Using forum discussions is a great tool for online engagement. Forums can be used to discuss and debate issues, deliberate over decisions, ideate solutions to problems and provide feedback on proposals. However, forums can sometimes be a tricky engagement method to pull off and there are some important things to be aware of when conducting a […]
When clients are embarking on a new consultation where they want to encourage the community to discuss, debate and evolve ideas, and online discussion forums are the tool of choice. Generally, the role of the organisation is to provide a safe space for discussion and observe the community in action.
Earlier this year Christchurch City Council launched the Your Library, Your Voice campaign to get the community involved in helping design its new central library following the 2011 earthquakes. Between February and June 2011 a series of earthquakes and aftershocks devastated much of Christchurch, New Zealand’s second largest city. In all, 185 people were killed […]
The exchange that takes place within the online public policy forums we host runs the full gamut from deeply deliberative dialogue to divisive bickering. This is to be expected; they are, after all spaces for the contest of wicked problems. The question is, how do we enable the former and limit the later? One of […]
Max’s vast experience as a community engagement practitioner, combined with the fact that he’s used our product, means he’s ripe for the picking when it comes to answering people’s online engagement questions.
Presentation slides on the lessons we have picked up along the way from over 100 online forums for citizen participation. Earlier this month I presented at two events in Western Australia. The first was the annual conference of the Australasian IAP2 held in beautiful Freemantle – if you haven’t been, find an excuse to go. […]
The debate about the impact of anonymity in online forums particularly with regard to public sphere issues remains unresolved.
Bang the Table Chief Practice Officer, Crispin Butteriss PhD, writes about six models for intervening in an online community forum.
If you want you online forum to attract a lot of traffic and a lot of comments… MAKE IT CONCRETE. Our four largest consultations have been, in order: (1) a proposal to remove a heavy rail line; (2) a plan to allow multi-storey development within a residential suburb; (3) a plan to change bus routes and frequencies; and (4) a proposal to redevelop a heritage lighthouse.
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