Exercise: service delivery options

Time required: 45-60

Objective

This exercise is meant to stimulate creative thinking about different ways of doing what local governments are accustomed to doing - producing public goods and services. The twin focus on creativity and on alternative delivery systems makes this exercise a good introduction to understanding the enabler role.

Process

Ask participants individually to make a list of three programmes and services that their local governments currently perform using their own employees, equipment and facilities, programmes and services that could be performed by someone else.

When participants have completed the task, divide them into severalsmaller groups of four to seven members each. Ask each group to select one programme or service from one of the lists and to identify at least one way the programme or service could be carried out differently (maybe better) without using the government's employees, equipment, or facilities. Ask each group to list the advantages and disadvantages of the service option(s). A worksheet is provided on the next page for use by participants in making notes on service options and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Reconvene the small groups after about 30 minutes and ask for reports. Initiate a discussion about the benefits that can result from new ways of delivering government programmes and services.

*The amount of time scheduled for this exercise may be extended up to three hours depending on the number of programme and service examples participants are asked to consider.

SERVICE OPTIONS WORKSHEET