[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] There is difference in diet among the Sukuma and Gogo people, the Sukuma people are very kind, they invite their neighbors to their dish, the Gogo people eat normal food but they are not kind to invite other neighbors to their dishes. The Maasai people really eat food, Maasai people have a tendency of inviting their neighbors to participate to their dishes. This is done by both women and men.

[Assistant] Do you learn any other things from other people of different ethnic groups?

[User]
The Maasai are very kind, they prepare food and take their dishes outside their houses, even if you are passing by his house, if you feel to eat you will be invited, some people like the Sukuma do take their dishes inside their houses, even if you pass by their houses and find them eating, they may not invite you to their dishes. In short, the Maasai do not have issues around tribalism.

We Masai people learn some new techniques from other ethnic groups on how to till the land and the farmers can learn how to keep livestock.

[Assistant] What about children, do they learn some new things from other people of different ethnic groups?

[User]
Children can eat any food from any household.

For the case of Maasai children, they always eat food from their fellow Maasai household or other pastoralists households. Maasai children cannot eat food from a non Maasai household or non-pastoralist household.

Most children do not choose what to eat more especially for the case of vegetables and side dish, be it fish or chicken.

Most Maasai children do interact with children from other ethnic groups and learn some little things. They also gather in different ceremonies regardless of the ethnic groups.

[Assistant] How do you get food and what do you consider in buying certain type of food?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User]
The Maasai are very kind, they prepare food and take their dishes outside their houses, even if you are passing by his house, if you feel to eat you will be invited, some people like the Sukuma do take their dishes inside their houses, even if you pass by their houses and find them eating, they may not invite you to their dishes. In short, the Maasai do not have issues around tribalism.

We Masai people learn some new techniques from other ethnic groups on how to till the land and the farmers can learn how to keep livestock.

[Assistant] What about children, do they learn some new things from other people of different ethnic groups?

[User]
Children can eat any food from any household.

For the case of Maasai children, they always eat food from their fellow Maasai household or other pastoralists households. Maasai children cannot eat food from a non Maasai household or non-pastoralist household.

Most children do not choose what to eat more especially for the case of vegetables and side dish, be it fish or chicken.

Most Maasai children do interact with children from other ethnic groups and learn some little things. They also gather in different ceremonies regardless of the ethnic groups.

[Assistant] How do you get food and what do you consider in buying certain type of food?

[User] We always get food from the village or from the milling machine where we buy maize; we also buy maize flour from the shops and markets.

[Assistant] Which foods are mainly bought by men?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User]
Children can eat any food from any household.

For the case of Maasai children, they always eat food from their fellow Maasai household or other pastoralists households. Maasai children cannot eat food from a non Maasai household or non-pastoralist household.

Most children do not choose what to eat more especially for the case of vegetables and side dish, be it fish or chicken.

Most Maasai children do interact with children from other ethnic groups and learn some little things. They also gather in different ceremonies regardless of the ethnic groups.

[Assistant] How do you get food and what do you consider in buying certain type of food?

[User] We always get food from the village or from the milling machine where we buy maize; we also buy maize flour from the shops and markets.

[Assistant] Which foods are mainly bought by men?

[User]
Maize and rice

Beans, tomatoes

Spinach and all kind of vegetables.

Cassava, peas

In summer we always buy and mill maize.

During rainy season we always depend on milk and stiff porridge. We also buy sacks of beans.

During summer season if we did not grow food crops for the previous season, we decide to sell some of our cows and buy some sacks of maize to obtain food for our families. Rice is a normal food for the pastoralists.

Nowadays people are drinking more tea unlike it was in the previous days. Some take tea twice or thrice a day, this has replaced milk.

[Assistant] Which factors do you consider when you go to buy food items?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] We always get food from the village or from the milling machine where we buy maize; we also buy maize flour from the shops and markets.

[Assistant] Which foods are mainly bought by men?

[User]
Maize and rice

Beans, tomatoes

Spinach and all kind of vegetables.

Cassava, peas

In summer we always buy and mill maize.

During rainy season we always depend on milk and stiff porridge. We also buy sacks of beans.

During summer season if we did not grow food crops for the previous season, we decide to sell some of our cows and buy some sacks of maize to obtain food for our families. Rice is a normal food for the pastoralists.

Nowadays people are drinking more tea unlike it was in the previous days. Some take tea twice or thrice a day, this has replaced milk.

[Assistant] Which factors do you consider when you go to buy food items?

[User]
It is hunger, if there is no enough milk to drink, and then I will have to buy some maize because the family has shortage of food.

The presence of families is another factor which plays a great role in deciding which food items to buy.

Another factor is about how long the food item can last without being rotten.

[Assistant] Is a woman free to go to buy some food items from the shop/markets?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User]
Maize and rice

Beans, tomatoes

Spinach and all kind of vegetables.

Cassava, peas

In summer we always buy and mill maize.

During rainy season we always depend on milk and stiff porridge. We also buy sacks of beans.

During summer season if we did not grow food crops for the previous season, we decide to sell some of our cows and buy some sacks of maize to obtain food for our families. Rice is a normal food for the pastoralists.

Nowadays people are drinking more tea unlike it was in the previous days. Some take tea twice or thrice a day, this has replaced milk.

[Assistant] Which factors do you consider when you go to buy food items?

[User]
It is hunger, if there is no enough milk to drink, and then I will have to buy some maize because the family has shortage of food.

The presence of families is another factor which plays a great role in deciding which food items to buy.

Another factor is about how long the food item can last without being rotten.

[Assistant] Is a woman free to go to buy some food items from the shop/markets?

[User] Yes, some women do go to buy some food items.

[Assistant] Do you have a tendency among the pastoral men to give some money to their wives so as to cover domestic needs or you buy items and bring them home?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User]
It is hunger, if there is no enough milk to drink, and then I will have to buy some maize because the family has shortage of food.

The presence of families is another factor which plays a great role in deciding which food items to buy.

Another factor is about how long the food item can last without being rotten.

[Assistant] Is a woman free to go to buy some food items from the shop/markets?

[User] Yes, some women do go to buy some food items.

[Assistant] Do you have a tendency among the pastoral men to give some money to their wives so as to cover domestic needs or you buy items and bring them home?

[User]
In most cases men buy and bring items to their homes.

It depends on some available circumstances; if you have travelled then you will have to leave some money to sustain the family in your absence.

Sometimes women do engage themselves in small business, so when they earn some money they can also buy domestic items.

[Assistant] Which items are always bought by women/wives in our households?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Yes, some women do go to buy some food items.

[Assistant] Do you have a tendency among the pastoral men to give some money to their wives so as to cover domestic needs or you buy items and bring them home?

[User]
In most cases men buy and bring items to their homes.

It depends on some available circumstances; if you have travelled then you will have to leave some money to sustain the family in your absence.

Sometimes women do engage themselves in small business, so when they earn some money they can also buy domestic items.

[Assistant] Which items are always bought by women/wives in our households?

[User] Sugar and vegetables.

[Assistant] We have realized that among the pastoralists, men do get more concern in buying domestic items including food items compared to women?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User]
In most cases men buy and bring items to their homes.

It depends on some available circumstances; if you have travelled then you will have to leave some money to sustain the family in your absence.

Sometimes women do engage themselves in small business, so when they earn some money they can also buy domestic items.

[Assistant] Which items are always bought by women/wives in our households?

[User] Sugar and vegetables.

[Assistant] We have realized that among the pastoralists, men do get more concern in buying domestic items including food items compared to women?

[User] This is because a woman is a weak person, when she is away from home, children do cry but when I go to buy some domestic needs I come back home earlier than a woman. In short men spend little time to go and come back home more especially when I go to buy some domestic needs.

[Assistant] You talked about women being weak persons, can you elaborate more?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Sugar and vegetables.

[Assistant] We have realized that among the pastoralists, men do get more concern in buying domestic items including food items compared to women?

[User] This is because a woman is a weak person, when she is away from home, children do cry but when I go to buy some domestic needs I come back home earlier than a woman. In short men spend little time to go and come back home more especially when I go to buy some domestic needs.

[Assistant] You talked about women being weak persons, can you elaborate more?

[User]
I do not mean weakness in terms of health wise but rather being cheated by other men along the road, or when they go to shops they may be cheated by shopkeepers through being offered some more items.

Women are there to take care of the family including children and livestock.

Most of our women do not go to markets to buy domestic items because the market is very far from our village, that's why men decide to do this duty.

[Assistant] Which food items do you wish to buy but you fail because they are sold at high prices?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] This is because a woman is a weak person, when she is away from home, children do cry but when I go to buy some domestic needs I come back home earlier than a woman. In short men spend little time to go and come back home more especially when I go to buy some domestic needs.

