ecological contexts.