A workshop is an informal, occasion-related procedure in which politicians, administrators, experts, property owners, investors and other stakeholders discuss a concrete issue together.

Suitable

• for working through a specific issue in a professional way

Sequence of events

A workshop has no definite structural characteristics; depending on the assignment, the number and composition of the participants, the way in which they are selected and the sequence of events may vary considerably. To promote constructive collaboration, the atmosphere should be as open and free from compulsion as possible. Accommodation and a social situation different from everyday working conditions are beneficial here, and an important contribution can stem from facilitators steering the discussion.

Participants

Interested citizens, representatives of interest groups, politicians, administrators, experts.

Point to note

• Although workshops have no definite structural characteristics, it is advisable to draw up a programme, an agenda, a timetable or something similar during the preparations, so that all participants can prepare themselves and the workshop proceeds goal-oriented.