Conclusion
The following conclusions have been drawn about this e-consultation case:
- Effective collection of tacit knowledge
This e-consultation case illustrates an effective way to collect [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacit_knowledge tacit knowledge] from people, by stimulating them to tell their stories to the world, on a collective blog. You can get high quality interesting responses.
- Bridging the [Digital Divide
This e-consultation provided multiple routes for submission and it worked. As a consequence, it bridges the digital divide. If you cannot access the web, use e-mail. If not, send a text. If all else fails, telephone and record a message.
- Not Labour-Intense
E-consultation doesn’t require as much work for the consulters as do discussion forums or even surveys. But it does require some attention.
- Requires Publicity
Publicity is needed to bring people to a web site. This can be done through the media (from press releases to a launch by the Taoiseach), or by making people aware of the site when they visit their favourite on-line hangouts (messages in mailing lists or on-line games, or buying Google adwords so that when people search for ‘active citizenship’ they find the site).
- Web Site Style
Copy-writing for the web takes skill and time. But without it, people will leave the site before even having a chance to submit a story.
