The present study develops a new methodology to visualize the interactions between stakeholders during consensus building processes. The research takes as an example the urban environment improvement master plan consultation process for a commercial street in Dongseong-ro, Dae-gu city, Korea and, based on qualitative coding analysis of the project discussion proceedings, clarifies:
1. The priority and importance of each discussion topic.
2. The various natures of the interactions between participants.
3. The changing roles of each participant along the process.
On that purpose, firstly, the whole proceedings of the project meetings that took place a total of 15 times from July 16, 2007 to April 3, 2009 were studied. The project was divided in 4 stages: Master Plan image, First project design check, Further corrections, and finally, last comments and common agreement.
Secondly, inside each project phase, discussions were classified according to speaker (Master Architect (MA), Expert, Government, heads Citizens, Local Merchants and Government officers), topic of each comment (street features and area aesthetics) and position of the speaker and reactions of other participants (8 types). Based on this points a new methodology for objective visualization of the discussion process was developed.
Finally based on this method, the whole consensus building process was defined and the main points of the discussion and idea adjustments were clarified.
As a result, the following points were clarified:
1. Concerning the evolution of the discussion topics, the research proved that the dimension of the discussion changes. In the first stages, larger issues related to the urban space (plaza, street, etc.) are the center of attention, and gradually the discussion turns to physical elements (trees, street furniture, etc.).
2. In terms of participation during the discussions, the MA is more present and active during the first two design proposal stages. Community groups show more commitment during the project check and modification phases. Governmental officers show more interest in the implementation of the project and during the last stage they try to verify the process with the technicians.
3. With regard to the key roles in the discussion, the leader position changes along the course of discussions: the MA holds the leading position in the initial stages, but then takes the role of coordinator in the last phases of the project.
Finally, this new visualization methodology could be used in other different cases as a tool to evaluate the weak/strong points of past consultation processes. Besides, it can also be useful to anticipate conflict in similar participatory projects.
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