Change by Design: Creating Meaningful Participation in Cultural Organisations

In collaboration with Goethe-Institut.

Participation is the key to successfully managing change. So, broad participation makes for a more lasting change. But does it, really? Creating a participatory change process can harness collective intelligence, creativity, and commitment. It can increase a sense of ownership, mitigate resistance, and use diverse perspectives, skills and experiences to find better solutions. At the same time, participation can slow things down, diffuse responsibility and cause frustration. Endless discussions may even prevent change. 

Rebecca and Franziska give an insight into their experience with creating meaningful participation in cultural organisations: Often in very participatory organisational cultures, less participation can be more. Sometimes speed and clarity are more important than unanimity. So, how can one combine sound decision-making processes with engaging involvement? How can one design participation that is not an end in itself but serves a real purpose?