Is a Dialogue to Change Program right for you?
Before deciding if this approach is suitable for you, it is worth considering the following five points:
1. Change
Can change occur through participation?
It is very important that people know what is 'up for grabs'. Can anything change as a result of participating in a Dialogue to Change Program? People will more likely participate, be involved and carry forward action ideas if they know that some decisions are not made yet. They then own the issue, the challenges, the alternatives and the solutions.
2. Time
Do you have at least two months to set up and organise a Dialogue to Change Program?
Very short time frames are a challenge and need to be avoided. Time restrictions will make a Dialogue to Change Program difficult to organise, recruit participants and create meaningful solutions. Short deadlines may result in reactionary decisions that are not thought through.
3. Support
Are the decision makers supportive of a Dialogue to Change Program?
It is challenging to run a Dialogue to Change Program when those who hold the power are unwilling to support it. If decision makers are unsupportive of a Dialogue to Chang Program a more traditional approach may be more appropriate.
4. Issue
Is the issue one that is of interest to participants?
How can we describe the issue so that it will interest all kinds of people?
Issues that work best for a Dialogue to Change Program relate to the real concerns and daily lives of many different people in the community. A good question to ask is: What is currently happening in the community that is of concern? There is a helpful article in Edition Eight of The Circular - 'Naming, Framing, Deciding and Learning'. See: http://studycircles.net.au/the_circular_edition_eight_june_2009
5. Intent and Purpose
Is the Dialogue to Change Program the correct approach for you?
The International Association for Public Participation - Community Engagement Spectrum and the National Coalition for Deliberative Dialogue - Engagement Streams and Process Distinction Framework are both useful tools to use to establish if the model suits your purpose and intent. These tools are covered in our workshops, however, if you need more information on these, please contact us.
