Conclusion

The following conclusions have been drawn about this e-consultation case:

1. Effective collection of tacit knowledge

This e-consultation case illustrates an effective way to collect tacit knowledge from people, by stimulating them to tell their stories to the world, on a collective blog. A blog is a useful took for getting high quality interesting responses.

2. 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.

3. Non Labour-Intense Option

E-consultation doesn’t require as much work for the consulters as do discussion forums or even surveys. But it does require some attention.

4. 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).

5. 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.

Praise from the Taoiseach

Finally, the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, speaking at the Conference on the Future of the Community and Voluntary Sector, praised the Wheel's e-consultation work: http://www.activecitizen.ie/index.asp?locID=12&docID=5