There is an opportunity to test tools, interface, and build a prototype around a use case: a 'real' multistakeholder dialog between experts to expand to a wider public through the 'pull mechanism' of the platform.
Here are the requirements that we would look at:
Pull Platform - Draft of requirements - Minimum viable product (quite ambitious actually...)
Knowledge & resources - There is a massive quantity of reference knowledge and resources, unstructured and scattered around the web around the subject. "Pulling" the knowledge and visual representation of knowledge & data on the topic will be needed from the start.
- These data and resources must serve as triggers and feed the conversations, and be updated in real time by the conversations and other external sources.
- Data visualization / dashboards must be in place for visual learning and discovery, individual and collective evaluation and decision making.
Extended network & critical mass.
- We need to be able to use existing social networks to invite people in, in addition to the constituencies and networks of the core participants. We must embed 'virality' in the 'pull' process. How do we engage people? Draw them into the conversations? Organize a game around the topic?
- We need to set up the 'referral' process. The on-line participants the most engaged must be able to refer potential additional stakeholders and impacters, people instrumental to forward the awareness and implementation in their fields.
- We need the platform to manage this 'dual' membership as well as the boundaries between the core discussion and the extended discussion.
Conversation & reporting mechanisms and tools
- The core conversation will have multiple input points and will use various media. Facilitators/curators will provide the offline material in a form that can be exploitable in further discussions.
- We need to define reporting mechanisms (videos, sound, transcripts, annotation of text and multimedia).
- We need to ensure a correct leverage of the conversations and shared material. How can conversations be displayed to be kept ALIVE. And 'on top' not lost in discussion threads. Avoiding to go 'fishing' for new posts... > Conversation dashboard?
- The tools we need must enable the material from the core conversation and the extended discussion to feed:
- a knowledge base and various dashboards
- a text editing/reporting module
- a text analysis/perspective/opinion curation module
- a debate argumentation/evaluation/decision module
- a project management / collaboration / initiative construction module
Language and framework - The participants will come from various backgrounds and hold various worldviews. They may hold conflictual opinions. Enabling the understanding of each others worldviews, cognitive processes, and languages will be required. The selection or conception of tools and the process must keep this in mind.
- Development of a universal language/ontology and common framework for this topic may be a desired output of the conversation.