And then magic happens:
why we need better online
discussions about policy
Steph Gray
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
Reboot Britain
London, 6 July 2009

How policy is made*
! Identification: Minister wants problem solved
Analysis: Civil servants come up with
clever solution
Consultation: Sensible people agree
Delivery: Problem solved
* not really

Anyway, the internet changes things
• Anyone can suggest problems to fix
• Policymakers can find people to help
• Together, we can refine the options
• Everyone looks for snags and refinements
• Lots of people do their bit to make it happen
• We can all validate whether it works

Three questions
Where do ideas come from?
Who chooses the solution?
How do we make change happen?

Enlightened policy discussion online
Commenting Video Blogs

But
• The numbers involved are still tiny
• People are cynical about online gimmicks
• Not all contributions equally helpful
• Gov isn’t geared up for mass dialogue
• The incentives on both sides are still wrong

Three goals for policy discussion online
A wider range of contributors
Better ideas
Conversations which go somewhere

Policy deliberation in the future?
Different strokes for different folks

Policy deliberation in the future?
Ideas from customers & the frontline

Policy deliberation in the future?
Make the debate more accessible