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PROBLEM SOLVING AND ELECTRONIC ADVOCACY
Like all other aspects of generalist practice, Electronic Advocacy should follow the steps in the problem solving process:
- Problem Definition
- Goal Setting
- Development of a Broad Action Plan or Strategy
- Selection of Tactics
- Implementation of the Action Plan
- Assessment of Outcomes
Social Problem Definition
Before advocacy can begin, it is important to define and gather factual data on the social problem that is to be its focus.
Internet research is a key technique that can be used to study a social problem at the international, national, regional,
state, or local level. General Internet searching using a search engine is the most common method of obtaining data on an
area of interest. Searching Federal, State, and Local Government Websites is a second method of gathering information on
a social problem. Federal government documents can be located through:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cgp/index.html
State and local government documents can be found through state or local government web sites.
Goal Setting
In electronic advocacy, just as in face-to-face community organizing, goals and objectives should set by the community. This
can be accomplished by establishing a community of interests online, also known as a "virtual community". A "virtual
community" can be most easily formed through a web site (to recruit members) and listserv (to allow community discussion
and decision-making).
Development of an Action Plan
According to Hick and McNutt, there are many levels of electronic advocacy:
- Community Networking - locality based consensus based systems to serve local communities
- Electronic Democracy or E-Government - consensus based electronic town halls
- Electronic Government Relations - legislative advocacy
- Virtual Communities - communities that exist only online
- Online Social Action Organizing - to change distribution of power
- Civil Disobedience - "hactivism" - interfering with the operation of opponents technology (Hick and McNutt,
http://www.socialpolicy.ca/hr/hick1.htm, 2002)
http://www.socialpolicy.ca/hr/hick1.htm
Possible Tactics to Gather Data or to Achieve Concensus
Possible Tactics to Gather Data or to Achieve Consensus within a Constituency are: online surveys, chat sessions, and videoconferencing.
To reach and influence decision makers, one might use email campaigns or online petitions. Online fund raising efforts might
be implemented to obtain resources for advocacy campaigns. The current use of "Clicks for charity" sites are an
example of this.
Implementation of the Action Plan
The broad action plan can then be implemented, using Electronic Advocacy tactics. Assessment should occur on an ongoing basis
to determine whether the broad action plan and its specific tactics are effective.
Evaluation of Outcomes
Evaluation of outcomes should be completed at the end of the advocacy effort to determine whether the intended outcomes were
achieved and whether there were any second order consequences. If intended outcomes have not been achieved, we can consider
whether changes should be made in our problem definition, goals, objectives, action plan, and tactics.
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