Tips for performing a PVE
Three topics always return when setting up and executing Participative Value Evaluations (PVEs). We recommend that you already think about these three topics prior to a PVE process.
1) Do we really want individuals to think along about a strategic choice?
In a PVE, individuals are asked to advise on a strategic choice of an organization. For example, at the PVE for the Amsterdam Transport Region, individuals were asked to give advice on how to spend 100 million euros. 2500 residents of the Amsterdam Transport Region took part in this PVE. Before starting a PVE, it is important to think about whether you want individuals to contribute ideas about such a strategic issue.
2) Establish the principles of the PWE with stakeholders
The essence of a PVE is that participants in an (online) experiment choose policy options within a constraint. There are two types of PVEs: 1) the PVE in which individuals allocate a limited budget to policy options; 2) the PVE in which individuals advise (combinations of) policy options that ensure that an objective is achieved. We recommend making a choice between these two types of PVEs at an early stage, together with important stakeholders. The choice is important for the further elaboration of the experiment. Together with the stakeholders, you determine which issue you actually want to present to individuals. Do you want to involve individuals in allocating a limited budget? Then of course the first type of PVE makes more sense and if you want to use the PVE to measure the social costs and benefits of policy options, this format is also preferred. But if you want to involve individuals in the choice between different ways to achieve a goal, the second type of PVE is more obvious.
3) How do you reach individuals?
The usefulness of results from a PVE is greater when a large group of individuals participate in the experiment. It is important to think early about how participants in the PVE are approached. For example, you can approach individuals through a panel or through communication channels of your organization. You can also reach individuals via social media.