[Assistant] You talked about women being weak persons, can you elaborate more?

[User]
I do not mean weakness in terms of health wise but rather being cheated by other men along the road, or when they go to shops they may be cheated by shopkeepers through being offered some more items.

Women are there to take care of the family including children and livestock.

Most of our women do not go to markets to buy domestic items because the market is very far from our village, that's why men decide to do this duty.

[Assistant] Which food items do you wish to buy but you fail because they are sold at high prices?

[User]
We buy all food items regardless of their prices.

Most of us do not buy rice because it costs high prices.

In fact, most food items cost high prices, for instance a kilo of beans costs 2200Tsh, sugar costs 2800Tsh, a kilo of rice costs of 2000.

[Assistant] Which foods do you obtain through barter system?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User]
I do not mean weakness in terms of health wise but rather being cheated by other men along the road, or when they go to shops they may be cheated by shopkeepers through being offered some more items.

Women are there to take care of the family including children and livestock.

Most of our women do not go to markets to buy domestic items because the market is very far from our village, that's why men decide to do this duty.

[Assistant] Which food items do you wish to buy but you fail because they are sold at high prices?

[User]
We buy all food items regardless of their prices.

Most of us do not buy rice because it costs high prices.

In fact, most food items cost high prices, for instance a kilo of beans costs 2200Tsh, sugar costs 2800Tsh, a kilo of rice costs of 2000.

[Assistant] Which foods do you obtain through barter system?

[User]
We do not practice barter system.

We always exchange cow to cows, for instance if my fellow has a lot calves, I can exchange with goats. For instance, a single female calf can be exchanged with eight or seven goats.

[Assistant] Let us discuss the shifting of livestock from one place to another in the search of water and pasture. Compare the time when you were still the Moran and now when you are adult men, tell us also how the situation at home changes when you have moved livestock to another place?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User]
We buy all food items regardless of their prices.

Most of us do not buy rice because it costs high prices.

In fact, most food items cost high prices, for instance a kilo of beans costs 2200Tsh, sugar costs 2800Tsh, a kilo of rice costs of 2000.

[Assistant] Which foods do you obtain through barter system?

[User]
We do not practice barter system.

We always exchange cow to cows, for instance if my fellow has a lot calves, I can exchange with goats. For instance, a single female calf can be exchanged with eight or seven goats.

[Assistant] Let us discuss the shifting of livestock from one place to another in the search of water and pasture. Compare the time when you were still the Moran and now when you are adult men, tell us also how the situation at home changes when you have moved livestock to another place?

[User]
When we move livestock from one place to another we always leave some five or four cows at homes, only men do move livestock or other places and all the cooking, cow milking and other activities are done by men.

Only men are involved in shifting livestock, but a woman can also accompany these men so as to help them in food preparation when they are grazing livestock.

Sometimes we shift our livestock and happen to take them to a place with enough pasture, so we always get enough milk from different cows

[Assistant] Ok, what is always the situation for availability of milk at homes when livestock are shifted to another grazing land?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User]
We do not practice barter system.

We always exchange cow to cows, for instance if my fellow has a lot calves, I can exchange with goats. For instance, a single female calf can be exchanged with eight or seven goats.

[Assistant] Let us discuss the shifting of livestock from one place to another in the search of water and pasture. Compare the time when you were still the Moran and now when you are adult men, tell us also how the situation at home changes when you have moved livestock to another place?

[User]
When we move livestock from one place to another we always leave some five or four cows at homes, only men do move livestock or other places and all the cooking, cow milking and other activities are done by men.

Only men are involved in shifting livestock, but a woman can also accompany these men so as to help them in food preparation when they are grazing livestock.

Sometimes we shift our livestock and happen to take them to a place with enough pasture, so we always get enough milk from different cows

[Assistant] Ok, what is always the situation for availability of milk at homes when livestock are shifted to another grazing land?

[User]
Milk always remains little just for children to drink because grown up men and women just depend on other food items apart from milk.

Before shifting livestock to another place, we always make sure that there is enough water and pasture.

It is not that we like to shift our livestock so as to get enough milk, it is a normal case in our society that from August onwards we always experience shortage of milk because the aridity.

[Assistant] When did you started moving with livestock from one place to another?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User]
When we move livestock from one place to another we always leave some five or four cows at homes, only men do move livestock or other places and all the cooking, cow milking and other activities are done by men.

Only men are involved in shifting livestock, but a woman can also accompany these men so as to help them in food preparation when they are grazing livestock.

Sometimes we shift our livestock and happen to take them to a place with enough pasture, so we always get enough milk from different cows

[Assistant] Ok, what is always the situation for availability of milk at homes when livestock are shifted to another grazing land?

[User]
Milk always remains little just for children to drink because grown up men and women just depend on other food items apart from milk.

Before shifting livestock to another place, we always make sure that there is enough water and pasture.

It is not that we like to shift our livestock so as to get enough milk, it is a normal case in our society that from August onwards we always experience shortage of milk because the aridity.

[Assistant] When did you started moving with livestock from one place to another?

[User] Transhumance has been in practice for a long time, for instance some people do shift their livestock to Doma village.

[Assistant] What do you do to ensure the availability of milk at home when cows have been shifted to another place in search of pasture and water?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User]
Milk always remains little just for children to drink because grown up men and women just depend on other food items apart from milk.

Before shifting livestock to another place, we always make sure that there is enough water and pasture.

It is not that we like to shift our livestock so as to get enough milk, it is a normal case in our society that from August onwards we always experience shortage of milk because the aridity.

[Assistant] When did you started moving with livestock from one place to another?

[User] Transhumance has been in practice for a long time, for instance some people do shift their livestock to Doma village.

[Assistant] What do you do to ensure the availability of milk at home when cows have been shifted to another place in search of pasture and water?

[User]
We always leave at least four or five cows to produce milk for our children.

We also buy maize stalks to feed cows so as to increase the production of milk.

Sometimes we always go to find milk from the far places; this is mostly done by families with motor bicycle.

[Assistant] What are the impact to women and children when cows are shifted to another place


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Transhumance has been in practice for a long time, for instance some people do shift their livestock to Doma village.

[Assistant] What do you do to ensure the availability of milk at home when cows have been shifted to another place in search of pasture and water?

[User]
We always leave at least four or five cows to produce milk for our children.

We also buy maize stalks to feed cows so as to increase the production of milk.

Sometimes we always go to find milk from the far places; this is mostly done by families with motor bicycle.

[Assistant] What are the impact to women and children when cows are shifted to another place

[User]
They really get affected, for instance young kids because they do not get enough milk, some children are forced to eat some vegetables while they are not yet mature enough to eat such foods, so they finally undergo diarrhea.

Some children and women become weak and lack vitamins in their bodies.

[Assistant] What about some money your wife earns due to milk selling?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User]
We always leave at least four or five cows to produce milk for our children.

We also buy maize stalks to feed cows so as to increase the production of milk.

Sometimes we always go to find milk from the far places; this is mostly done by families with motor bicycle.

[Assistant] What are the impact to women and children when cows are shifted to another place

[User]
They really get affected, for instance young kids because they do not get enough milk, some children are forced to eat some vegetables while they are not yet mature enough to eat such foods, so they finally undergo diarrhea.

Some children and women become weak and lack vitamins in their bodies.

[Assistant] What about some money your wife earns due to milk selling?

[User]
In this case a woman finds herself having no money because she stops selling milk due to its shortage, in some cases women do sell chicken to earn some money.

For the case of men, they always sell cows to earn some money to buy maize flour.

I suggest that we would like to have a well for our livestock water.

Moreover, nowadays we do not have special breeds of cows for milk production that is why we produce little milk.

Some families are affected by land conflicts between crop farmers and livestock keepers. For instance last week almost seventy cows were killed due to land conflicts

[Assistant] Do you experience conflicts between crop farmers and livestock keepers?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User]
They really get affected, for instance young kids because they do not get enough milk, some children are forced to eat some vegetables while they are not yet mature enough to eat such foods, so they finally undergo diarrhea.

Some children and women become weak and lack vitamins in their bodies.

[Assistant] What about some money your wife earns due to milk selling?

[User]
In this case a woman finds herself having no money because she stops selling milk due to its shortage, in some cases women do sell chicken to earn some money.

For the case of men, they always sell cows to earn some money to buy maize flour.

I suggest that we would like to have a well for our livestock water.

Moreover, nowadays we do not have special breeds of cows for milk production that is why we produce little milk.

