PARTICIPATIVE PLANNING METHODS
Useful Participative Planning methods / tools for SURE Local Support Groups Participative workshop methods This list below sets out a range of methods and tools which could be applied in a city context to enhance social innovation, presenting the main characteristic of each approach. Before choosing a social innovation method it is essential to review the local circumstances, assets, power dynamics and fitting to the local participative planning process. This project is co-financed by the ERDF in the URBACT II Programme SURE: Fostering diversification of local economies by using innovative Socio-economic methods of Urban REhabilitation in deprived urban areas
Participatory workshops Holding a participatory workshop is a good opportunity for the stakeholder groups or for the Local Support Group to start an overall dialogue in certain local issues and to achieve results and goals built on local consensus. Gaining information from the stakeholder groups and the wider community and to map out resources are also among the advantages of this technique. These workshop and brainstorming methods could be applied only with the participation of the Local Support Group members to find solution for an inner obstruction, or with the participation of wider local public and stakeholder groups for achieving a broader view.
1. Six Hats Method / Participatory workshop Brief Description / Used for 'Six Thinking Hats' is an important and powerful technique. It is used to look at a local issue or decisions from a number of important perspectives. This forces the participant stakeholder groups to move outside their habitual thinking style and helps to get a more rounded view of a situation. The six hats symbolize the six perspectives which are used during this participatory method, where participants work in form of groups. These perspectives are: white hat (data available), red hat (emotions), black hat (negative sides), yellow hat (positive sides) green hat (creativity), and blue hat (process control). It enhances ambitions, skills in execution, public sensitivity, creativity and good contingency planning. It has the benefit of blocking the confrontations that happen when people with different thinking styles discuss the same problem. When to use? Review a local issue or supporting a decision from all point of views to pass through obstructions. Suitable participants Local stakeholder groups, LSG (residents, organizations, youth, officials, representatives) and a facilitator Time Requirements: The event itself takes one or a half day.
Main steps of the method: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B7aeXXCXFQ7qY2RmMTM4ZTAtNmEzMS00ODQ3LThhZTItYmY4MjE4ZGZlNzJj
2. Open Space (Unconference method) / Participatory workshop Brief Description / Used for It is a highly democratic meeting framework that allows unlimited numbers of participants to form their own discussions around a central theme, and to discuss the subthemes which they consider the most important. Participants start by sitting in a circle and decide themselves on the issues to discuss, using a simple procedure. The process usually guided by a facilitator who also introduces the democratic rules of the technique. Workshop sessions in the chosen issues are self managed by the participants within a framework of simple principles and democratic 'laws'. Each workshop session creates required list of actions and who should take them. Then session groups report back to the wider public. When to use? o Involving the wider community and stakeholder groups o Determining the „really effecting, important issues” from the stakeholders’ point of view o Increasing stakeholders’ commitment, and generating required actions, ideas Suitable participants Local stakeholder groups (LSG) and a facilitator Time Requirements: From 3 hours to 3 days period.
