1. SME LEADERS AND SUSTAINABILITY Deliberative Engagement
Clive Mitchell, Involve
Webinar 9th Mar 2016
SME LEADERS AND SUSTAINABILITY Deliberative Engagement

2. Using DE in an SME context
Rationale
Case study approaches
What worked
What didn’t work
Contextual factors

3. Rationale
For complex issues, such as business sustainability, top-down solutions are inadequate
Collaborative approaches are likely to yield better solutions
Deliberative Engagement is one way of fostering this collaboration.

4. Case study approaches 9 cases, 8 workshops, of 3 – 4 hours
Straightforward design:
Welcome / presentations
Group discussions (the deliberation)
Plenary
Open Space

5. What worked
SMEs are interested in collaboration and welcomed the opportunity to do this
Generated creativity and ideas and, in one case, led to a network being set up
By-products, such as networking and positive reflection on the intermediaries
A clear, focused objective is essential.

6. What didn’t work
Unfamiliarity with DE meant that some workshops made limited progress
Not easy to do this in top-down and subsidy-dependent cultures
Reinforced the need for close attention to event design, e.g. time constraints

7. Contexts Already touched on prevailing cultures
Environments where there are political or regulatory risks for intermediaries
The need to build confidence in this more collaborative, empowered approach.

8. WWW. sme-engagement.eu Facebook.com/ smengage twitter.com/ smengage
Thank you for your attention!
Clive Mitchell
Acting Deputy Director, Involve
Mobile.:
WWW. sme-engagement.eu Facebook.com/ smengage twitter.com/ smengage