While a great deal of upfront work goes into setting up a collaborative decision making process, Getting Started begins with the first official meeting between process staff and public participants. The first meeting presents a valuable opportunity to define a process structure that is functional, inclusive and adaptive.

Key topics to be covered in the early meetings of a process include:

• Introducing Roles
• Explaining Purpose and Scope
• Clarifying Group Decision Making

These aspects may be revisited throughout a process, but providing clarity at the outset helps participants and the mediators to start off on the right footing.