Some families are affected by land conflicts between crop farmers and livestock keepers. For instance last week almost seventy cows were killed due to land conflicts

[Assistant] Do you experience conflicts between crop farmers and livestock keepers?

[User] No, we do not have land conflicts between livestock keepers and crop farmers in Mela.

[Assistant] Do you experience misunderstandings between crop farmers and livestock keepers for instance cows invading farm lands or farmers blocking livestock paths/ways?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User]
In this case a woman finds herself having no money because she stops selling milk due to its shortage, in some cases women do sell chicken to earn some money.

For the case of men, they always sell cows to earn some money to buy maize flour.

I suggest that we would like to have a well for our livestock water.

Moreover, nowadays we do not have special breeds of cows for milk production that is why we produce little milk.

Some families are affected by land conflicts between crop farmers and livestock keepers. For instance last week almost seventy cows were killed due to land conflicts

[Assistant] Do you experience conflicts between crop farmers and livestock keepers?

[User] No, we do not have land conflicts between livestock keepers and crop farmers in Mela.

[Assistant] Do you experience misunderstandings between crop farmers and livestock keepers for instance cows invading farm lands or farmers blocking livestock paths/ways?

[User]
Such misunderstandings, sometimes happen but we always settle them peacefully without any conflict.

Sometimes we sit together with our village leaders and we reach common consensus.

[Assistant] For that case you mean that you have not experienced any land conflicts in Mela between farmers and livestock keepers?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] No, we do not have land conflicts between livestock keepers and crop farmers in Mela.

[Assistant] Do you experience misunderstandings between crop farmers and livestock keepers for instance cows invading farm lands or farmers blocking livestock paths/ways?

[User]
Such misunderstandings, sometimes happen but we always settle them peacefully without any conflict.

Sometimes we sit together with our village leaders and we reach common consensus.

[Assistant] For that case you mean that you have not experienced any land conflicts in Mela between farmers and livestock keepers?

[User] Yes.

[Assistant] Let us discuss diet and health issues. For you men, where do you always access information about diet and good nutrition?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User]
Such misunderstandings, sometimes happen but we always settle them peacefully without any conflict.

Sometimes we sit together with our village leaders and we reach common consensus.

[Assistant] For that case you mean that you have not experienced any land conflicts in Mela between farmers and livestock keepers?

[User] Yes.

[Assistant] Let us discuss diet and health issues. For you men, where do you always access information about diet and good nutrition?

[User]
We always access information about nutrition through radio programs, and our women do get this information through seminars from the clinic attendants,

Most of us do access information about diet through radio programs and other media as well as health centers.

[Assistant] Where do you get information about which food you are supposed to eat or prepare in a certain day?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Yes.

[Assistant] Let us discuss diet and health issues. For you men, where do you always access information about diet and good nutrition?

[User]
We always access information about nutrition through radio programs, and our women do get this information through seminars from the clinic attendants,

Most of us do access information about diet through radio programs and other media as well as health centers.

[Assistant] Where do you get information about which food you are supposed to eat or prepare in a certain day?

[User] Sometimes we hear from our friends or we discuss and decide with our wives about the type of food to prepare in a certain day.

[Assistant] How do men in Mela village access information about diet apart from radio and other media programs, from our wives and health centers?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User]
We always access information about nutrition through radio programs, and our women do get this information through seminars from the clinic attendants,

Most of us do access information about diet through radio programs and other media as well as health centers.

[Assistant] Where do you get information about which food you are supposed to eat or prepare in a certain day?

[User] Sometimes we hear from our friends or we discuss and decide with our wives about the type of food to prepare in a certain day.

[Assistant] How do men in Mela village access information about diet apart from radio and other media programs, from our wives and health centers?

[User] We do not have any other means through which we access information about diet and good nutrition.

[Assistant] What do you think is the importance of providing good nutrition information?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Sometimes we hear from our friends or we discuss and decide with our wives about the type of food to prepare in a certain day.

[Assistant] How do men in Mela village access information about diet apart from radio and other media programs, from our wives and health centers?

[User] We do not have any other means through which we access information about diet and good nutrition.

[Assistant] What do you think is the importance of providing good nutrition information?

[User]
I think the government and other partners should provide education about diet and good nutrition so as to enables us to understand the importance of all foods with required nutrients for the human body. Seminars about nutrition should be provided.

TFDA should conduct regular inspection on different food items which are mostly consumed by many people to enable them to understand the quality of these food items.

Seminars should be provided to enable people to understand the importance and quality of the food items.

[Assistant] What do you want to be included or covered through seminars?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] We do not have any other means through which we access information about diet and good nutrition.

[Assistant] What do you think is the importance of providing good nutrition information?

[User]
I think the government and other partners should provide education about diet and good nutrition so as to enables us to understand the importance of all foods with required nutrients for the human body. Seminars about nutrition should be provided.

TFDA should conduct regular inspection on different food items which are mostly consumed by many people to enable them to understand the quality of these food items.

Seminars should be provided to enable people to understand the importance and quality of the food items.

[Assistant] What do you want to be included or covered through seminars?

[User]
Seminars should cover good nutrition and balanced diet.

It should cover diet system.

[Assistant] How do you want the seminars to be provided and to whom it should be provided?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User]
I think the government and other partners should provide education about diet and good nutrition so as to enables us to understand the importance of all foods with required nutrients for the human body. Seminars about nutrition should be provided.

TFDA should conduct regular inspection on different food items which are mostly consumed by many people to enable them to understand the quality of these food items.

Seminars should be provided to enable people to understand the importance and quality of the food items.

[Assistant] What do you want to be included or covered through seminars?

[User]
Seminars should cover good nutrition and balanced diet.

It should cover diet system.

[Assistant] How do you want the seminars to be provided and to whom it should be provided?

[User]
The seminars should be provided to few people who will also go and teach the rest of the villagers.

The seminars should be provided to medical doctors and technicians at our health centers.

I think the medical doctors and technicians should teach the villagers about good nutrition.

I think the seminars providers should deliver their content practically and theoretically to insist on the importance of different food items.

[Assistant] What is the role played by schools, churches, radio, magazines and videos in presenting the information about nutrition?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User]
Seminars should cover good nutrition and balanced diet.

It should cover diet system.

[Assistant] How do you want the seminars to be provided and to whom it should be provided?

[User]
The seminars should be provided to few people who will also go and teach the rest of the villagers.

The seminars should be provided to medical doctors and technicians at our health centers.

I think the medical doctors and technicians should teach the villagers about good nutrition.

I think the seminars providers should deliver their content practically and theoretically to insist on the importance of different food items.

[Assistant] What is the role played by schools, churches, radio, magazines and videos in presenting the information about nutrition?

[User]
Yes, the radio and videos do present this information very correctly and directly.

Churches and schools also present good information about diet and good nutrition.

[Assistant] What is the role played by school students in presenting information about diet?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User]
The seminars should be provided to few people who will also go and teach the rest of the villagers.

The seminars should be provided to medical doctors and technicians at our health centers.

I think the medical doctors and technicians should teach the villagers about good nutrition.

I think the seminars providers should deliver their content practically and theoretically to insist on the importance of different food items.

[Assistant] What is the role played by schools, churches, radio, magazines and videos in presenting the information about nutrition?

[User]
Yes, the radio and videos do present this information very correctly and directly.

Churches and schools also present good information about diet and good nutrition.

[Assistant] What is the role played by school students in presenting information about diet?

[User] In this case secondary students are able to present information about diet compared to primary pupils.

[Assistant] What is the role played by brochures in presenting information about nutrition?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User]
Yes, the radio and videos do present this information very correctly and directly.

Churches and schools also present good information about diet and good nutrition.

[Assistant] What is the role played by school students in presenting information about diet?

[User] In this case secondary students are able to present information about diet compared to primary pupils.

[Assistant] What is the role played by brochures in presenting information about nutrition?

[User]
This method may not help much to present the information about diet, only radio programs and church preaching play great role in presenting information on diet and good nutrition.

The school pupils still have a good chance and can make it better in presenting information about diet because they have topics about nutrition and diet on which they learn different kinds of food items and their importance to our bodies.

For the case of presenting effective information about nutrition, only secondary students, church preaching and radio programs can do it better than other means in Mela village.

[Assistant] Let us think of our college students. Do these college students play any role in presenting information about diet in our society?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] In this case secondary students are able to present information about diet compared to primary pupils.

[Assistant] What is the role played by brochures in presenting information about nutrition?

[User]
This method may not help much to present the information about diet, only radio programs and church preaching play great role in presenting information on diet and good nutrition.

The school pupils still have a good chance and can make it better in presenting information about diet because they have topics about nutrition and diet on which they learn different kinds of food items and their importance to our bodies.

