Efficiency and effectiveness
It has been argued that participation may not only slow
down decision-making processes, it may actually lead
to complete inaction by taking the place of real change.
However, these comparisons do not take into account
the quality of the decision-making and the extent to
which participatory decision-making, including inputs
to mainstream decision-making, can lead to ‘better’
decisions, such as ones more appropriate to local
circumstances. Nor do they consider decisions which are
more fully supported by those affected or take into account
the costs of not involving those affected, who then disrupt
carefully planned timetables with protests.