Incorporating citizens' views in local policy decision making processes

Local policy issues usually exhibit a high degree of complexity and uncertainty and are often characterized as “ill-structured” problems. Problem Structuring Methods (PSMs) rely on stakeholder representation and workshop format procedures to support policy making processes. We consider public participation as a way to reduce uncertainty and to improve the democratic legitimacy of those processes, and we propose a new model for e-participation (information and communication technology supported public participation), employing collaborative writing processes to produce agreed documents. These documents may then be used as formal input into the policy making process, thereby incorporating the citizens' views on those issues. A public participation support system has been developed according to this model.