Quick Actions

Long-term Actions

  • Give extra attention to feedback from groups that face barriers, especially when deciding what changes to make.
  • Write down and share the rules you use to accept or reject feedback. Don’t dismiss feedback as “out of scope” without a clear reason. If you don’t use someone’s feedback, explain why.
  • Share the decisions you made and what happened as a result. This builds trust and shows that people’s time and input matter.

Examples

  • Germany – DIN DIN uses a comment resolution matrix that is publicly shared after consultation, showing how input was handled. DIN includes diverse stakeholder representatives in decision-making to balance perspectives and reduce majority-rule bias.
  • Norway – Standards Norway Feedback is tracked through a transparent resolution log. Stakeholders can follow how each comment was considered. They involve citizen panels to provide input on controversial issues and ensure balanced representation beyond committee members.
  • Japan – JISC JISC shares decision reports outlining the treatment of feedback and provides accessible summaries for broader public understanding. They use online dashboards to track the status of submitted comments in real time.

Barriers these actions address

Lack of transparency in how feedback is processed

Why is this a problem?

People often do not know what happens to their feedback or if it makes a difference. This can make participation feel pointless, especially for marginalized communities. When the process is unclear, people may stop taking part.

Common problems include:

  • No clear explanation of how feedback is evaluated or decisions are made.
  • No explanation about why some suggestions are accepted and others are rejected.
  • Feedback that affects communities disproportionately may carry less weight.
  • Lack of transparency reduces trust in the process.

Ways to address the barrier

  • Establish continuous feedback loops
  • Provide more than one way to give feedback
  • Use fair and transparent decision-making