For the case of presenting effective information about nutrition, only secondary students, church preaching and radio programs can do it better than other means in Mela village.

[Assistant] Let us think of our college students. Do these college students play any role in presenting information about diet in our society?

[User] Most of college students do not play any role in presenting any information and skills about diet and good nutrition in our society.

[Assistant] Do these college students still behave like maasai youths?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User]
This method may not help much to present the information about diet, only radio programs and church preaching play great role in presenting information on diet and good nutrition.

The school pupils still have a good chance and can make it better in presenting information about diet because they have topics about nutrition and diet on which they learn different kinds of food items and their importance to our bodies.

For the case of presenting effective information about nutrition, only secondary students, church preaching and radio programs can do it better than other means in Mela village.

[Assistant] Let us think of our college students. Do these college students play any role in presenting information about diet in our society?

[User] Most of college students do not play any role in presenting any information and skills about diet and good nutrition in our society.

[Assistant] Do these college students still behave like maasai youths?

[User] No most of them tend to have changed their way of thinking and behaving.

[Assistant] Thanks, we have come to the end of our discussion. Do you have any additional question or opinion?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Most of college students do not play any role in presenting any information and skills about diet and good nutrition in our society.

[Assistant] Do these college students still behave like maasai youths?

[User] No most of them tend to have changed their way of thinking and behaving.

[Assistant] Thanks, we have come to the end of our discussion. Do you have any additional question or opinion?

[User] We have participated in this discussion, what will be the importance of this discussion to our village?

[Assistant] The importance of this discussion is to enable us to have critical evidence and views in preparing different programs about nutrition which will be put into implementation in the future.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Urm... I think there is a lot of myths about biodiversity offsetting going around - the license to trash is one of them I think. Second, my view on biodiversity offsetting is it is slightly different from everybody elses so... I see it as a metric to evaluate a site rather than as part of the mitigation hierarchy for example. We have had sort of issues with this with Natural England where I have been doing HRAs for them, but they don't like the word biodiversity offsetting in the HRAs. At least locally recording have to have an evaluation procedure rather than biodiversity offsetting, as per the wildlife service.

[Assistant] Do you think the current mitigation hierarchy protects biodiversity in its current state?

[User] It should do, but it's often not the case.

[Assistant] Where do the conflicts arise? Is it in the planning system?

[User] It is within the planning system, there is not enough forward planning for biodiversity. There is one thing I'm trying to promote for biodiversity in the planning system using biodiversity offsetting for site allocations and going through the mitigation hierarchy at the pre-site allocation stage of the plan do that any sensitive sites are knocked out before they even get in to the system for the development

[Assistant] Is there a conflict between the change of UK policy and the integration of EU environmental policy in reference to the Natura 2000 network and different networks that deserve higher priority than other protected habitats. I was wondering if there is any conflict between biodiversity offsetting and the protection of those habitats?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] It should do, but it's often not the case.

[Assistant] Where do the conflicts arise? Is it in the planning system?

[User] It is within the planning system, there is not enough forward planning for biodiversity. There is one thing I'm trying to promote for biodiversity in the planning system using biodiversity offsetting for site allocations and going through the mitigation hierarchy at the pre-site allocation stage of the plan do that any sensitive sites are knocked out before they even get in to the system for the development

[Assistant] Is there a conflict between the change of UK policy and the integration of EU environmental policy in reference to the Natura 2000 network and different networks that deserve higher priority than other protected habitats. I was wondering if there is any conflict between biodiversity offsetting and the protection of those habitats?

[User] No, I don't think so, well if you take it to be a metric to evaluate a site, there is no conflict. I've been using offsetting since 2009 in the Habitat Regulation Assessment - the current metric has evolved from that. I started looking at habitat suitability indices for species back in 2003 and mainly for GAP analysis with the environment records centre, but we realised that it can be used for offsetting impacts. We had a south-west regional spatial strategy which is no more, there was a potential for development north of Tauton, but Natural England where in two minds about it, one officer was saying because of the impacts on the bat colony, it has to ... another which said yes you can do it but you can enhance the habitat out the development.

[Assistant] Is this the DEFRA metric, or is this a separate metric?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] It is within the planning system, there is not enough forward planning for biodiversity. There is one thing I'm trying to promote for biodiversity in the planning system using biodiversity offsetting for site allocations and going through the mitigation hierarchy at the pre-site allocation stage of the plan do that any sensitive sites are knocked out before they even get in to the system for the development

[Assistant] Is there a conflict between the change of UK policy and the integration of EU environmental policy in reference to the Natura 2000 network and different networks that deserve higher priority than other protected habitats. I was wondering if there is any conflict between biodiversity offsetting and the protection of those habitats?

[User] No, I don't think so, well if you take it to be a metric to evaluate a site, there is no conflict. I've been using offsetting since 2009 in the Habitat Regulation Assessment - the current metric has evolved from that. I started looking at habitat suitability indices for species back in 2003 and mainly for GAP analysis with the environment records centre, but we realised that it can be used for offsetting impacts. We had a south-west regional spatial strategy which is no more, there was a potential for development north of Tauton, but Natural England where in two minds about it, one officer was saying because of the impacts on the bat colony, it has to ... another which said yes you can do it but you can enhance the habitat out the development.

[Assistant] Is this the DEFRA metric, or is this a separate metric?

[User] It is a separate metric, before Defra even thought about it. So, when Defra came along with the habitat metric we were a bit alarmed.

[Assistant] Is there also a problem if different ecologists are using different metrics to consider biodiversity offsetting?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] No, I don't think so, well if you take it to be a metric to evaluate a site, there is no conflict. I've been using offsetting since 2009 in the Habitat Regulation Assessment - the current metric has evolved from that. I started looking at habitat suitability indices for species back in 2003 and mainly for GAP analysis with the environment records centre, but we realised that it can be used for offsetting impacts. We had a south-west regional spatial strategy which is no more, there was a potential for development north of Tauton, but Natural England where in two minds about it, one officer was saying because of the impacts on the bat colony, it has to ... another which said yes you can do it but you can enhance the habitat out the development.

[Assistant] Is this the DEFRA metric, or is this a separate metric?

[User] It is a separate metric, before Defra even thought about it. So, when Defra came along with the habitat metric we were a bit alarmed.

[Assistant] Is there also a problem if different ecologists are using different metrics to consider biodiversity offsetting?

[User] Urm, not really.

[Assistant] I mean, is one more simplistic than the other?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] It is a separate metric, before Defra even thought about it. So, when Defra came along with the habitat metric we were a bit alarmed.

[Assistant] Is there also a problem if different ecologists are using different metrics to consider biodiversity offsetting?

[User] Urm, not really.

[Assistant] I mean, is one more simplistic than the other?

[User] yes - definitely. The Defra habitat metric is too simplistic and inadequate for what it should do.

[Assistant] At the moment its a voluntary process. But from your experience should it be made mandatory for any kind of infrastructure projects?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Urm, not really.

[Assistant] I mean, is one more simplistic than the other?

[User] yes - definitely. The Defra habitat metric is too simplistic and inadequate for what it should do.

[Assistant] At the moment its a voluntary process. But from your experience should it be made mandatory for any kind of infrastructure projects?

[User] Yes, I don't see why it can't be.

[Assistant] It is usually referred to no net loss or net gain but should there be a different goal, or does no net loss summarise what we should be aiming for in terms of halting biodiversity loss?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] yes - definitely. The Defra habitat metric is too simplistic and inadequate for what it should do.

[Assistant] At the moment its a voluntary process. But from your experience should it be made mandatory for any kind of infrastructure projects?

[User] Yes, I don't see why it can't be.

[Assistant] It is usually referred to no net loss or net gain but should there be a different goal, or does no net loss summarise what we should be aiming for in terms of halting biodiversity loss?

[User] We should be aiming for a net gain, but if we can't get net gain, we should be aiming for no net loss.

[Assistant] At the moment it's just focussed on biodiversity, but do you think there is any scope to include ecosystem services, when you're assessing the habitat? There are two sides, ecological compensation, but also a social side, if you're translocating a habitat, you might have the ecological compensation, but if the services provided aren't the same, then there might be a loss.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Yes, I don't see why it can't be.

[Assistant] It is usually referred to no net loss or net gain but should there be a different goal, or does no net loss summarise what we should be aiming for in terms of halting biodiversity loss?

[User] We should be aiming for a net gain, but if we can't get net gain, we should be aiming for no net loss.

[Assistant] At the moment it's just focussed on biodiversity, but do you think there is any scope to include ecosystem services, when you're assessing the habitat? There are two sides, ecological compensation, but also a social side, if you're translocating a habitat, you might have the ecological compensation, but if the services provided aren't the same, then there might be a loss.

