Summary
The complex challenges local government is tasked with addressing are often the result of national government policy or lack of one. One such challenge is the high cost of living. While working within the Tel-Aviv-Yafo Municipality, the team was tasked with reducing the high cost of living in the city. In this presentation Sarah will share a design process that engaged residents but left leadership behind, how the team overcame this obstacle to eventually engage city leadership and drive implementation of a radically innovative policy (one where local government picks up the slack in the national policy).
Key Insights
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Engaging stakeholders early is crucial to gaining support for new initiatives.
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Incremental changes can lead to significant shifts in policy and public sentiment.
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Building partnerships with local organizations enhances the impact of municipal projects.
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Empathy can be cultivated through storytelling and personal interactions with residents.
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Visible, low-commitment pilots can foster excitement and buy-in for larger projects.
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Digital communication platforms can help foster community engagement and feedback.
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Cross-departmental collaboration within government is essential for success.
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A focus on small, tangible initiatives can pave the way for more radical changes in the future.
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Understanding residents' lived experiences is vital for designing relevant services.
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Adaptability and responsiveness to feedback are keys to successful project implementation.
Notable Quotes
"The challenges local government faced were often born out of national policy."
"We learned that the importance of engaging stakeholders was critical to our success."
"It was important to create a tangible representation of the future scenario to engage stakeholders."
"The collaborative work helped expand the range of possible remedies."
"We quickly realized that small initiatives could demonstrate results and build momentum."
"Our approach created a space for stakeholders to practice working across organizational silos."
"We focused on building ad hoc networks to support implementation."
"Digitaf changed the way parents experience the early years of their children's childhood."
"The partnerships we established significantly amplified the outcomes of our initiatives."
"Establishing a presence across digital and physical platforms was key to our success."
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