Methodological Choices for Identifying Determinants in Land Management: Why Delphi and Case Validation Work

Effective land governance requires more than well-designed policies-it demands understanding the underlying factors that enable or obstruct implementation.In complex domains like idle land management, traditional research methods struggle to identify these governance determinants due to institutional complexity and administrative opacity.This study proposes an integrated approach combining the Delphi technique with case validation to systematically identify and validate determinants of effective land management.A tworound Delphi process builds consensus among experts from Malaysia's multi-level governance system, using a 10-point scale to prioritize determinants.These findings are then validated through analysis of successful idle land redevelopment projects.The approach offers methodological advantages over surveys, interviews, and single-case studies by enabling comprehensive inquiry within complex institutional systems.It strengthens both validity and practical relevance, supporting theory development while generating actionable policy insights.The methodology provides land researchers and policymakers with a rigorous, adaptable framework for diagnosing governance problems and designing targeted interventions.