[User] We're using species based, we need to make sure its accessible to that species still. The offset has to be in the same local as it is coming out of development. So, it's then possible, it's got to be accessible to the population affected, preferably on an ecological network. But, in the same sort of, if it's in the same local, the recreated habitat should be perhaps still accessible to the residents affected.

[Assistant] When undertaking offsets, do you think compensating the affected communities is always necessary? And is it always practical?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] We should be aiming for a net gain, but if we can't get net gain, we should be aiming for no net loss.

[Assistant] At the moment it's just focussed on biodiversity, but do you think there is any scope to include ecosystem services, when you're assessing the habitat? There are two sides, ecological compensation, but also a social side, if you're translocating a habitat, you might have the ecological compensation, but if the services provided aren't the same, then there might be a loss.

[User] We're using species based, we need to make sure its accessible to that species still. The offset has to be in the same local as it is coming out of development. So, it's then possible, it's got to be accessible to the population affected, preferably on an ecological network. But, in the same sort of, if it's in the same local, the recreated habitat should be perhaps still accessible to the residents affected.

[Assistant] When undertaking offsets, do you think compensating the affected communities is always necessary? And is it always practical?

[User] I don't know. It's not always practical, in most cases, the amount of offset it usually accommodated on the development site, it is only a few cases where I've needed to go offsite. Where we have had to go offsite, in that case, there would be no link to the community at all because they are completely separate.

[Assistant] You can consider biodiversity offsetting in terms of the planning system or in terms of an ecosystem market. I was just wondering what your perspective is on valuing ecosystems and how amenable they are to economic value?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] We're using species based, we need to make sure its accessible to that species still. The offset has to be in the same local as it is coming out of development. So, it's then possible, it's got to be accessible to the population affected, preferably on an ecological network. But, in the same sort of, if it's in the same local, the recreated habitat should be perhaps still accessible to the residents affected.

[Assistant] When undertaking offsets, do you think compensating the affected communities is always necessary? And is it always practical?

[User] I don't know. It's not always practical, in most cases, the amount of offset it usually accommodated on the development site, it is only a few cases where I've needed to go offsite. Where we have had to go offsite, in that case, there would be no link to the community at all because they are completely separate.

[Assistant] You can consider biodiversity offsetting in terms of the planning system or in terms of an ecosystem market. I was just wondering what your perspective is on valuing ecosystems and how amenable they are to economic value?

[User] I have no idea at this moment. I work entirely within the planning system.

[Assistant] Do you think there is scope for it to develop in to a full-scale - in the same way we have carbon offsetting - do you think there is scope for there to be a habitat offsetting market?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] I don't know. It's not always practical, in most cases, the amount of offset it usually accommodated on the development site, it is only a few cases where I've needed to go offsite. Where we have had to go offsite, in that case, there would be no link to the community at all because they are completely separate.

[Assistant] You can consider biodiversity offsetting in terms of the planning system or in terms of an ecosystem market. I was just wondering what your perspective is on valuing ecosystems and how amenable they are to economic value?

[User] I have no idea at this moment. I work entirely within the planning system.

[Assistant] Do you think there is scope for it to develop in to a full-scale - in the same way we have carbon offsetting - do you think there is scope for there to be a habitat offsetting market?

[User] Possibly, yeah, it would just take more methods how to do it.

[Assistant] Next to focus on the agenda building capacity - I think the best thing about this kind of like human-centered or ecosystem services approach is that it raised concern about the environment to the forefront of policy and market based instruments are being seen as the principal tool to halt biodiversity loss. I was wondering your perspective of, what role do you think they play in meeting EU targets for biodiversity loss or gain?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] I have no idea at this moment. I work entirely within the planning system.

[Assistant] Do you think there is scope for it to develop in to a full-scale - in the same way we have carbon offsetting - do you think there is scope for there to be a habitat offsetting market?

[User] Possibly, yeah, it would just take more methods how to do it.

[Assistant] Next to focus on the agenda building capacity - I think the best thing about this kind of like human-centered or ecosystem services approach is that it raised concern about the environment to the forefront of policy and market based instruments are being seen as the principal tool to halt biodiversity loss. I was wondering your perspective of, what role do you think they play in meeting EU targets for biodiversity loss or gain?

[User] I have no experience of that, all my offsets have been arranged between a developer and a landowner, without a market being involved at all

[Assistant] Do you think the inclusion of a market could complicate things, or could it potentially ...


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Possibly, yeah, it would just take more methods how to do it.

[Assistant] Next to focus on the agenda building capacity - I think the best thing about this kind of like human-centered or ecosystem services approach is that it raised concern about the environment to the forefront of policy and market based instruments are being seen as the principal tool to halt biodiversity loss. I was wondering your perspective of, what role do you think they play in meeting EU targets for biodiversity loss or gain?

[User] I have no experience of that, all my offsets have been arranged between a developer and a landowner, without a market being involved at all

[Assistant] Do you think the inclusion of a market could complicate things, or could it potentially ...

[User] Potentially complicate things and lead to biodiversity loss. Because if you're looking at a market-based offset, your offset is being directed to somewhere where it might not benefit the species population affected for example.

[Assistant] Yes - that is what I meant: trading down, trading up, trading between offsets, so having a store of offsets then trading them financially.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] I have no experience of that, all my offsets have been arranged between a developer and a landowner, without a market being involved at all

[Assistant] Do you think the inclusion of a market could complicate things, or could it potentially ...

[User] Potentially complicate things and lead to biodiversity loss. Because if you're looking at a market-based offset, your offset is being directed to somewhere where it might not benefit the species population affected for example.

[Assistant] Yes - that is what I meant: trading down, trading up, trading between offsets, so having a store of offsets then trading them financially.

[User] Yes I have got concerns about that.

[Assistant] I suppose that covers the next question on the increasing emphasis on market based instruments, but what role do you think biodiversity offsetting will play either as a market based instrument or as a planning tool in realising the goals of the Natura 2000 network or reversing biodiversity loss?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Potentially complicate things and lead to biodiversity loss. Because if you're looking at a market-based offset, your offset is being directed to somewhere where it might not benefit the species population affected for example.

[Assistant] Yes - that is what I meant: trading down, trading up, trading between offsets, so having a store of offsets then trading them financially.

[User] Yes I have got concerns about that.

[Assistant] I suppose that covers the next question on the increasing emphasis on market based instruments, but what role do you think biodiversity offsetting will play either as a market based instrument or as a planning tool in realising the goals of the Natura 2000 network or reversing biodiversity loss?

[User] In the planning system, I can see it being a useful tool for evaluate sites where development is occurring. Currently we're just using a subjective approach to what that site is worth to a species. It provides more certainty for the developer.

[Assistant] Is there any kind of limit to like-for-like offsets, in terms of an ancient woodland, or something that requires a long restoration period.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Yes I have got concerns about that.

[Assistant] I suppose that covers the next question on the increasing emphasis on market based instruments, but what role do you think biodiversity offsetting will play either as a market based instrument or as a planning tool in realising the goals of the Natura 2000 network or reversing biodiversity loss?

[User] In the planning system, I can see it being a useful tool for evaluate sites where development is occurring. Currently we're just using a subjective approach to what that site is worth to a species. It provides more certainty for the developer.

[Assistant] Is there any kind of limit to like-for-like offsets, in terms of an ancient woodland, or something that requires a long restoration period.

[User] Yes - we wouldn't touch them at all, they should have been eliminated in the pre- allocation stage if there is a site like that.

[Assistant] After speaking to one of the offsetters, ancient woodlands have been included in the HS2 high speed rail and I was wondering how you think that got through the planning system?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] In the planning system, I can see it being a useful tool for evaluate sites where development is occurring. Currently we're just using a subjective approach to what that site is worth to a species. It provides more certainty for the developer.

[Assistant] Is there any kind of limit to like-for-like offsets, in terms of an ancient woodland, or something that requires a long restoration period.

[User] Yes - we wouldn't touch them at all, they should have been eliminated in the pre- allocation stage if there is a site like that.

[Assistant] After speaking to one of the offsetters, ancient woodlands have been included in the HS2 high speed rail and I was wondering how you think that got through the planning system?

[User] They have drawn it on a map and it's there and they're not going to shift

[Assistant] Then, maybe a last point, is the mitigation hierarchy a well-recognised framework by businesses when they engage in mitigating biodiversity?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Yes - we wouldn't touch them at all, they should have been eliminated in the pre- allocation stage if there is a site like that.

