Civic engagement is an area where operations strategy and community impact intersect directly. As an operations leader, I understand that getting information to the right audience requires looking at both communication strategy and access to resources, and that’s where I can offer real solutions to my clients.

 

It’s through my work as a civic appointee that I’ve been part of conversations about the need for more residents to participate in civic spaces. Cities have conducted surveys and organizations have done research designed to increase equity in decision-making, around what projects exist and where funding goes.

 

Research on public participation points to some of the most common barriers to civic participation: lack of information and lack of childcare. By increasing the places where information is shared, we can raise awareness of resources like translation and childcare support that are available to residents upon request.

 

Understanding your audience is how you create strategies that make resources more accessible. And that approach applies across industries wherever a product or service is designed to make an impact.