[LINK] RFI: Suitable Tools for an Electronic Forum

[Roger Clarke]

Has anyone seen any examples of effective use of electronic fora in
membership-based organisations?

If so, what tool(s) did they use?


Dead ends I've investigated so far are:

I'd anticipated that this might provide an exemplar, but it doesn't:
https://pirateparty.org.au/wiki

Getup! is petition-based and doesn't use e-fora.

International Association for Public Participation offers nothing, and
appears not to practice what it preaches: https://iap2.org.au/covid-19/

___________________

Background

A national, membership-based body is changing its form of incorporation,
and is preparing its new constitution.

Three rounds of consultation are to be undertaken with members.

Each round is to be stimulated by means of a seed-document.

Input and feedback are to be gathered through:
-   Face-to-face meetings in major population-centres
-   Video-conferences with particular membership segments
-   Formal submissions
**  Postings on an electronic forum that supports topics
    and that enables comments to develop in threads

The seed-documents for the second and third rounds are to reflect the
input and feedback provided to previous rounds.

The initial discussion is to be about the nature, mission, purpose and
functions of the organisation, leading to some principles that a new
constitution should satisfy.

The second round is to discuss key features of the constitution.  This
is likely to be divided into about 20-25 topics.

The third round is to provide a draft constitution, possibly with
options in at least some key areas.


What electronic tools are suitable to support the electronic forum?

Perhaps 250 people might contribute, some once only, some sporadically,
and some at length and/or repetitively;  and some with a narrow focus on
a topic-area, and others contributing on multiple topics.

___________________

Roger Clarke                            mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au
T: +61 2 6288 6916   http://www.xamax.com.au  http://www.rogerclarke.com

Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA

Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Law            University of N.S.W.
Visiting Professor in Computer Science    Australian National University