Constructing an Evaluation Framework for Eco-Museum Operations-Management Performance, Based on the Case of Jhushan, Taiwan

Abstract

Abstract:The bamboo-art industry in Taiwan's Jhushan Township is inseparable from local life. In the face of local industrial-development difficulties in smaller towns, the Taiwan government aimed to achieve a range of (re)development goals using eco-museums as collaboration platforms and required such museums to combine their operations management with cultural preservation, local industrial development, and local residents' goals. As such, the likely future performance of such operations management has emerged as a crucially important factor in decision-making about whether such museums should be constructed. This study, therefore, reviews the relevant literature on the operations-management performance of museums, with special attention to eco-museums, and proposes an operations-management performance measurement framework for eco-museums based on that review and a two-stage questionnaire administered to experts. The first stage utilized the Fuzzy Delphi Method, which focuses on impact factors, and the second, the Analytica Network Process Method, deals with performance factors. The results indicate that the key impacts on the performance of eco-museums and their operations management were, in order of importance, (1) community symbiosis, (2) cultural inheritance, and (3) regional revitalization. The preservation of cultural heritage, local identity, and community participation are the most important criteria in the operations management of eco-museums, and Jhushan Town can promote such museums through these guidelines.

Community-Based Processes for Revitalizing Heritage: Questioning Justice in the Experimental Practice of Ecomuseums

“…The 11 ecomuseums, that have been formally recognized according to DA n.04/GAB/2020 open some questions. In relation to the recurring characteristics of well experimented ecomuseums [60][61][62][63]-as summarized in Table 1-it is possible to elaborate the following statements. First, in terms of "Residents' identification/benefits": The existence of a community-based association as the promoter/coordinator of many ecomuseums does not automatically guarantee an authentic community-based character.…”

“…At the regional level, the recognition of ecomuseums is already a first step toward the spread of this practice in the region, as it may encourage local communities to generate these practices in a clear normative framework, but recognition has to acknowledge the context-based, practice-based characters of ecomuseums. In this respect, it is necessary to clearly identify the characteristics and features of the community-based component [60][61][62][63] otherwise-again with the words of Stefano and Davis [28]-the label "ecomuseum" could have been used in vain.…”

“…Many scholars identify recurring characteristics for evaluating well experimented ecomuseums. Here, I used the work of Sutter et al, Liu and Lee, Corsane et al, Hsu et al [60][61][62][63] for raising some questions aimed at exploring ecomuseums in the field, with a methodology that blends action-research [13][14][15] and case-study research [10][11][12]. The context of analysis is Sicily, an EU southern region where local development is lagging behind.…”

“…As Stefano and Davis pointed out, "it is important to draw attention to their different aims, methods and modes of operation that are-in most ideal form-based on the need and decision of local community members" [28]. This was confirmed by a variety of experiences and cases [60][61][62][63], which all converge on some recurring characteristics, that are summarized in Table 1.…”

Multicriteria decision-making to support preventive maintenance of built heritage in the historic center of Sobral, Brazil

“…The criteria selected represent the historical, esthetic and social value. Using a special case of this method, Decisionmaking on built heritage maintenance Hsu et al (2018) calculate a criteria hierarchy for the management and operation of museums considering sustainable, cultural and social aspects for the community. While Piñero et al (2017) adopt socio-cultural and technical criteria to assess the risk and urgency of interventions in buildings in the historic center of La Habana.…”