Responsiveness
What do we mean by responsiveness and why is it helpful?
Answering and reacting to concerns raised by stakeholders and public views by adjusting the course of action.
Getting started with Responsiveness
Start by sitting down and working through the self-reflection questions below. Certain questions may require further exploration. This may be in the sense of linking in with other dimensions (see below) or through the use of tools and processes to address any issues that the reflection has surfaced.
Potential questions to ask
- What are you willing and able to change in the project to address stakeholder concerns?
- How can project design account for unexpected outcomes and uncertainties from the start?
- What can be done at the early stages of a project to increase the ability to be responsive?
How these questions can be addressed
- Periodically review, and seek to respond to, changing circumstances and perspectives
- Respond to societal values and perspectives in discussion and action
- Respond swiftly to changing values and perspectives
- Respond with substance as best as possible
- Critically evaluate and acknowledge the ability to be responsive against external constraints (e.g. contracts)
Further aspects to consider are presented below.
Potential methods and tools to engage with this dimension |
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Linking into different dimensions and next steps
Each dimension is not a separate area to work through as a tick-box process. Instead, they should all flow into each other. Working through each of the dimension's self-reflection questions will help you think about the connections you may have missed.
An example of linking responsiveness into a different dimension.
Understanding the different expectations of innovation and research can be essential for the trajectory of your programme/research. This requires both inclusion in the form of ‘transformative mutual learning’ and also greater responsiveness to citizen perspectives.
Explore other dimensions