And then magic happens:why we need better online discussions about policy

Steph Gray

Department for Business, Innovation & Skills

Reboot Britain

London, 6 July 2009

How policy is made*

* not really

Identification: Minister wants problem solved!

Analysis: Civil servants come up with clever solution

Consultation: Sensible people agree

Delivery: Problem solved

Anyway, the internet changes things

• Anyone can suggest problems to fix

• Policymakers can find people to help

• Together, we can refine the options

• Everyone looks for snags and refinements

• Lots of people do their bit to make it happen

• We can all validate whether it works

Who chooses the solution?

Where do ideas come from?

How do we make change happen?

Three questions

Enlightened policy discussion online

BlogsCommenting Video

But

• The numbers involved are still tiny

• People are cynical about online gimmicks

• Not all contributions equally helpful

• Gov isn’t geared up for mass dialogue

• The incentives on both sides are still wrong

Better ideas

A wider range of contributors

Conversations which go somewhere

Three goals for policy discussion online

Policy deliberation in the future?

Different strokes for different folks

Policy deliberation in the future?

Ideas from customers & the frontline

Policy deliberation in the future?

Make the debate more accessible