Setting clear boundaries is about defining the decision space: what’s actually up for grabs, and what isn’t. Spell that out honestly, and you avoid false hope, frustration, and a lot of awkward conversations later.
Boundaries, please!
By setting boundaries, you define:
- What’s open for input.
- What’s already decided.
- What citizens can influence.
- What they can’t influence.
Clear boundaries define what people can influence and decide. The public promise tells them what will happen with their input. You need both. If there is no public promise, people may not understand why they are being asked to participate, or whether their input will matter. If the boundaries are unclear, people may expect influence they do not actually have. For more on articulating the public promise, see: Chapter 2: What is our purpose?
Make sure everyone involved understands the room for influence: participants as well as politicians, government, and partners. What is already fixed? What can citizens still influence? And what financial, technical, or legal limits are there? If this is not clear, participants may receive mixed messages, propose ideas that cannot be used, or expect follow-up that the organisation cannot deliver. That can quickly damage trust.