If you click on the thumbnail below, you'll see a diagram of a three step
model of community participation.
A key feature of the model is that three sources of knowledge are
recognised as being of equal worth and are specifically included in the
process:
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knowledge based on common sense and personal experience,
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knowledge based on technical expertise, and
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knowledge derived from social interests and advocacy.
The model is applied when some new social policy, or decision
that will affect the community or people in an organisation, has to be made.
Ideally, a representative group are drawn from the public, or the organisation,
at random (citizens) - they are the main source of the common sense and personal
experience knowledge. Relevant special interest and advocacy groups are involved
to the extent that they suggest experts who should provide input to the process,
otherwise they are observers, rather than participants, in the final decision
making process. Experts make presentations, run workshops, etc. - using
appropriate methods to educate all participants in the issues involved. Sponsor
groups (those funding, on in other ways resourcing the process) are present, and
have input to the process, though only in the first two steps - in the last step
they remain observers.
The whole process is facilitated by one or more value
consultants whose role is:
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Step 1 - elicit the priority values of all participants and
establish the shared priority values of all (i.e. identify the common
ground). The AVI is a powerful tool for facilitating this process.
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Step 2 - identify the values that are addressed by each
possible option and provide participants with this information, explicitly
showing how the values links were made.
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Step 3 - the public representatives (citizens) evaluate the
identified options based the value priorities established in step 1. A
recommendation is made to the sponsoring body.
The best way to become familiar with this process is to
experience it. Contact your nearest value
consultant if you want to participate.
After-word: This is a great process for building social
capital in the community.