[Assistant] After speaking to one of the offsetters, ancient woodlands have been included in the HS2 high speed rail and I was wondering how you think that got through the planning system?

[User] They have drawn it on a map and it's there and they're not going to shift

[Assistant] Then, maybe a last point, is the mitigation hierarchy a well-recognised framework by businesses when they engage in mitigating biodiversity?

[User] I'm sure their ecological consultants are aware of it, I don't know if the developers are.

[Assistant] Do you think it's useful for developers or do you think it adds more or less red tape around development


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] They have drawn it on a map and it's there and they're not going to shift

[Assistant] Then, maybe a last point, is the mitigation hierarchy a well-recognised framework by businesses when they engage in mitigating biodiversity?

[User] I'm sure their ecological consultants are aware of it, I don't know if the developers are.

[Assistant] Do you think it's useful for developers or do you think it adds more or less red tape around development

[User] Well, it shouldn't add red tape, they should be aware of it. looking at sites pre- allocation.

[Assistant] From a council perspective, after speaking to a few people about the cuts the council is receiving, biodiversity offsetting can leverage a lot of private sector money towards conservation and supplement the government provision of conservation. Which could be great for meeting goals, but what are the risks of private sector engagement in conservation? Perhaps if biodiversity offsetting was integrated into a market system and you had brokers that were selling offsetters and developers that were buying them.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] I'm sure their ecological consultants are aware of it, I don't know if the developers are.

[Assistant] Do you think it's useful for developers or do you think it adds more or less red tape around development

[User] Well, it shouldn't add red tape, they should be aware of it. looking at sites pre- allocation.

[Assistant] From a council perspective, after speaking to a few people about the cuts the council is receiving, biodiversity offsetting can leverage a lot of private sector money towards conservation and supplement the government provision of conservation. Which could be great for meeting goals, but what are the risks of private sector engagement in conservation? Perhaps if biodiversity offsetting was integrated into a market system and you had brokers that were selling offsetters and developers that were buying them.

[User] No, I don't. Because the location of the offsets in relation to the development for a start. I haven't come across a need for doing it and I have been doing them since 2009.

[Assistant] So should all offsets be geographically bound?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Well, it shouldn't add red tape, they should be aware of it. looking at sites pre- allocation.

[Assistant] From a council perspective, after speaking to a few people about the cuts the council is receiving, biodiversity offsetting can leverage a lot of private sector money towards conservation and supplement the government provision of conservation. Which could be great for meeting goals, but what are the risks of private sector engagement in conservation? Perhaps if biodiversity offsetting was integrated into a market system and you had brokers that were selling offsetters and developers that were buying them.

[User] No, I don't. Because the location of the offsets in relation to the development for a start. I haven't come across a need for doing it and I have been doing them since 2009.

[Assistant] So should all offsets be geographically bound?

[User] Yes - otherwise you're gonna get biodiversity loss.

[Assistant] What factors should determine the compensation, ecological compensation.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] No, I don't. Because the location of the offsets in relation to the development for a start. I haven't come across a need for doing it and I have been doing them since 2009.

[Assistant] So should all offsets be geographically bound?

[User] Yes - otherwise you're gonna get biodiversity loss.

[Assistant] What factors should determine the compensation, ecological compensation.

[User] It should be based on the receptors on the development side, you need to replace the habitat within accessible range with that population.

[Assistant] Do the community receive informed consent of what is happening, or is there enough stakeholder engagement?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Yes - otherwise you're gonna get biodiversity loss.

[Assistant] What factors should determine the compensation, ecological compensation.

[User] It should be based on the receptors on the development side, you need to replace the habitat within accessible range with that population.

[Assistant] Do the community receive informed consent of what is happening, or is there enough stakeholder engagement?

[User] People?

[Assistant] Tes - is there enough stakeholder engagement?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] It should be based on the receptors on the development side, you need to replace the habitat within accessible range with that population.

[Assistant] Do the community receive informed consent of what is happening, or is there enough stakeholder engagement?

[User] People?

[Assistant] Tes - is there enough stakeholder engagement?

[User] We haven't had any involvement.

[Assistant] Should there be more engagement of stakeholders?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] People?

[Assistant] Tes - is there enough stakeholder engagement?

[User] We haven't had any involvement.

[Assistant] Should there be more engagement of stakeholders?

[User] Not really, they don't have any ecological expertise so... generally... we do have some professors.

[Assistant] If the communities are affected by the development, would they be consulted by the developers?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Proving myself to the more senior employees that have to start using this cloud software

[Assistant] And if your organizational change project could be perceived as a story… Who was the protagonist?

[User] Board of directors

[Assistant] Who was the antagonist?

[User] HR

[Assistant] What inciting moment motivated the protagonist to start the journey (the what if…)?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Board of directors

[Assistant] Who was the antagonist?

[User] HR

[Assistant] What inciting moment motivated the protagonist to start the journey (the what if…)?

[User] Unfortunately, nothing “sexy” here, just following trends and meeting the requirements of the supervisory board requesting higher profitability and cutting cost

[Assistant] What was the biggest conflict?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] HR

[Assistant] What inciting moment motivated the protagonist to start the journey (the what if…)?

[User] Unfortunately, nothing “sexy” here, just following trends and meeting the requirements of the supervisory board requesting higher profitability and cutting cost

[Assistant] What was the biggest conflict?

[User] Between the HR who was sponsoring the change project and people that have witnessed their friends and colleagues being laid off because of this new software.

[Assistant] What would be the genre of this story?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Unfortunately, nothing “sexy” here, just following trends and meeting the requirements of the supervisory board requesting higher profitability and cutting cost

[Assistant] What was the biggest conflict?

[User] Between the HR who was sponsoring the change project and people that have witnessed their friends and colleagues being laid off because of this new software.

[Assistant] What would be the genre of this story?

[User] A documentary

[Assistant] What would be the moral of this story?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Between the HR who was sponsoring the change project and people that have witnessed their friends and colleagues being laid off because of this new software.

[Assistant] What would be the genre of this story?

[User] A documentary

[Assistant] What would be the moral of this story?

[User] Big money doesn’t care if you like change or not.

[Assistant] What was the dark inversion of this story (good gone bad, or bad gone good)?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] A documentary

[Assistant] What would be the moral of this story?

[User] Big money doesn’t care if you like change or not.

[Assistant] What was the dark inversion of this story (good gone bad, or bad gone good)?

[User] My ethical principles were heavily scrutinized and I started seeing the world through the eyes of big corporations, not interested in anything but the bottom line.

[Assistant] What is your most frequently used metaphor?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Big money doesn’t care if you like change or not.

[Assistant] What was the dark inversion of this story (good gone bad, or bad gone good)?

[User] My ethical principles were heavily scrutinized and I started seeing the world through the eyes of big corporations, not interested in anything but the bottom line.

[Assistant] What is your most frequently used metaphor?

[User] We’re here to nip the bud.

[Assistant] What is your biggest revelation?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] My ethical principles were heavily scrutinized and I started seeing the world through the eyes of big corporations, not interested in anything but the bottom line.

[Assistant] What is your most frequently used metaphor?

[User] We’re here to nip the bud.

[Assistant] What is your biggest revelation?

[User] A good way to cut people cost is to implement a new software which will “improve productivity”

[Assistant] Talk me through an anecdote which demonstrates how change recipients were behaving when they had no knowledge of the upcoming organizational change.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] We’re here to nip the bud.

[Assistant] What is your biggest revelation?

[User] A good way to cut people cost is to implement a new software which will “improve productivity”

[Assistant] Talk me through an anecdote which demonstrates how change recipients were behaving when they had no knowledge of the upcoming organizational change.

[User] Well you could think of a traditional post-transition rich corporation where people have big offices and everyone enjoys their workday as an excuse for being paid to socialize. A lot of these people weren’t capable of doing much work at a high level anyway…

[Assistant] Could you recall how the knowledge of organizational change was initially started?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] A good way to cut people cost is to implement a new software which will “improve productivity”

[Assistant] Talk me through an anecdote which demonstrates how change recipients were behaving when they had no knowledge of the upcoming organizational change.

[User] Well you could think of a traditional post-transition rich corporation where people have big offices and everyone enjoys their workday as an excuse for being paid to socialize. A lot of these people weren’t capable of doing much work at a high level anyway…

[Assistant] Could you recall how the knowledge of organizational change was initially started?

[User] It was kicked-off with a typical corporate email, but we were able to secure a strong budget for promotional efforts. So we set up a company-wide event with professional entertainment to make a big event out of it. I can’t recall the actual phrasing though, but it wasn’t anything special.

