Online consultation:
Or digitally-enhanced
policymaking?
Paul Johnston & Steph Gray
UK Gov Web Barcamp
London, 31 Jan 2009

Some problems:
• Too few people take part
• It’s generally the same people
• Input isn’t properly acknowledged,
analysed, discussed and refined
• It’s a single, laborious iteration, not an
ongoing dialogue

Vision:
• Sourcing creative ideas
• From diverse sources
• Which are used to improve policy
• As part of an ongoing conversation

Digitally-enhanced
policymaking?
QuickTimeª and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

Opportunity
• Identifying problems to fix
• Finding people who can help
• Coming up with options
• Testing & refining suggestions
• Drafting a possible solution
• Identifying snags and refinements
• Validating whether it works

QuickTimeª and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Private URL
Understanding Finding Discussing Validating

http://netvibes.com/diuscommunications
Understanding Finding Discussing Validating

http://interactive.dius.gov.uk/scienceandsociety/
Understanding Finding Discussing Validating

QuickTimeª and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
http://talk.dius.gov.uk/blogs/adultlearning
Understanding Finding Discussing Validating

http://interactive.dius.gov.uk/innovationnation
Understanding Finding Discussing Validating

Questions
• What does real policy dialogue look like
online?
• What’s a good process for generating
and refining ideas?
• Should there be an end point?