Main steps of the method: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B7aeXXCXFQ7qNjBmNzhlYmUtZGI4Ni00MzQxLWExYzQtZjRhYTU4MWZhMzRj
3. Fishbowl (Unconference method) / Participatory workshop Brief Description / Used for A technique used to increase participation and understanding of other people’s perspectives on a particular issue. It is rather a technique to facilitate understanding other stakeholder group’s statements, which is a good basis for building consensus, or partnership between the different local groups. In practice it consists of an inner group of participants in a roundtable format, involved in conversation. The conversation in a topic is witnessed by a larger group who has the opportunity for input and questioning. In another form the two stakeholder groups are asking questions from each other’s and they witness each other’s conversation for better understanding the other group’s point of view. When to use? Initiate dialogue and better understanding in a community between the different local groups in a certain issues. It could results in common goals or common activities among local groups. Suitable participants o Representatives of different opinion-leader stakeholder groups( LSG) o Representatives of minority or vulnerable groups, or local groups with specific requirements (youth, women, retired) Time Requirements Few hours to 1 or 2 days workshop based on this conversation technique / meeting
4. World café / Participatory workshop Brief Description / Used for The World Cafe is a method which makes use of an informal hospitable cafe for participants to explore an issue and the questions that matter by discussing in small table groups. Discussion is held in multiple rounds of 20-30 minutes. The groups share collective discoveries in each round. The event is concluded with a plenary and recommendations for the issue. When to use? To discover innovative approaches to local issues or general topics like environmental protection, conflict resolution of a neighbourhood. Suitable participants The World Cafe has been used by a wide spectrum of participants, ranging from community members to business executives. Selected local stakeholder groups, LSG, experts, professionals. Facilitator is needed. Time Requirements From few hours event to a one day long workshop Main steps of the method: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B7aeXXCXFQ7qZjFhMzNhODktMWZmNS00NjY0LTk5MzUtNDI5NzA0ZGExM2Qx
5. Planning for Real / Participatory workshop Brief Description / Used for Participants (or workshop organizers) make an eye-catching 3D model of their local area, or planning site and place suggestion cards on the model of the way they would like to see their community develop. Then they prioritise these in groups and create an action plan for decision-makers to take away. Making the 3D model is a collective exercise by Steering Group, often with school children or students. The 3D model can be exhibited at several points of the neighbourhood, to gather as many local suggestions as possible. When to use? It is a highly visible, hands-on community development and empowerment tool, which draw local people and media attention. People scenarioof all abilities and backgrounds find easy and enjoyable to engage in. Suitable participants Local residents, wider community Time Requirements Making the models may take a few weeks, gathering suggestions also take a few weeks.
Main steps of the method: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B7aeXXCXFQ7qNDJhOTYwMWYtYjBkZi00Y2NlLThhMDctNzBiMDhlY2YzZDE1
6. Future Search Workshop/ Participatory workshop Brief Description / Used for A Future Search is a way for a community or organisations to create a shared vision for its future. This is designed to encourage people to think globally, review the past and present, and based on this focus on the ideal future, they identify common ground and make public commitments to action in a certain local issue. When to use? If we want to create a shared future vision on a local issue combined with the energy to make it happen. Suitable participants Mixture of local stakeholders who are chosen because they have power or information on the issue or they are affected by the outcomes.
Time Requirements One or two days. Other version of future search: Guided Visualisation workshop Guided visualization is the use of a script to take a group on an imaginary journey into the future. It can be adapted and used with a variety of groups and fits into a limited time slot of an evening/half a day workshop. The method access people’s deepest hopes and dreams which are not often shared with others. The participants with the help of the facilitator take an imaginary journey into their future visioning “ one day in their life” which helps to create a collective vision and project actions among the whole group. Main steps of the method: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B7aeXXCXFQ7qNjFkYjYyYjAtODdlMC00YTRjLTlmN2QtNTJmZDBlZjVhMzBk
7. Design or Art Workshop/ Participatory workshop Brief Description / Used for Design workshops are hands-on sessions allowing small groups of professionals and non-professionals to work creatively together developing conceptions and design ideas. There are several versions.
Local people for example could work in groups and each group are usually supported by a design facilitator, or architect who helps them to visualize their ideas. In another scheme called Design Game local people can express their ideas and planning conceptions with easy prepared symbols or elements on a pre-made map of the planning area. In Art workshop ideas are generated by local people working closely with community artists and sculptors in studio workshop sessions. The artworks are manufactured and installed often with the assistance of local residents. The theme of the art workshop can be for example: a public sculpture, paving, bridge or Christmas decoration in a certain neighbourhood. When to use? Especially in projects where there is a significant landscape, streetscape, cityscape challenge or other interesting design element.