[Assistant] How did you articulate the “awakening” moment where the organizational change was formally initiated?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Well you could think of a traditional post-transition rich corporation where people have big offices and everyone enjoys their workday as an excuse for being paid to socialize. A lot of these people weren’t capable of doing much work at a high level anyway…

[Assistant] Could you recall how the knowledge of organizational change was initially started?

[User] It was kicked-off with a typical corporate email, but we were able to secure a strong budget for promotional efforts. So we set up a company-wide event with professional entertainment to make a big event out of it. I can’t recall the actual phrasing though, but it wasn’t anything special.

[Assistant] How did you articulate the “awakening” moment where the organizational change was formally initiated?

[User] Well I did my best to convey the message of transformation, how this is the best possible thing and how that is going to ensure that people still keep their jobs, despite the fact that a lot of people actually got fired.

[Assistant] How did change recipients express doubt towards the change project?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] It was kicked-off with a typical corporate email, but we were able to secure a strong budget for promotional efforts. So we set up a company-wide event with professional entertainment to make a big event out of it. I can’t recall the actual phrasing though, but it wasn’t anything special.

[Assistant] How did you articulate the “awakening” moment where the organizational change was formally initiated?

[User] Well I did my best to convey the message of transformation, how this is the best possible thing and how that is going to ensure that people still keep their jobs, despite the fact that a lot of people actually got fired.

[Assistant] How did change recipients express doubt towards the change project?

[User] They were pretty vocal about it, saying that this was all just a conspiracy to launder money, reduce costs and justify layovers.

[Assistant] Could you recall an anecdote of how you addressed this challenge?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Well I did my best to convey the message of transformation, how this is the best possible thing and how that is going to ensure that people still keep their jobs, despite the fact that a lot of people actually got fired.

[Assistant] How did change recipients express doubt towards the change project?

[User] They were pretty vocal about it, saying that this was all just a conspiracy to launder money, reduce costs and justify layovers.

[Assistant] Could you recall an anecdote of how you addressed this challenge?

[User] Well I’ve tried my best in explaining that this is the direction in which this organization was moving in, and assured them that I will make sure that nothing is lacking and that noone will be put in danger. I’ve even reached out to HR in order to ensure some guarantees that no additional layovers will be done.

[Assistant] Talk me through an example of growing reluctance to accept the change.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] They were pretty vocal about it, saying that this was all just a conspiracy to launder money, reduce costs and justify layovers.

[Assistant] Could you recall an anecdote of how you addressed this challenge?

[User] Well I’ve tried my best in explaining that this is the direction in which this organization was moving in, and assured them that I will make sure that nothing is lacking and that noone will be put in danger. I’ve even reached out to HR in order to ensure some guarantees that no additional layovers will be done.

[Assistant] Talk me through an example of growing reluctance to accept the change.

[User] Well there was definitely an excess of people who were resistant to change and opposed the software usage. They were participating in testing sessions and frequently complained about various meaningless specifics that were supposed to portray the software as useless. The more people got involved in testing sessions, the stronger this alliance building activities grew.

[Assistant] Who was challenging you the most?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Well I’ve tried my best in explaining that this is the direction in which this organization was moving in, and assured them that I will make sure that nothing is lacking and that noone will be put in danger. I’ve even reached out to HR in order to ensure some guarantees that no additional layovers will be done.

[Assistant] Talk me through an example of growing reluctance to accept the change.

[User] Well there was definitely an excess of people who were resistant to change and opposed the software usage. They were participating in testing sessions and frequently complained about various meaningless specifics that were supposed to portray the software as useless. The more people got involved in testing sessions, the stronger this alliance building activities grew.

[Assistant] Who was challenging you the most?

[User] Interestingly, engineers from Production, whose colleagues were dominantly laid off during the first phase of the project. One of their comments was: “There is no amount of perfume that can hide the stench of death coming from people working in HR”.

[Assistant] How did you manage to achieve “acceptance”?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Well there was definitely an excess of people who were resistant to change and opposed the software usage. They were participating in testing sessions and frequently complained about various meaningless specifics that were supposed to portray the software as useless. The more people got involved in testing sessions, the stronger this alliance building activities grew.

[Assistant] Who was challenging you the most?

[User] Interestingly, engineers from Production, whose colleagues were dominantly laid off during the first phase of the project. One of their comments was: “There is no amount of perfume that can hide the stench of death coming from people working in HR”.

[Assistant] How did you manage to achieve “acceptance”?

[User] Well we were moving back and forth, it was more of a continuum instead of a positive and definite state. We coerced these resistance members to participate in formal events, and threatened to report them to their superiors, which quickly yielded results.

[Assistant] What exactly did you communicate to change recipients?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Interestingly, engineers from Production, whose colleagues were dominantly laid off during the first phase of the project. One of their comments was: “There is no amount of perfume that can hide the stench of death coming from people working in HR”.

[Assistant] How did you manage to achieve “acceptance”?

[User] Well we were moving back and forth, it was more of a continuum instead of a positive and definite state. We coerced these resistance members to participate in formal events, and threatened to report them to their superiors, which quickly yielded results.

[Assistant] What exactly did you communicate to change recipients?

[User] My team included managers from different levels and we agreed on how we would like to approach the general audience in terms of communication. We emphasized that this was just the first phase and that there will be extensive education available for people to learn how to use the software. Kotter’s model helped a lot here, as it was the foundation for our implementation plan.

[Assistant] Could you recall how change recipients experimented with available knowledge after accepting change?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Well we were moving back and forth, it was more of a continuum instead of a positive and definite state. We coerced these resistance members to participate in formal events, and threatened to report them to their superiors, which quickly yielded results.

[Assistant] What exactly did you communicate to change recipients?

[User] My team included managers from different levels and we agreed on how we would like to approach the general audience in terms of communication. We emphasized that this was just the first phase and that there will be extensive education available for people to learn how to use the software. Kotter’s model helped a lot here, as it was the foundation for our implementation plan.

[Assistant] Could you recall how change recipients experimented with available knowledge after accepting change?

[User] Well once they started clicking through the system, they were quickly thinking of ways to furthermore improve the software, since our on-site consultants were coordinating the work with the third party development company. It was more about “what’s wrong with this software” than it was about selling its benefits.

[Assistant] What would you say was the moment of “big change” that initiated this positive change in attitudes of change recipients?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] My team included managers from different levels and we agreed on how we would like to approach the general audience in terms of communication. We emphasized that this was just the first phase and that there will be extensive education available for people to learn how to use the software. Kotter’s model helped a lot here, as it was the foundation for our implementation plan.

[Assistant] Could you recall how change recipients experimented with available knowledge after accepting change?

[User] Well once they started clicking through the system, they were quickly thinking of ways to furthermore improve the software, since our on-site consultants were coordinating the work with the third party development company. It was more about “what’s wrong with this software” than it was about selling its benefits.

[Assistant] What would you say was the moment of “big change” that initiated this positive change in attitudes of change recipients?

[User] Definitely the formal go live deadline that I intentionally communicated with a buffer, giving the team an extra couple of days to pull the workload and get things done. I guess it showed the team that I was on their side and they wanted to repay the favor.

[Assistant] Who did you reach out to first when experimenting after this “big change”?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Well once they started clicking through the system, they were quickly thinking of ways to furthermore improve the software, since our on-site consultants were coordinating the work with the third party development company. It was more about “what’s wrong with this software” than it was about selling its benefits.

[Assistant] What would you say was the moment of “big change” that initiated this positive change in attitudes of change recipients?

[User] Definitely the formal go live deadline that I intentionally communicated with a buffer, giving the team an extra couple of days to pull the workload and get things done. I guess it showed the team that I was on their side and they wanted to repay the favor.

[Assistant] Who did you reach out to first when experimenting after this “big change”?

[User] Well I went to talk with my biggest opponent, a fairly influential manager from Production in an effort to clear the air. I wanted to showcase respect and try to get her onboard by openly trash talking the software and asking for her expert opinion on furthermore improvement.

[Assistant] Could you recall an anecdote of how these events went?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Definitely the formal go live deadline that I intentionally communicated with a buffer, giving the team an extra couple of days to pull the workload and get things done. I guess it showed the team that I was on their side and they wanted to repay the favor.

[Assistant] Who did you reach out to first when experimenting after this “big change”?

[User] Well I went to talk with my biggest opponent, a fairly influential manager from Production in an effort to clear the air. I wanted to showcase respect and try to get her onboard by openly trash talking the software and asking for her expert opinion on furthermore improvement.

[Assistant] Could you recall an anecdote of how these events went?

