Strategies for Citizen Engagement: (i) Shifting the Focus of ICT Design Practice - Informing Digital Futures: Strategies for Citizen Engagement - page 152

budget planning. For a citizen engagement strategy to become a reality,
adequate resources of skills, time and facilities are required. These need
to be costed and given appropriate budget allocations.
In organisations where citizen participation/engagement needs to be
conducted frequently, it may be worthwhile to set up a group which spe-
cialises in these processes. There are precedents for this, such as the Par-
ticipation Services Unit of the Scottish Parliament (2004).

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Action Points: Steps 11-12

11. Consider establishing an in-house unit of citizen engage-
ment specialists, especially facilitators if this appears appro-
priate; decide location (dispersed or localized), staffing,
equipment, etc.
12. Review relevant budgets and schedules to see that citizen
engagement activities are included.

Table 8.1. Summary of 12 point Action Plan for Setting up Citizen Engagement

1 Mobilise for change: identify 'change champions' who recognise the need

for change in the design approach in the organisation - appoint one as a
leader for the change process.

2 Identify relevant key people and consult to make changes to job descrip-

tion/terms of reference to include citizen engagement activities and respon-
sibilities.

3 Develop and deliver learning opportunities (desirably using experiential

learning techniques) for senior people.

4 Develop and deliver awareness and education programmes (e.g. in social

science concepts) and, where appropriate, opportunity for skills acquisition
in citizen engagement (e.g. facilitation) for middle management and staff
members including ICT design/development staff.

5 Review membership of key decision-making bodies to ensure citizens are

fully represented and engaged.

6 Incorporate citizen engagement processes and values into ICT design meth-

ods.

7 Review contractual terms/procurement criteria for employing external ICT

consultants. Revise as necessary to ensure that citizen engagement processes
are included as part of the terms of reference and contractual conditions.

8 Through consultation and negotiation, include citizen engagement criteria in

annual assessment/performance appraisals.

9 Include citizen engagement criteria in quality assurance protocols and pro-

cedures.