Suitable participants Professionals (architects, designers/ artist) and local stakeholders, LSG, local residents Time Requirements One day. Main steps of the method: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B7aeXXCXFQ7qMTMwMWYyYjktZWZlNC00Y2Y3LWI5MzEtNzU3YjFlNGYwYzMx
8. Consensus Forum CrowdWise method/ Participatory workshop Brief Description / Used for Local stakeholders together try to achieve common ground on broad and complex issues and to influence decision makers. The method helps people with different views to come together in an interactive discussion, project, plan or issue in order to make a sensible solution or a way forward which is mutually acceptable. It is the combination of consensus voting and constructive dialogue. The method is developed by the New Economics Foundation. When to use? If we want to influence and support democratic decision making. Suitable participants Local stakeholder groups, LSG, facilitator Time Requirements From one to a two days long workshop session. Main steps of the method: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B7aeXXCXFQ7qNDc0NDkxNTEtYTYxYi00MTdjLWE5YmYtNjlkYmQ3NGEyOWVj
9. Consensus Forum Citizens’ Jury/ Participatory workshop Brief Description / Used for Citizens' juries - influenced by the juridical system of the US - consist of a small number of non-specialists (demographic sample of the local community), who set out to examine an issue of public significance in detail and deliver a "verdict" together. Before delivering the judgment the group listen to different presentations, stakeholders about the issue.
When to use? Citizens Juries are frequently used in current, often controversial, local public issues where opinion is sharply divided and policy makers cannot decide what to do. It also draws media attention. Juries are decision-advising rather than decision-making tools. Suitable participants Demographic sample of 12 to 16 members of the public, facilitator, professionals, local opinion leaders who provide information on the local issue, media Time Requirements From one day to two days Main steps of the method: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B7aeXXCXFQ7qN2Q1M2RmYjAtM2UxNy00ZjRiLThmZjctZDBiMGI5ODdmOWMy
10.
Scenario Worksop/ Participatory workshop
Brief Description / Used for The aim of a Scenario Workshop is to form a basis for action or local decision making. It is also suitable for gathering knowledge about how the general public think about existing development alternatives. It is a workshop method containing four steps and guiding participants from critics and group visions to proposals about the presented alternatives. When to use? If there are several already existing options, scenarios, proposed alternatives on a local issue. Eg. Versions for the Local Action Plan presented by the Local Support Group. Suitable participants Local public, LSG, stakeholder groups (officials, technical experts, residents), facilitator Time Requirements It takes one or two days.
Main steps of the method: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B7aeXXCXFQ7qNWZjYjA0MWItN2Q1MS00ZTQ4LWIyNTUtZDIyYWEwMjRkODJj
11. Appreciative Inquiry „Be Positive Workshop” /Participatory Workshop / Brief Description / Used for Appreciative inquiry builds a vision for the future using questions to focus people's attention on past and future successes of their community and neighbourhood. The questions are designed to encourage people to tell stories, feelings from their own experience, focusing on the positive elements meantime strengthening their local identity. By discussing what worked well in the past and also the reasons why they were, the participants can go on to imagine and create a vision of what would make a successful future that has a firm grounding in the reality of past successes. Suitable participants Local residents, stakeholders, LSG, facilitator Time Requirements As a workshop event it takes one day, as a wider community survey it takes a few weeks. Main steps of the method: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B7aeXXCXFQ7qNTE4MjQ3YzItYTQ2Yy00MWY1LThhNmEtODU4MDE3MTg1ZWVm
12.
Team syntegrity workshop
This method enables people to share as much information and ideas about a complex issue as possible, and explore creative solutions over a few days. A syntegration is suitable when there is a complex issue is to be discussed, needing input from people with a range of viewpoints and a need to break through the constraints of conventional thinking. The first task is to select 12 aspects of the question which they agree are the most important. Then each topic is discussed by five team members, and has five critics, who are invited to comment on the process and content at certain stages of the discussion. Final group statements are shared with the whole group forming an agenda for action. A desired result is more ‘synergy’, or desire to work together, between participants.