[User] It didn’t really go as I planned as emotional reactions were still pretty strong. I had the feeling that the more I pushed, the less I was able to achieve and the more I was feeling exhausted. Now that I think about it, I think I never really managed to get her onboard despite my best efforts, I was probably doing something wrong.

[Assistant] What exactly did you communicate to your change recipients after they expressed doubt for the second time?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] Well I went to talk with my biggest opponent, a fairly influential manager from Production in an effort to clear the air. I wanted to showcase respect and try to get her onboard by openly trash talking the software and asking for her expert opinion on furthermore improvement.

[Assistant] Could you recall an anecdote of how these events went?

[User] It didn’t really go as I planned as emotional reactions were still pretty strong. I had the feeling that the more I pushed, the less I was able to achieve and the more I was feeling exhausted. Now that I think about it, I think I never really managed to get her onboard despite my best efforts, I was probably doing something wrong.

[Assistant] What exactly did you communicate to your change recipients after they expressed doubt for the second time?

[User] I tried my best in showing that this doubt was a normal part of the process and that I was experiencing a similar sensation, simply because there was just too much work to do, and the deadlines were really stiff and hard to manage. Projects like this tend to take a turn for the worse for some inexplicable reason, and I guess it’s my job to mitigate this effect and make sure that people who are supposed to use this software don’t get burned with it.

[Assistant] Could you recall who was the loudest and how you addressed these comments?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] It didn’t really go as I planned as emotional reactions were still pretty strong. I had the feeling that the more I pushed, the less I was able to achieve and the more I was feeling exhausted. Now that I think about it, I think I never really managed to get her onboard despite my best efforts, I was probably doing something wrong.

[Assistant] What exactly did you communicate to your change recipients after they expressed doubt for the second time?

[User] I tried my best in showing that this doubt was a normal part of the process and that I was experiencing a similar sensation, simply because there was just too much work to do, and the deadlines were really stiff and hard to manage. Projects like this tend to take a turn for the worse for some inexplicable reason, and I guess it’s my job to mitigate this effect and make sure that people who are supposed to use this software don’t get burned with it.

[Assistant] Could you recall who was the loudest and how you addressed these comments?

[User] After this second doubt phase after our go-live, one of my biggest allies from our inhouse business solutions department started publicly expressing doubt in a fairly aggressive manner, leaving some of my bluffs exposed. This played out pretty bad for me, but I was thinking that I already lost, so I might as well try to pull off something dramatical and try to reconcile this conflict. I think the effect was 50:50, in a sense that I’ve gone into a conflict with this manager, then publicly reconciled the conflict, but the scars still remained and the people weren’t all that convinced.

[Assistant] Talk me through how you handled this second round of growing reluctance among change recipients.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] I tried my best in showing that this doubt was a normal part of the process and that I was experiencing a similar sensation, simply because there was just too much work to do, and the deadlines were really stiff and hard to manage. Projects like this tend to take a turn for the worse for some inexplicable reason, and I guess it’s my job to mitigate this effect and make sure that people who are supposed to use this software don’t get burned with it.

[Assistant] Could you recall who was the loudest and how you addressed these comments?

[User] After this second doubt phase after our go-live, one of my biggest allies from our inhouse business solutions department started publicly expressing doubt in a fairly aggressive manner, leaving some of my bluffs exposed. This played out pretty bad for me, but I was thinking that I already lost, so I might as well try to pull off something dramatical and try to reconcile this conflict. I think the effect was 50:50, in a sense that I’ve gone into a conflict with this manager, then publicly reconciled the conflict, but the scars still remained and the people weren’t all that convinced.

[Assistant] Talk me through how you handled this second round of growing reluctance among change recipients.

[User] As these influential managers started openly discussing the purpose of this project, I was under the impression that there was quite a lot of work being done on keeping the resistance energized. So I started provoking reactions implying that their energy wasn’t well spent and that we could have done better if they had focused on the implementation instead of ranting. I was aware that I couldn’t handle this myself and by talking individually to the core team members, so I asked for support form the senior leadership. CFO was a fairly strong ally and a powerful ally, however her perception within the organization wasn’t all that good, since she was pinned as the “criminal” behind layovers. In the end I managed to get some support from the Sales director, who proved to be the voice of reason and stabilize the riot.

[Assistant] What were the biggest obstacles during this stage?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] After this second doubt phase after our go-live, one of my biggest allies from our inhouse business solutions department started publicly expressing doubt in a fairly aggressive manner, leaving some of my bluffs exposed. This played out pretty bad for me, but I was thinking that I already lost, so I might as well try to pull off something dramatical and try to reconcile this conflict. I think the effect was 50:50, in a sense that I’ve gone into a conflict with this manager, then publicly reconciled the conflict, but the scars still remained and the people weren’t all that convinced.

[Assistant] Talk me through how you handled this second round of growing reluctance among change recipients.

[User] As these influential managers started openly discussing the purpose of this project, I was under the impression that there was quite a lot of work being done on keeping the resistance energized. So I started provoking reactions implying that their energy wasn’t well spent and that we could have done better if they had focused on the implementation instead of ranting. I was aware that I couldn’t handle this myself and by talking individually to the core team members, so I asked for support form the senior leadership. CFO was a fairly strong ally and a powerful ally, however her perception within the organization wasn’t all that good, since she was pinned as the “criminal” behind layovers. In the end I managed to get some support from the Sales director, who proved to be the voice of reason and stabilize the riot.

[Assistant] What were the biggest obstacles during this stage?

[User] I guess the biggest obstacles were the fact that people started doubting all those benefits that I was proclaiming at the beginning, and started focusing on all the faults of the projects. They all shared a common sensation of being threatened and suffering from survivor's guilt or some PTSD, I don’t know. There were some strong emotions involved definitely, and me advocating for the project wasn’t received as genuine or authentic, but was perceived as being the messenger of death.

[Assistant] Could you recall the most difficult conversation you’ve had to manage during this phase?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] As these influential managers started openly discussing the purpose of this project, I was under the impression that there was quite a lot of work being done on keeping the resistance energized. So I started provoking reactions implying that their energy wasn’t well spent and that we could have done better if they had focused on the implementation instead of ranting. I was aware that I couldn’t handle this myself and by talking individually to the core team members, so I asked for support form the senior leadership. CFO was a fairly strong ally and a powerful ally, however her perception within the organization wasn’t all that good, since she was pinned as the “criminal” behind layovers. In the end I managed to get some support from the Sales director, who proved to be the voice of reason and stabilize the riot.

[Assistant] What were the biggest obstacles during this stage?

[User] I guess the biggest obstacles were the fact that people started doubting all those benefits that I was proclaiming at the beginning, and started focusing on all the faults of the projects. They all shared a common sensation of being threatened and suffering from survivor's guilt or some PTSD, I don’t know. There were some strong emotions involved definitely, and me advocating for the project wasn’t received as genuine or authentic, but was perceived as being the messenger of death.

[Assistant] Could you recall the most difficult conversation you’ve had to manage during this phase?

[User] Honestly, I can’t put my finger on a specific one, since they were pretty similar. I had to endure ad hominem attacks on me and the project, without having the liberty to respond in a fully open and honest way. I guess the part about me being from HR and smelling like death really struck a chord with me and rubbed me the wrong way, especially coming from a person with low emotional intelligence.

[Assistant] Could you recall an anecdote covering the regression of change recipients from the stage of accepting change towards resisting change again.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for academic interviews.

[User] I guess the biggest obstacles were the fact that people started doubting all those benefits that I was proclaiming at the beginning, and started focusing on all the faults of the projects. They all shared a common sensation of being threatened and suffering from survivor's guilt or some PTSD, I don’t know. There were some strong emotions involved definitely, and me advocating for the project wasn’t received as genuine or authentic, but was perceived as being the messenger of death.

[Assistant] Could you recall the most difficult conversation you’ve had to manage during this phase?

[User] Honestly, I can’t put my finger on a specific one, since they were pretty similar. I had to endure ad hominem attacks on me and the project, without having the liberty to respond in a fully open and honest way. I guess the part about me being from HR and smelling like death really struck a chord with me and rubbed me the wrong way, especially coming from a person with low emotional intelligence.

[Assistant] Could you recall an anecdote covering the regression of change recipients from the stage of accepting change towards resisting change again.

[User] Well that’s definitely an extension of this growing resentment and questioning if we’ve even done anything or if we were just clicking through all of those excel sheets. The biggest regression moment was when we had to report our progress and we realized that the rest of the organization in other countries was facing similar problems, where this project didn’t really make sense on a larger scale. All that work appeared to have been done for nothing, and all those people were laid off without a meaningful reason. Everything quickly turned into a meaningless effort.

[Assistant] What were the most important insights from this stage in your opinion?