Edward Andersson, Deputy Director of Involve, a UK-based civic engagement advocacy organization, has very concisely identified 5 signs of a failing public engagement effort.

The stakes are high in the coming years; good engagement will be crucial, and bad engagement will be devastating. In my view badly designed engagement is a fantastic way to waste money and turn relationships with stakeholders and citizens sour as an added bonus.

The situations that indicate bad public engagement?

1. When the answer doesn’t matter (because a decision has already been made)
2. When you already know the answer (a technical question with a clear answer)
3. When you don’t want to know the answer
4. When the people you are asking don’t know the answer
5. When people don’t care what the answer it

It’s a good list – you can read more details here.