The unavailability of information that specifically addresses that topic has created a gap that’s been difficult for the project to navigate. Without specific information, it is even more difficult to provide a capsule or preview of what will be discussed. This truism explains a key barrier to finishing pieces of work that require specialized detail or background.
With no more specific information to go off of, the attempt to collect feedback on the topic continues to be half-hearted. The directive says to concentrate only on the specific topic, but with no information provided, that focus is not possible. As a result, the work of cataloging the truth simply cannot happen because there is nothing to draw from.
Absence of Context
The present situation is merely a microcosm of a much wider epidemic plaguing the field of information sharing. When context is missing, it builds walls that prevent people from learning about and being excited by a topic. Not knowing the history or context for the topic at hand definitely adds to the challenge. It begs the question of how these gaps in information come to exist.
Whether climate change, equity, or technology, discussions on these complex topics flourish when the terms are clear and the data is available. When presented with a clean slate, stakeholders have nowhere else to go. They must either seek additional input or acknowledge that a thorough exploration of the topic is unattainable at this time.
Implications of Missing Information
The impact of this information gap is significant. Those who try to engage with the topic get frustrated because things are so convoluted. Any attempts to debate or understand the issue will always be doomed to failure without basic information to work from.
Additionally, as this is often the case, a failure of this magnitude can become a precedent for future investigations. If these patterns continue to surface, important issues get pushed to the forefront with insufficient knowledge. This can cause half-baked conversations to snowball into mistruths.
Next Steps for Stakeholders
Given the significant challenge ahead of us, it’s time for stakeholders to focus on what needs to happen next. Whether it means they just have to go back and ask for more data or if they need to just reframe how they’re approaching the topic. Talking with others who are more experienced or using different resources might offer the kind of insight you need to take that next step.
Ultimately, providing this context is critical to growing strong advocacy conversations and developing effective, informed champions and advocates. Until then, today’s state of play drives home just how important clear information is to help everyone get a serious discussion started.