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A Panel by any Other Name - Online Consultation Examined

Governments all over the world are starting to harness the power of online consultation, using technology in an effective manner to engage citizens.

It seems we've been looking at one side of the coin for too long. While we've been focusing on the great research applications for online panels, others have been using the same technology to engage community groups in insightful discussions and gather valuable feedback on public policy issues. Here are just a few examples of online panels in innovative settings.

Parliamentary Select Committees in the United Kingdom have completed a series of successful Internet panels over the past two years, on topics such as human reproductive technologies and constitutional reform. These forums have allowed public servants to go beyond statistics, and get citizens directly involved in the consultation process.
(http://www.tellparliament.net)

In the United States, regulations.gov has enabled Americans to have a say on a variety of existing federal guidelines. The use of online technology makes it easier for citizens to voice their concerns, providing lawmakers with immediate feedback on the effectiveness of specific policies.
(http://www.regulations.gov)

In Denmark, the Danish National IT and Telecom Agency collaborated on a project that sought to encourage public discussion on several issues. Citizens offered instant responses to regional and local administrations that were in turn able to proceed with reforms to a development plan and review the allocation of city expenses.
(http://www.danmarksdebatten.dk)

In Germany, the City of Hamburg opted to use online tools to seek detailed ideas on a simple task: making Hamburg grow. The ensuing panel resulted in thousands of positive ideas that would have been hard to come by through traditional means. The unique proposals identified by the city eventually became the blueprint for Hamburg?s new urban strategy.
(http://www.wachsende-stadt.hamburg.de/index-flash.html)

It is clear why governments are relying on technology for consultation. Participants can access forums from virtually any location in the world at any time, without any special training. The results come at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods, with a low refusal rating, a quick turnaround, and the possibility of incorporating visual tools to enhance the participant experience.

Posted on February 3, 2005
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