M-tools at a glance
| general description & scope of functionalities | A discussion forum is a web application to facilitate online discussions. In a forum, users, usually with common interests, can exchange open messages. Users can pick a topic (so-called thread) with several messages and take part in the discussion by replying to messages or posting their own messages. Depending on permission they can also start an own thread.
Forums can be distinguished in very simple and more sophisticated tools depending on their purpose of use. For instance they can differ regarding the steps in the discussion process and include polling-elements to focus discussions (and close others) or include the possibility to rate postings. Additionally, elements to show the most active participant of the day/week can be included to attract new user groups. Notification elements to support the discursive elements can be implemented to notify participants when their postings are commented. Also various means of authentication can be distinguished – from open, anonymous forums to forums with registration via digital signature. |
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| target groups | Generally all citizens can participate in an online discussion. Depending on the purpose of the forum it makes sense to address specific target groups like inhabitants of a borough or specific age groups (youth, elderly etc.). An authentication of users may be helpful to make sure that the target group has been reached. |
| advantages & disadvantages | Forums have the potential to support interaction among the participants. Therefore they are potentially useful for the development of complex policies.
Staff time and skills are required to moderate, support and facilitate discussions, as well as content analysis skills to analyse contributions and produce reports to embed the results into the political process and to give feedback to the users. |
| practical application of the tool | A forum should have an administrator or moderator, who has the authority to edit, delete, move or otherwise modify any thread on the forum. If the forum is left unmoderated it may degenerate and become useless for discussion. A clear conditions of use statement is required which can be followed by both moderators and participants. Besides, forums can be supported by several facilitators and therefore need a sophisticated system of user-rights-management in the backend.
It should be described (and planned before starting) how the results will be used for the further political process, a commitment is helpful. When used for consultations, each forum should last between 4 to 12 weeks to allow as many people as possible to take part and also to re-visit the forum and reply to others. On the other hand endless discussions should be avoided - a focussed discussion is only possible if the potential users know that they have to make their statement within a specific period of time. |
| applications used in evoice- pilots & contact persons | Discussion forum called idea-stock exchange (Ideenbörse) within the participation-process around the development of the district Stephaniquartier in Bremen (2006)
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| further examples & additional information | Example of online consultations via discussion forum: A comparison of different forum systems can be found at: |
