Successful transport decision-making - Osmose

Vol 2 - Table of Contents
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Encouraging apathetic stakeholders to get involved -
the key principles
What to do
Get their
attention!
How to do it
Use techniques that make the project stand out. This
could involve anything from developing eye catching
posters to organising a fun event.
Practical information
Who participates and how?
It is important to try to encourage individuals and
groups disinterested in the project to get involved and
participate. All stakeholders views are important and
should be fed into the decision-making process. The
techniques used should be fun and interesting and
include bright informative materials.
How much does it cost?
Consideration should be given to staff costs for oneon-one
engagement and discussions of project
proposals. Developing high quality engagement
materials, using colours and graphics, may also
impact on project cost, as will offering incentives, such
as travel reimbursements or gifts.
T19
Explain
why the issue or
project is
important
Explain
how their
involvement will
make an impact
Keep them
interested!
Stakeholders will not get involved if they think the
issue is not important or is irrelevant to their lives. Clearly
communicate how the project affects them and the key
benefits of the scheme or strategy.
Stakeholders need to be assured that their
participation will make a difference. Clearly explain why
their involvement is critical and how their views will affect
the decision-making process.
It is important to keep stakeholders up-to-date with
project progress, clearly showing how their views have
impacted on the decision-making process. Newsletters are a
useful way of keeping stakeholders informed and interested.
What skills are required?
Good communication and marketing skills, and the
ability to promote and explain project material clearly
and enthusiastically will be important in engaging with
disinterested stakeholders.
How is it used with other techniques?
Many of the techniques within the handbook could be
used to engage with individuals and groups who are
less willing to get involved. Printed materials including
posters and and leaflets should be ‘eye catching’ and
clearly inform the reader why it is important for them
to get involved.
What are the drawbacks?
It will not always be possible to get everyone
interested in an issue or project. As much as you can
try, there are likely to be individuals or groups who do
not want to participate in the transport decisionmaking
process. It is important however, that effort is
made to engage with disinterested stakeholders and
that this is recorded as part of the engagement
process.
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