Experience and Future Plans in Experience and Future Plans in CreatingCreating anan Interactive Public Interactive Public

Policy in LithuaniaPolicy in Lithuania

Assoc. Prof. dr. NerutAssoc. Prof. dr. Nerutee Kligien Kligienee,,Institute of Mathematics and InformaticsInstitute of Mathematics and Informatics

Vilnius, LITHUANIA, 200Vilnius, LITHUANIA, 20033

ISSS / LORIS 2003 ConferenceISSS / LORIS 2003 ConferencePrague & Hradec KralovePrague & Hradec Kralove

PLAN OF THIS LECTURE

The aims & main facts of e-consultation held in Lithuania

Target audience, the advertising campaign

How it works, lessons learnt

Analysis of statistical data

Conclusions

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN INTERACTIVE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN INTERACTIVE PUBLIC POLICY IN LITHUANIAPUBLIC POLICY IN LITHUANIA

20012001 the first project initiated and supported by the the first project initiated and supported by the Open Society Fund-Lithuania (the curator - Open Society Fund-Lithuania (the curator - Ministry ofMinistry of Economy LR Economy LR)) for online consultation on for online consultation on

A Long-Term Strategy for Lithuanian Economic A Long-Term Strategy for Lithuanian Economic Development in 2001-2015Development in 2001-2015

2003 the new activities - to implement the public2003 the new activities - to implement the public consultation in other governmental institutions: consultation in other governmental institutions: LR Ministries of Education and Science,LR Ministries of Education and Science, Social SecuritySocial Security

Monitoring of a Long-Term State Development Monitoring of a Long-Term State Development Strategy, Reformation of Educational System,Strategy, Reformation of Educational System,Pensions and Social Security and other.Pensions and Social Security and other.

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THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN INTERACTIVE POLICY IN LITHUANIA

ONLINE Consultation have two-fold GOALSONLINE Consultation have two-fold GOALS::

    To To create online consultation examplecreate online consultation example for governmental institutions, for governmental institutions, encourage civic participation, encourage civic participation, to gain anto gain an experience and skill in e-democracy experience and skill in e-democracy

implementationimplementation

  To To improve and to speedimprove and to speed a a developmentdevelopment of of Lithuania Lithuania in most sin most strategtrategicalical areasareas

MAIN FACTS ABOUT A STRATEGY PROJECTMAIN FACTS ABOUT A STRATEGY PROJECT

The strategy was prepared by the experts in The strategy was prepared by the experts in 1414 groupsgroups of of specific strategies, specific strategies, such assuch as Economic Integration, Environmental Protection, Agriculture, Economic Integration, Environmental Protection, Agriculture, Communications and Informatics Communications and Informatics and otherand other

Coordinated by the Ministry of Economy of LithuaniaCoordinated by the Ministry of Economy of Lithuania

Started in November 2001, ended in April 2002Started in November 2001, ended in April 2002

A A Strategy Strategy has has become a part ofbecome a part of the the LiLithuanian Statethuanian State DDevelopment evelopment StrategyStrategy (approved by Lithuanian (approved by Lithuanian Parliament, November 2002) Parliament, November 2002)

THE AIMS OF CONSULTATIONTHE AIMS OF CONSULTATION

To To involve citizensinvolve citizens into solving important questions into solving important questions To determine the To determine the level of knowledgelevel of knowledge and understandingand understanding in the community of the questions being considered in the community of the questions being considered

To To get proposals,get proposals, remarks – to improveremarks – to improve a Strategy a Strategy To find To find alternative solutionsalternative solutions to urgent problems to urgent problems

A long-term goalA long-term goal was to promote e-democracy and was to promote e-democracy and to develop a core democratic values: to develop a core democratic values:

To To built trustbuilt trust in the transparency of in the transparency of government actions government actions To To strengthen a connectionstrengthen a connection between citizens and between citizens and

decision-making decision-making

TARGET AUDIENCE TARGET AUDIENCE

The experts, not included into groups of those, The experts, not included into groups of those, creating a Strategy creating a Strategy

Interest groups (NGO, various associations)Interest groups (NGO, various associations)

The academic communityThe academic community

Political partiesPolitical parties

Citizens, people concerned about the future of LithuaniaCitizens, people concerned about the future of Lithuania

THE IMPORTANT FEATURESTHE IMPORTANT FEATURES

Consultation was performed in each of the Consultation was performed in each of the 1414 specific specific strategies strategies separatelyseparately Various channelsVarious channels (radio, press, Internet, letters to persons, (radio, press, Internet, letters to persons, organizations, political parties) were used for info spread organizations, political parties) were used for info spread

Electronic community consultation put into practice on Electronic community consultation put into practice on a special interactive website a special interactive website http://www.svarstome.lt

