Governing the City State - Chief Minister and Treasury Directorate ...

For officials seeking to deliver clarity of purpose and role, the OECD usefully outlines threemain forms of dialogue between governments and civil society: 79• Information – a one way process in which “government produces and delivers information for useby citizens”;• Consultation – a two way process in which “citizens provide feedback to government. It is basedon the prior definition by government of the issue on which citizens’ views are being sought andrequires the provision of information; and• Citizens Active Participation – a deeper partnership based two way process in which “citizensactively engage in the policy making process. It acknowledges a role for citizens in proposingpolicy options and shaping the policy dialogue – although the responsibility for the final decisionor policy formulation rests with government”.These different levels of engagement are outlined in Figure 10 below with the addition ofsome useful layers of subtlety at the participation end of the spectrum. The collaboration andempowerment stages are the levels at which co-production of policy and programs occurs andat which the greatest benefits to policy and program outcomes lie. It is also at those stageswhere the greatest challenges to traditional ways of working are evident.Figure 10 - Levels of Public Engagement 80The risks of participatory decision making include criticism of unwarranted delay, or a failureby governments to make decisions:participatory practice is often a balance between improving and delaying a decision.Participation can on some occasions radically speed up the process through avoiding legaldisputes or the conflict that a more conventional approach can encourage; but it can alsocreate frustration as seemingly clear decisions are delayed by what is perceived by some asunnecessary discussion. 8179 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2003) p.14.80 Involve (2005) p.18.81 Involve (2005) p.22.Governing the City State: 66