Phase 4: Developing further, replicating or institutionalizing
Once a Stakeholder Dialogue has reached the agreed-upon results, the question remains whether an initiative should stop there, or if it should be further developed. If the desired goal has been achieved, success should be adequately celebrated: participation and contributions of individual stakeholder groups should be acknowledged and appreciated. Many Stakeholder Dialogues terminate successfully after Phase 3.
Some Stakeholder Dialogues may want to consolidate their outcomes into sustainable structures. This can mean taking the endeavor to the next level, replicating it at another location, integrating a new issue or further institutionalizing the dialogue on a more formal level. If taking the initiative or project to the next level seems to be a worthy option, Phase 4 needs to concentrate on building appropriate structures without losing sight of the crucial role of people and process. It is about creating the next-level Container by inviting and integrating new participants. This often requires building new structures and developing a governance system that represents the stakeholder groups. Sometimes, it can make sense to set up an institution with the appropriate management structure.
An important factor in the transition from a Stakeholder Dialogue to a more institutionalized structure is that in principle, the future setup stays faithful to the key features of the initiative. It needs to ensure that the major aspects of Stakeholder Dialogue – transparency, stakeholder representation, dialogue, ownership, consensus-building and outcome orientation – are also reflected in the institutionalization. Although the new structure will have its own dynamic and build a new identity around itself, its origins need to be recognizable, whether this is reflected in the governance structure, the openness towards continued dialogue and learning or the willingness to integrate stakeholder perspectives.
Areas of attention:
- Build next-level Container
- Create management structures
- Establish governance and learning systems
