Structuring e-Participation Perspectives Mapping and Aligning Models to Core Facets

Abstract

A proliferation of e-participation research in recent years has produced fragmented contributions in the area of e-participation models. Without a mechanism for analyzing, relating and consolidating these models, further development of the domain is in danger of repeating itself. This paper presents such a mechanism an Integrative Framework which organizes e-participation models based on the nature and specific aspects of e-participation supported. The Integrative Framework enables mapping of models to 12 different facets constructed from a combination of three related perspectives and four canonical aspects of e-participation. While our genealogical analysis of the models showed in general weak relationships among models, our Framework enabled logical groupings of these models as a basis for consolidation, alignment or complementarity analyses. Mappings also clearly revealed aspects of e-participation that are yet to be (sufficiently) addressed. We conclude with recommendations for fostering rigorous and incremental model development in the e-participation domain.