The modified The modified information systeminformation system 20032003 applied to applied to consultation on other than economic development problemsconsultation on other than economic development problems

HOW IT WORKS?HOW IT WORKS? –– CONSULTATIONCONSULTATION

The target audienceThe target audience is constantly informed about online is constantly informed about online consultation, consultation, Internet usersInternet users have an opportunity: have an opportunity: To download any document of a To download any document of a Strategy, projectStrategy, project

To know who its To know who its authorsauthors are are To express opinions about any document To express opinions about any document online/e-mailonline/e-mail

To To answer interactivelyanswer interactively the questions posed by experts the questions posed by experts

To To get acquainted with the ideasget acquainted with the ideas of other participantsof other participants online in this discussion online in this discussion

HOW IT WORKS?HOW IT WORKS? – – CONCLUDING STEPSCONCLUDING STEPS

ExpertExperts have tos have to

CCarefully and open-minded arefully and open-minded analyseanalyse responses responses

Summarize Summarize results of consultationresults of consultation with anwith an account of the account of the

views expressedviews expressed reasons for decisions finally takenreasons for decisions finally taken

Submit the consultation resultsSubmit the consultation results and improved and improved ProjectProject for for Internet publishing Internet publishing

THE ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN THE ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN

Various channels were used for information spread:Various channels were used for information spread:

Mass mediaMass media: Internet portals (: Internet portals (44 times), press ( times), press (33 adv.), radio adv.), radio ((33 times) times) Personal lettersPersonal letters to other experts, MP of LR ( to other experts, MP of LR (207207 letters) letters) Letters to organizationsLetters to organizations: NGO, political parties (: NGO, political parties (6767 letters) letters) E-mailedE-mailed information to persons, organizations ( information to persons, organizations (648648 e- e-mails)mails) BannersBanners: to the websites of all Lithuanian universities (: to the websites of all Lithuanian universities (1212)) LinksLinks: the website of the LP, some LR Gov. institutions: the website of the LP, some LR Gov. institutions Numerous calls to specialists, other means of info spread Numerous calls to specialists, other means of info spread

All together the spread of information reaches All together the spread of information reaches 922922 units units sent expedientlysent expediently in one month (besides mass media) in one month (besides mass media)

AN EXAMPLE OF OTHER MEANS USED

The card, used for the advertising campaign. Translation of the text:

“Are you concerned

about the future of Lithuania? Then http://www.svarstome.lt is a website for you!”

SOME STATISTICS OF WEBSITESOME STATISTICS OF WEBSITE

THE EFFORTSTHE EFFORTS922 units of information922 units of information sent sent (in addition (in addition to the info in to the info in mass mediamass media, info cards), info cards)

THE RESULTS OF ONE MONTH:THE RESULTS OF ONE MONTH:

6,2306,230 visitors, visitors, 210210 postings, postings, 157157 different respondents different respondents The number of unique visitors The number of unique visitors 2,6172,617, while , while 3,6133,613 visited website more than one timevisited website more than one time The The rate of visitors’ activityrate of visitors’ activity was rather low – was rather low – only 3%only 3% of of visitors become respondents visitors become respondents

The first round: December 22The first round: December 22ndnd 2001 - January 31 2001 - January 31stst 2002 2002

THE EXPERIENCE

Not all topics in Strategy had active discussions and gotNot all topics in Strategy had active discussions and got numerous postings numerous postings

Many of experts confirm that the received postings and Many of experts confirm that the received postings and online consultation online consultation

wwere ere useful to improve the Strategyuseful to improve the Strategy

At first not all governmental institutions were willing to At first not all governmental institutions were willing to cooperate in online consultationcooperate in online consultation

Many of respondents were rather pessimistic about Many of respondents were rather pessimistic about possible results their contributionpossible results their contribution

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERTS

Enables to know the online opinions of:

Other experts Various interest groups from the general public

Provides the modern tool of ICT to experts enabling online access to the DB of website, protected by Psw for:

Editing or adding a new information in their own area

To move a posting from the website publication area if necessary

ANALYSIS OF THE FIRST ROUND STATISTICAL DATA

There were 210 postings from 157 different respondents during one month period

It is useful to compare the resulting 210 postings with the efforts done: 922 units of information sent expediently and the 6,230 visits received

ANALYSIS OF THE FIRST ROUND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE FIRST ROUND STATISTICAL DATADATA

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr

Sent info

Visitors

Postings

THE LATEST STATISTICAL DATA THE LATEST STATISTICAL DATA

VISITORS (up to the end of January 2003):VISITORS (up to the end of January 2003):23 39023 390 visitors, visitors,10 42010 420 unique visitors unique visitors330330 postings in strategy (now closed) postings in strategy (now closed)103 707103 707 hits all together. hits all together.This interactive website had This interactive website had active periodactive period: :

attracting actively users - during online attracting actively users - during online consultation process, consultation process, and passiveand passive – rising – rising awareness about agreed results of strategy awareness about agreed results of strategy project of Lithuanian economics.project of Lithuanian economics.

