Many deliberations are preceded by some form of wider engagement—processes where any member of the public can provide input on the issue through a range of activities, such as surveys, submissions, workshops, and public meetings.
Interest groups and other stakeholders affected by the issue can be encouraged to provide their input at this stage of the process or through specific stakeholder forums. The findings from this wider engagement can be collated and provided as an information input for the deliberating group and can help inform the design stage.
This engagement fulfils a number of roles. It provides the deliberating group with corroborating information that can confirm or realign their work to ensure they are focusing on the priorities of the wider community. It can help ensure that the views of marginalised or minority groups are expressed in more than one format. It can act as a safeguard against the deliberating group missing anything critical.
Vulnerabilities to difficulty:
- Polarisation can lead to gaming or stacking of the wider engagement.
- The wider engagement might phrase questions or provide information in an offputting way.
Mitigating Techniques/Strategies:
- Use targeted outreach to build relationships with key voices in polarised groups to balance inputs.
- Ask questions that reveal issue position to capture balance of inputs.
- Consult key groups when developing questions.
Many deliberations are preceded by some form of wider engagement—processes where any member of the public can provide input on the issue through a range of activities, such as surveys, submissions, workshops, and public meetings.
Interest groups and other stakeholders affected by the issue can be encouraged to provide their input at this stage of the process or through specific stakeholder forums. The findings from this wider engagement can be collated and provided as an information input for the deliberating group and can help inform the design stage.
This engagement fulfils a number of roles. It provides the deliberating group with corroborating information that can confirm or realign their work to ensure they are focusing on the priorities of the wider community. It can help ensure that the views of marginalised or minority groups are expressed in more than one format. It can act as a safeguard against the deliberating group missing anything critical.
Vulnerabilities to difficulty:
- Polarisation can lead to gaming or stacking of the wider engagement.
- The wider engagement might phrase questions or provide information in an offputting way.
Mitigating Techniques/Strategies:
- Use targeted outreach to build relationships with key voices in polarised groups to balance inputs.
- Ask questions that reveal issue position to capture balance of inputs.
- Consult key groups when developing questions.
Many deliberations are preceded by some form of wider engagement—processes where any member of the public can provide input on the issue through a range of activities, such as surveys, submissions, workshops, and public meetings.
Interest groups and other stakeholders affected by the issue can be encouraged to provide their input at this stage of the process or through specific stakeholder forums. The findings from this wider engagement can be collated and provided as an information input for the deliberating group and can help inform the design stage.
This engagement fulfils a number of roles. It provides the deliberating group with corroborating information that can confirm or realign their work to ensure they are focusing on the priorities of the wider community. It can help ensure that the views of marginalised or minority groups are expressed in more than one format. It can act as a safeguard against the deliberating group missing anything critical.
Vulnerabilities to difficulty:
- Polarisation can lead to gaming or stacking of the wider engagement.
- The wider engagement might phrase questions or provide information in an offputting way.
Mitigating Techniques/Strategies:
- Use targeted outreach to build relationships with key voices in polarised groups to balance inputs.
- Ask questions that reveal issue position to capture balance of inputs.
- Consult key groups when developing questions.