This post is written by Dr Martin Butcher, Programme Manager - Engagement BSW, Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP), Victoria.

  • The problem: Current online apps are based on 19th-century cultural norms and processes.

  • Why it matters: The 21st century demands different, more inclusive approaches to problem-solving.

  • The solution: We need better apps that support inclusive decision-making processes.

We live in a liminal period. 'Covid normal' is the result of but one force for change. Others include climate change, mental health, demands for social and political change as well as the emerging potentials of new digital technologies.

Since the early 1950s, both within organisational management and international development theory, evidence has grown that successful outcomes are achieved as much by including local values and knowledge in the decision making process as technical expertise.

"What has not been so readily available is the software that can successfully emulate modern facilitated workshop processes and good public engagement practices and processes."

My role within the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning in Victoria, Australia (DELWP), is to both advocate that all the voices be heard in decision-making processes and provide useful processes to enable this to occur. In practice, much of my work prior to Covid was to provide projects and programmes in-house workshop facilitation services as well as lead the design and implementation of asynchronous public input events such as Listening Posts and Open House events.

The tipping point

Whilst digitalisation of the workspace has progressed steadily over the last 20 years, Covid has been a tipping point. Fairly quickly certain aspects of regular corporate life were emulated into the online world. Interminable meetings were soon Zoomed or Teamsed. Sermons from on high were delivered not from the lectern but through webinars. What has not been so readily available is the software that can successfully emulate modern facilitated workshop processes and good public engagement practices and processes.

There are a few useful tools emerging, the most obvious being breakout rooms for small group discussions. We have also explored a variety of different offerings by big and small providers and found, for example, Miro (for brainstorming and discussions based on grounded theory) and Mentimeter for quickly ranking ideas, useful. However, we are struggling to find applications that can provide the simplicity, immediacy and flexibility of (for example) sticker dots on a poster, passing a sheet of paper from one table to another or participants physically standing on a spectrum of agreement.

Despite the limitations of our current online technology, there is a lot that really excites me. Not the least being the reality of almost instantaneous time travel from one meeting venue to another. Another is being able to include many more people into the conversations and decision-making processes without the expensive travel. More voices can be quickly and easily involved in resolving a specific problem or task, irrespective of their geographical location.

A more perfect digital world

What we are looking for is more applications (and greater use of those applications) that provide easy participation in activities based on the Brainstorm/Discuss/Decide concept and the Participatory Action Learning cycle, both of which are fundamental to achieving good outcomes.

When working with a group online and things don't go quite to plan, I like to compare our current period of mass digital communication with the early days of the car. In 1900 most people were familiar with horses; cars were generally unreliable and required an extensive new skill set. As the car became more sophisticated what emerged was not just improved technology, but also a culture and society that has provided many with both remarkable and previously unimaginable opportunities and benefits.

My hope is that with more user-friendly apps that enable a great user experience in being part of the solution, it will help us move into being a more inclusive and diverse society comfortable with complexity and uncertainty.

👋 You can create a post like this one! Share your thoughts with a community of public servants. Learn more

(Image Credit: Unsplash)