Glossary

           

GUIDE TO CONSULTATION & PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TERMS 

5th EDITION    Compiled by Martin Woodrow

Consultation, and the wider concept of public engagement, is bedeviled by widespread confusion of terminology; in particular where a generally known term has a specialised meaning in relation to consultation. This in turn adds to the uncertainty of expectations, which deters many organisations and decision-makers from a wholehearted commitment to consultation.

Indeed, the whole subject of consultation was given an energetic and acerbic airing by Matthew Parris in The Times on 26^th February 2005, when he declared “A whole cartload of fatuous buzz-phraseology is now dragged through the news media….”

This Guide is an attempt to assist practitioners and others by clarifying  many of the terms in common use in both the public and private sectors and also in the voluntary and community (or Third) sector.

This 5^th edition includes more entries but we will be pleased to hear of any others that users feel should be included. Comments on the definitions themselves are also welcome - Please email martin@consultationinstitute.org