Dashboards
A dashboard is a tool that can help participants to evaluate various options (such as policy levers) to surface tensions and tradeoffs that should be considered when bringing about systems change.
Dashboards can be used to develop possible alternative scenarios using a set of constraints or levers. A dashboard is a co-design tool to help people consider different options to surface tensions and tradeoffs that should be taken into consideration when bringing about systems change.
A dashboard is useful when evaluating policy considerations that can have distinct implications to society, particularly in the long-term. Regulation can be thought of as a collection of levers intended to curb and promote certain behaviours, and in this way it is much like a control panel (and the inspiration for the creation of this tool by MaRS Solutions Lab).
A dashboard can also be used on a smaller scale, such as weighing options for different product specifications. Dashboards can be used as part of your research gathering process, and best facilitated during a workshop with diverse participants from different stakeholder groups.
Examples and Resources
Examples of regulatory and product dashboards can be found below.
Instructions: Developing a dashboard (for a workshop activity)
1) Determine levers Once you've conducted preliminary/ background research, certain policy considerations or product specifications may become prominent. For example, differentiating between residence type: primary, secondary or investment property when developing regulation for short-term home rentals. Frame each consideration as a choice, or spectrum between options. For example, when designing for the launch of a new digital health technology: will private, public, or civic sectors drive the market? Or will all sectors (or a combination of each) drive the market?
2) Choose levers to include on a dashboard Consider including levers on the dashboard that create the most tension, where the choice may not be obvious, or that could result in an opposite outcome (if the opposing option was chosen). Be careful not to use too many levers, or the amount of choice will be too broad or overwhelming for participants and not conducive to defining scenarios. 3) Design & test dashboard Ensure the dashboard design and activity flows well with other workshop activities. Test it out with others before you use it as a workshop activity, and refine as needed.
Facilitating the Dashboard Activity
There are several ways you can facilitate a dashboard activity at a workshop.
First, introduce the dashboard and explain how the activity works for the participants at the workshop. Walk participants through each of the levers to assist with their understanding.
Then, have a group of participants discuss the scenario that would result from pre-set levers (ie. you choose the combination of levers that they are working with). Each table could have the same or different pre-set levers. Encourage participants to discuss the pros and cons of the scenario (particularly with respect to certain issues, such as community cohesiveness), and any other variables you would like them to consider (eg. effect on public value, administrative burden, 'innovativeness' etc.)
Afterwards, you can have participants choose the combination of levers that would result in their ideal desired scenario, and debrief in plenary.
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