e-consultation

consulting the citizen/consumer

Behind the many methods commonly used within the public, voluntary and commercial sectors to survey, consult and inform the general public, there would appear to be a genuine desire to obtain citizen/consumer input into the strategic planning process. We have all, in our role as citizen/consumer, been regularly encouraged to participate in telephone surveys, paper-based questionnaires, and public meetings.

Yet if as citizen/consumer, we refuse or even indicate some concern at the ultimate value of our expenditure of time and effort, we meet with genuine surprise from those who are paid to conduct these consultation exercises. Why would anyone not want the chance to win a "holiday of a lifetime" or risk being branded an "unconcerned citizen"?

But from the small proportion of us who are willing to take part it would appear that the citizen/consumer does not rate these consultation opportunities as highly as the consulting organisations.

The flaws in current consultation methods may simply explain our reluctance as citizen/consumers to play the consultation game.