A digital engagement framework adapted for local government

I've been doing a bit of research into citizen engagement models for my MSc research and started to think about how these models relate to digital engagement. I looked at various models and frameworks and combined them to help me conceptualise digital engagement.

Firstly I evaluated the participation model provided by David Wilcox in his 1994 participation framework, which was based on Sherry Arnstein's 'ladder of participation' from 1969.

Wilcox's participation levels

Arstein's ladder of participation

I noticed some similarities with Charlene Li's and Josh Bernoff's ladder of Social Technograph profiles. The profiles are based on survey research into consumer participation in social technologies. The ladder was recently updated to include a category for Twitter users!

The Groundswell site provides an interactive profiling tool which is based on demographic and behavioural data, to help companies define their commercial social technology strategies. However I think the tool has some transferable relevance for defining citizen participation profiles and assessing the propensity of certain age groups and genders to engage. What would be really useful would be to overlay this behavioural data with the type of profile data that some local authorities have access to, either through OAC or Mosaic, along with other data layers, e.g. Council survey data, Place Survey data.

Li and Bernoff suggest various activities which the Social Technographs participate in. I have adapted these along the lines of Catherine Howe's recent 'long list'.

Lastly I thought about what type of roles might be involved at each level and drew inspiration from Steph Gray's digital engagement roles. I have added other roles which are more relevant to local government, where communities are likely to play a more active role in engagement. Particularly where there are active hyperlocal sites in existence.

So, voilà! An adapted digital engagement framework for communities and local government. It's a first draft so any comments welcome.

Participation level	Social Technograph type	Activities	Roles involved
Supporting You help others do what they want - perhaps within a framework of grants, advice and support provided by the resource holder.	Creators	Publish and moderate a hyperlocal website/blog Run social media surgeries Upload a video or podcast you create Write articles and post them	Community Manager Digital mentor Community Activist Council Officer
Acting together Not only do different interests decide together what is best, but they form a partnership to carry it out.	Creators	Take part in online deliberations (in forums, web chat etc.)	Social reporter Community activist Councillor Council Officer
Deciding together You encourage others to provide some additional ideas and options, and join in deciding the best way forward.	Critics Conversationalists Creators	Post ratings Comment on a blog Contribute to online forum Contribute to/edit articles in a wiki Vote on polls Create a petition Join social networking sites and enagement platforms Use RSS feeds Add tags to web pages or photos	Community member Community Activist Councillor Council Officer
Consultation - You offer a number of options and listen to the feedback you get.	Critics Conversationalists Collectors	Post ratings Comment on a blog Contribute to online forum Contribute to/edit articles in a wiki Vote on deliberative polls Sign an e-petition Visit social networking sites and engagement platforms Maintain profile on social networking site or engagement platform Tweet Use RSS feeds Add tags to web pages or photos	Community member Council Officer Councillor
Information - The least you can do is tell people what is planned.	Spectators	Read blogs Listen to podcasts Watch videos from other users Read online forums Read comments/ratings Read tweets	Community member Council Officer Councillor