THE LESSONS LEARNTTHE LESSONS LEARNT – – THE THE WEAKNESSES OF OUR PROJECTWEAKNESSES OF OUR PROJECT

Timing of consultation was too short, Timing of consultation was too short, not sufficient timenot sufficient time left for improving a Strategy left for improving a Strategy

Commitment of experts to prepare additional materials,Commitment of experts to prepare additional materials, to ask public opinion in so short time was to ask public opinion in so short time was not sufficientnot sufficient

A series of questions A series of questions what have to stimulate debate what have to stimulate debate don’t proved itself to be very effective don’t proved itself to be very effective

New online consultation 2003 – an attempt to New online consultation 2003 – an attempt to improve actions improve actions

UNEXPECTED SUCCESSUNEXPECTED SUCCESS

Citizens took a challengeCitizens took a challenge to express their opinions even in to express their opinions even in such area as long-term strategy for economic development such area as long-term strategy for economic development

Moderation process was almost unnecessaryModeration process was almost unnecessary: only : only one posting has to be moved because of violation of one posting has to be moved because of violation of the User Agreement (during several months!) the User Agreement (during several months!)

LR Ministry of Economics, what has been rather critical to LR Ministry of Economics, what has been rather critical to ICT use in the first project, now is willing to cooperate ICT use in the first project, now is willing to cooperate in the in the Monitoring ofMonitoring of LiLithuanian Statethuanian State D Development evelopment StrategyStrategy

WHAT SHOULD BE KEPT?WHAT SHOULD BE KEPT?

The commitmentThe commitment of theof the the Governmental institutions the Governmental institutions (special means foreseen to increase their interest)(special means foreseen to increase their interest)

The discussion - The discussion - open open andand uncensored uncensored, and the , and the results of the participation results of the participation immediatelyimmediately seen onlineseen online

The advertising campaign is important, it should beThe advertising campaign is important, it should be made made more intensivemore intensive

The important things to be kept in the future:The important things to be kept in the future:

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

Such kind of consultation have to be oriented to highly Such kind of consultation have to be oriented to highly qualified professionalsqualified professionals and requires a lot of commitment and requires a lot of commitment from all participating people from all participating people The advertising campaign was more effective whenThe advertising campaign was more effective when focused on personalfocused on personal addressing addressing The expertsThe experts have a big additional load and need in have a big additional load and need in advance to be supported and trained in this new area advance to be supported and trained in this new area The communityThe community took a challenge to participate in online took a challenge to participate in online consultation consultation The consultationThe consultation was successfulwas successful in spite of complicated in spite of complicated topics of consultation as it was topics of consultation as it was A Long-Term EconomicA Long-Term Economic Development Strategy Development Strategy The support of LR GovernmentThe support of LR Government was necessary and was necessary and leaded to success leaded to success

ORGANIZATIONS BEHIND THIS PROJECTORGANIZATIONS BEHIND THIS PROJECT

The project was The project was initiated and supportedinitiated and supported by the by the Open Society Fund-LithuaniaOpen Society Fund-Lithuania A traditional way of creating and discussing on Strategy A traditional way of creating and discussing on Strategy was organized by was organized by The Ministry of EconomyThe Ministry of Economy of Lithuania, of Lithuania, 2003 2003 other governmental institutionsother governmental institutions involved involved

Project team is based at the Lithuanian Computer SocietyProject team is based at the Lithuanian Computer Society and specialists from: and specialists from:

The Institute of Mathematics and Informatics (IMI)The Institute of Mathematics and Informatics (IMI) The Lithuanian University of LawThe Lithuanian University of Law The Institute of Economics, Lithuanian Academy The Institute of Economics, Lithuanian Academy of Sciences of Sciences

THE CONTACT INFORMATION

The coordinator and the project leader is The coordinator and the project leader is dr. Nerute Kligiene (IMI)dr. Nerute Kligiene (IMI)

Address for contacts isAddress for contacts is svarstom@ktl.mii.lt oror

N. Kligiene, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, N. Kligiene, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, A. Gostauto 12, LT-2600, Vilnius, Lithuania.A. Gostauto 12, LT-2600, Vilnius, Lithuania.Phone: (370 5) 660386, Fax: (370 5) 619905Phone: (370 5) 660386, Fax: (370 5) 619905

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION !