Design Thinking as a Strategic Approach to E-Participation: From Current Barriers to Opportunities
Cham: Springer (2025), x, 121 pp.
Contains 7 illustrations
Series: PoliMI SpringerBriefs
ISBN 978-3-031-72159-5 (print); 978-3-031-72160-1 (ebook)
"This open access book examines how the adoption of Design Thinking (DT) can support public organisations in overcoming some of the current barriers in e-participation. Scholars have discussed the adoption of technology to strengthen public engagement through e-participation, streamline and enhance the relationship between government and society, and improve accessibility and effectiveness. However, barriers persist, necessitating further research in this area. By analysing e-participation barriers emerging from the literature and aligning them with notions in the DT literature, this book identifies five core DT practices to enhance e-participation: (i) Meaning creation and sense-making, (ii) Publics formation, (iii) Co-production, (iv) Experimentation and prototyping, and (v) Changing organisational culture. As a result, this book provides insights into enhancing tech-aided public engagement and promoting inclusivity for translating citizen input into tangible service implementations. The book triangulates qualitative analysis of relevant literature in the fields of e-participation and DT with knowledge from European projects experimenting with public participation activities implying experimentation with digital tools." (Publisher description)
1 INTRODUCTION, 1
2 THE THEORETICAL BACKGROUND ON E-PARTICIPATION, 11
3 AN OVERVIEW ON E-PARTICIPATION, 31
Better Reykjavik: Iceland’s Constitutional Reform Process – Vtaiwan-- Decidim Barcelona – #MyFrance2022 and Make.org -- CitizenLab for Kapermolen Park -- DecideMadrid with Consul -- Scottish’s “We Asked, You Said, We Did” -- Open Challenges -- DT and e-participation
4 THE THEORETICAL BACKGROUND OF DESIGN THINKING FOR PUBLIC SECTOR INNOVATION, 57
5 DESIGN THINKING PRACTICES FOR E-PARTICIPATION, 75
Meaning Creation and Sense-Making: Valuing the Context and Communicating Better -- #MyFrance2022 -- Publics Formation: Engaging Publics Supporting Awareness and Plurality -- Better Reykjavik -- Decidim Barcelona -- Co-production: From “Asking the Citizens” to “Co-producing with Citizens“ -- Go Vocal, Former CitizenLab -- Experimenting and Prototyping: Bridging the Gap Between Ideas and Practical Applications -- DecideMadrid82 -- Changing Organisational Culture: Favouring Knowledge Transfer and Capacity Building – vTaiwan -- Scottish’s “We Asked, You Said, We Did”
6 ADDRESSING E-PARTICIPATION BARRIERS WITH DESIGN THINKING, 89
E-Participation Barriers Against DT Practices -- A Focus on DT Practices for Public Sector Organisations
7 FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS, 103
2 THE THEORETICAL BACKGROUND ON E-PARTICIPATION, 11
3 AN OVERVIEW ON E-PARTICIPATION, 31
Better Reykjavik: Iceland’s Constitutional Reform Process – Vtaiwan-- Decidim Barcelona – #MyFrance2022 and Make.org -- CitizenLab for Kapermolen Park -- DecideMadrid with Consul -- Scottish’s “We Asked, You Said, We Did” -- Open Challenges -- DT and e-participation
4 THE THEORETICAL BACKGROUND OF DESIGN THINKING FOR PUBLIC SECTOR INNOVATION, 57
5 DESIGN THINKING PRACTICES FOR E-PARTICIPATION, 75
Meaning Creation and Sense-Making: Valuing the Context and Communicating Better -- #MyFrance2022 -- Publics Formation: Engaging Publics Supporting Awareness and Plurality -- Better Reykjavik -- Decidim Barcelona -- Co-production: From “Asking the Citizens” to “Co-producing with Citizens“ -- Go Vocal, Former CitizenLab -- Experimenting and Prototyping: Bridging the Gap Between Ideas and Practical Applications -- DecideMadrid82 -- Changing Organisational Culture: Favouring Knowledge Transfer and Capacity Building – vTaiwan -- Scottish’s “We Asked, You Said, We Did”
6 ADDRESSING E-PARTICIPATION BARRIERS WITH DESIGN THINKING, 89
E-Participation Barriers Against DT Practices -- A Focus on DT Practices for Public Sector Organisations
7 FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS, 103
