Participation Tools and Practices
This part of the Tutorial addresses individual participation practices
and methods available to planners. Selection of an appropriate tool or
complement of tools and practices will be determined during the design of
the participation program. The key
activities undertaken during design will help planners understand who should
be involved and to what extent they can and will participate in the
decisionmaking process.
To assist in the selection of tools once the circumstances and goals for
participation have been identified, the array of available methods has been
organized into four categories, as outlined below. Each category is
formatted to respond to the following queries:
| What? |
A short definition of the practice |
| Who? |
Target audience or participants |
| When? |
Appropriate timing in the planning or decision process |
| Where? |
Appropriate venues for the practice |
| How? |
Elements or procedures used in implementing the tool |
| Strengths: |
Potential value of the tool including what can be gained. |
| Limitations: |
The shortcomings of the tool. |
| Cases: |
Links to cases in the Cases Section of the Tutorial that use the
tool, or to cases available elsewhere on the internet. |
| Links: |
Links to Internet sites that contain additional information
about the tool. |
| References: |
References and sources of additional information about the tool |
Four Steps to Positive Participation Practices
1) Prepare for Participation: Develop Basic
Communication Skills
