DELIBERATION AND REPRESENTATION IN PARTICIPATORY TOOLS FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Tools for participatory decision-making in the public sector have gained attention for a while, where, in particular, wikis have been put forward as an open-ended negotiation between different worldviews and discourses. It might seem that these are the ultimate Habermasian deliberative tools engaging the participants in the collaborative processes of developing consensus. However, in actual fact, neither the processes nor the tools are sophisticated enough. Tools often lack the necessary structure to support more complex reasoning, and if they do they are too complicated to use to enable broad participation. Furthermore, participants mostly lack legitimacy du to unequal representation, as there is a rather limited group that has the means and the motivation to participate. Therefore, in this paper we present a prototype where we have implemented tools for decision support and a statistical tool in a standard, easy-to-use application. The voting feature and pro/con argumentation is integrated in the discussion forum, as an extra formatting feature. The statistical tool, in an adequate context, can be used for understanding how the decisions are taken and how representative the opinion/decision is for the relevant population. It can also be used as a reflective tool, i.e., for making users aware of power qustions in the group of users. What this show is how a standard interface can be improved with integrated tools for structured discussions and representation analysis, without sacrificing usability

Utilizing Surrogate Numbers for Probability Elicitation

Comparatively few of the vast number of suggested decision-analytical methods have been widely spread in actual practice. The majority of those methods call for exact and accurate numbers as input, which could be one of several reasons for this lack of actual use; people frequently seem to be unfamiliar with, or reluctant to express those, in a sense, “true” values required. Many alternative methods to resolve this complication have been suggested over the years, including procedures for dealing with incomplete information. One way, which has proliferated for a while, is to introduce so-called surrogate numbers in the form of ordinal ranking methods for multi-criteria weights. In this chapter, we show how those can be adapted for use in probability elicitation. Furthermore, when decision-makers possess more information regarding the relative strengths of probabilities, that is, some form of cardinality, the input information to ordinal methods is sometimes too restricted. Therefore, we suggest a testing methodology and analyze the relevance of a set of cardinal ordering methods in addition to the ordinal ones

Non-technical Survey: A Model for Evidence-based Assessment

In an ongoing effort to improve the Non-technical Survey, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining teamed with Stockholm University to create an enhanced version of the Cambodia Mine Action Centre’s Evidence Assessment Model. The aim of the project was to make the existing model more user-friendly and modify the current standards for assessment of mine-affected land. CMAC is testing a revised model to ensure that it meets the needs of their Non-technical Survey teams

The Importance of Recognition for Equal Representation in Participatory Processes: Lessons from Husby

Despite the ambition to involve people on more equal terms, participation often still means that the audience is involved in clearly demarcated parts of the process and attempts to develop more deliberative democratic processes in urban planning often fail due to unequal representation in the participatory process. While sharing the general idea of the value of participatory processes, we will investigate some problematic features involved and suggest how some of these can be remedied. We employ the concept of recognition to analyse the conditions for public participation in a recent case of urban planning in the Stockholm suburb of Husby. This case is particularly interesting as it clearly demonstrates the impact of globalisation on local participatory processes. The results show the importance of broad recognition for equal representation in participatory processes, and the need for a plurality of public spheres to support long-term participation in the development of the common urban space

Developing criteria for the evaluation of the ICT contribution to social and economic development

Practitioners in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for development have repeatedly relied on evaluations of past or present initiatives to advise and facilitate the design and implementation of other development initiatives. However, current quests for measures that demonstrate the developmental contribution of ICT call for new approaches to ICT4D evaluation. In response to this, the study presented in this paper provides a starting point in the development and evaluation of the appropriateness of a set of criteria – dimensions and indicators that can be applied to the appraisal of the ICT contribution to development. Development is defined as a multidimensional concept based on Sen’s capability approach, particularly focusing on the outputs (opportunities) and outcomes (benefits) ICT can enable within a given context. Indicators are proposed for education and research, healthcare, economic opportunities and political freedom dimensions. Findings obtained through exploratory survey research show that the proposed indicators are appropriate for the evaluation of the contribution of ICT to social and economic development, especially in a developing country context. Additional indicators were also proposed for some of the dimensions. Participants further reiterated the need to combine both qualitative and quantitative indicators to supplement and balance each other in the appraisal of development initiatives. Subsequent studies will seek to devise means of how this can be addressed, as well as a process through which a combined analysis can be obtained. Such studies should seek to extensively evaluate the indicators as well as apply them for the evaluation of ICT4D initiatives

Deliberation, Representation, Equity: Research Approaches, Tools and Algorithms for Participatory Processes

In democratic societies there is widespread acknowledgment of the need to incorporate citizens’ input in decision-making processes in more or less structured ways. But participatory decision making is balancing on the borders of inclusion, structure, precision and accuracy. To simply enable more participation will not yield enhanced democracy, and there is a clear need for more elaborated elicitation and decision analytical tools. This rigorous and thought-provoking volume draws on a stimulating variety of international case studies, from flood risk management in the Red River Delta of Vietnam, to the consideration of alternatives to gold mining in Roșia Montană in Transylvania, to the application of multi-criteria decision analysis in evaluating the impact of e-learning opportunities at Uganda's Makerere University. This book is important new reading for decision makers in government, public administration and urban planning, as well as students and researchers in the fields of participatory democracy, urban planning, social policy, communication design, participatory art, decision theory, risk analysis and computer and systems sciences

Multi-Attribute Decision Tree Evaluation in Imprecise and Uncertain Domains

Abstract We present a decision tree evaluation method integrated with a common framework for analyzing multi-attribute decisions under risk, where information is numerically imprecise. The approach extends the use of additive and multiplicative utility functions for supporting evaluation of imprecise statements, relaxing requirements for precise estimates of decision parameters. Information is modeled in convex sets of utility and probability measures restricted by closed intervals. Evaluation is done relative to a set of rules, generalizing the concept of admissibility, computationally handled through optimization of aggregated utility functions. Pros and cons of two approaches, and tradeoffs in selecting a utility function, are discussed

Aspectos importantes de los proyectos ict4d, hacia un modelo para la evaluación de calidad

Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) is an approach adopted to improve the socio-economic situation in poor countries. It includes e-learning,open and free software, e-democracy, digital media, e-government, capacity building and infrastructure development. Billions of dollars are invested in such programs financed by international aid organizations, state funded aid agencies and multinational private companies. Well known problems are poor infrastructure, crime and poor adaptations to the socio-cultural context. It is a complex multidisciplinary, multi stakeholder and multimedia field with an emerging theoretical framework. This paper identifies and examines important quality aspects of ICT4D projects and provides empirical ICT4D examples illustrating each aspect. The overall research question in this study is: What makes some ICT4D projects more successful than others? Based on the authors own experience of projects in Sri Lanka, Uganda and Vietnam as well as analysis of other projects, the following quality aspects are considered as crucial for successful implementation of ICT in development projects: 1) Authentic local needs, 2) Local ownership, 3) Realistic limitations, 4) Competence network, 5) Communication strategy, 6) Planning horizon, 7) Documentation/measurable results, 8) Resources and sustainability and 9) Fun/Motivation.The relevance of these aspects are discussed and exemplified in the article. The thematic areas identified provide a basis for an emerging model, intended to be useful inLa Tecnología de Comunicación e Información para el Desarrollo [Information and Communications Technology (ict4d)] es un enfoque adoptado para mejorar las condiciones socioeconómicas en países pobres. Esta incluye e-learning, software abiertos y cerrados, e-democracia, medios digitales, e-gobierno, capacidad de construcción y desarrollo de infraestructura. Billones de dólares son invertidos en dichos programas, financiados por organizaciones internacionales de beneficencia, agencias financiadas por el Estado, y compañías multinacionales privadas. Algunos problemas bien conocidos son la falta de infraestructura, el crimen, y la falta de adaptación a los contextos socioculturales. Es un campo multidisciplinario, con múltiples acreedores, y un campo multimedia complejo, con un marco teórico emergente.Este ensayo identifica y examina aspectos de calidad importantes de los proyectos ict4d y provee ejemplos empíricos para ilustrar cada aspecto. La pregunta general de este estudio es: ¿Qué hace que algunos proyectos ict4d sean más exitosos que otros? Basados en la experiencia personal del autor, con proyectos en Sri Lanka, Uganda y Vietnam, así como en análisis de otros proyectos, los siguientes aspectos de calidad son considerados como cruciales para la implementación exitosa de la ict (Tecnología de Comunicación e Información) en proyectos de desarrollo: 1) Necesidades locales auténticas; 2) Propiedad local; 3) Limitaciones reales; 4) Redes de aptitudes; 5) Estrategia de comunicación; 6) Horizonte de planeación; 7) Documentación/resultados medibles; 8) Recursos y sustentabilidad; 9) Diversión/Motivación. La importancia de los aspectos mencionados es discutida y explicada en este artículo.Las áreas temáticas identificadas proveen una base para un modelo emergente, previsto para ser útil en la fase de diseño y planeación, y para la evaluación y monitoreo de los proyectos ict4d

Deliberation, Representation, Equity

"What can we learn about the development of public interaction in e-democracy from a drama delivered by mobile headphones to an audience standing around a shopping center in a Stockholm suburb? In democratic societies there is widespread acknowledgment of the need to incorporate citizens’ input in decision-making processes in more or less structured ways. But participatory decision making is balancing on the borders of inclusion, structure, precision and accuracy. To simply enable more participation will not yield enhanced democracy, and there is a clear need for more elaborated elicitation and decision analytical tools. This rigorous and thought-provoking volume draws on a stimulating variety of international case studies, from flood risk management in the Red River Delta of Vietnam, to the consideration of alternatives to gold mining in Roșia Montană in Transylvania, to the application of multi-criteria decision analysis in evaluating the impact of e-learning opportunities at Uganda's Makerere University. Editors Love Ekenberg (senior research scholar, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis [IIASA], Laxenburg, professor of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm University), Karin Hansson (artist and research fellow, Department of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm University), Mats Danielson (vice president and professor of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm University, affiliate researcher, IIASA) and Göran Cars (professor of Societal Planning and Environment, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm) draw innovative collaborations between mathematics, social science, and the arts. They develop new problem formulations and solutions, with the aim of carrying decisions from agenda setting and problem awareness through to feasible courses of action by setting objectives, alternative generation, consequence assessments, and trade-off clarifications. As a result, this book is important new reading for decision makers in government, public administration and urban planning, as well as students and researchers in the fields of participatory democracy, urban planning, social policy, communication design, participatory art, decision theory, risk analysis and computer and systems sciences.