Multi‐stakeholder structured dialogues: Five generations of evolution of dialogic design

The paper reviews the evolution of Interactive Management, later referred to as Structured Democratic Dialogue, starting from the early 1970s up to this date. The authors propose a generational classification scheme consisting of five periods based primarily on whether some or all stages of the process were implemented synchronously or asynchronously and whether the participants' presence was physical, virtual or hybrid. Other aspects such as modifications in the steps of the process; the evolution of the software; domains of applications; file management; methods of collecting or recording contributions, votes, clarifications and preparation of reports; and key players are also considered and reported within the context of the primary scheme. The paper considers key advances achieved at each generational stage in terms of process or software, discusses associated challenges and concludes with a view towards the future of the emerging fifth generation.