Microjustice Products
From MicroJustice
This page gives general information about the types of products that will be distinguished. Presently it also contains product requirements. These are specifications that can be tested to see whether the products are fit for purpose from the perspective of the client. These requirements may have to be moved somewhere else, later on.
Contents
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[edit] What is a product?
What exactly do we call a product? Microjustice wants to achieve economies of scale. This can only be done if standardized products and services can be developed. We will develop Pilot products, through a carefully designed process, see Product Development. So a product is a standardized way to meet justice needs.
[edit] For which needs will we develop products?
The issue here is what are the most urgent legal problems. Eventually, the range of products will hopefully cover all common and urgent legal problems that we have identified.
[edit] Pilot Products
A first set of pilot products will be developed for the following categories of legal problems.
[edit] Individual Registration Issues
Within this category, the main issues will be birth certificates, death certificates, identity documents.
[edit] Property Rights Protection in Rural Settings
[edit] Family Issues
Divorce, domestic violence, inheritance issues. Termination of domestic partnerships (marriages, common law marriages, etc.)
[edit] Consumer Issues
Complaints of consumers regarding the quality of goods and services
[edit] Other Registration and Disputing Products
These products for registrations and dispute resolution are likely to be developed with the Microjustice method.
[edit] Registration of businesses
[edit] Restorative Justice for Victims of Violence
[edit] Land Use Issues
Relationships between landlord and tenant. Eviction of tenants; land use conflicts.
[edit] Employment Issues
[edit] Neighbour Issues
Resolution of neighborly and neighborhood conflict. Water use conflicts. Environmental issues.
[edit] Business Relationships
Termination of business relationships.
[edit] Debt Collection
[edit] Unfair Detention
[edit] Expropriation and Fair Compensation
[edit] Tax Conflicts
[edit] Security and Crime Prevention
Security and general prevention of crime (peacekeeping, policing, etc.). This is probably difficult to achieve with the Microjustice methods. Problems for which products can be developed are:
- Abuse of Power by government officials and other powerful persons.
- Prevention of Violence other than domestic and neighbourhood violence
- Prevention of Extortion
- Prevention of Property Crimes
[edit] Types of Products and Requirements
There are different ways to distinguish products.
[edit] Functions of Products
[edit] Registration
[edit] Dispute Resolution
[edit] Protection Against Government
[edit] Security and General Prevention of Crime
[edit] Level of Assistance
We have distinguished three types of products, according to what the client does himself and what the Microjustice Facilitator does for him. For each of the products, we have tried to define the requirements, in testable form. So when we design and develop the products, we have already in mind how we will test whether the products work for the clients. The categories are:
[edit] On Line Self Help Products
Self help with information on internet. These products will be free in principle, although the client may be asked to pay a small fee voluntarily if he likes the product. Requirements (could be tested with the focus groups/these requirements are of course open to discussion):
- 70% of the target group is able to solve the problem with this information, without help from others than family or friends
- Users rate the information 7,5 on a scale to 10
[edit] On Line Products with Personal Assistance
Self help with information on internet and additional personal advice, for instance by Microjustice Facilitators. The client will pay a fee for this helpdesk-like assistance. Requirements:
- Client hears whether MJ product can help him or referral
- Client receives the concrete steps he needs to make to solve the problem
- 80% of the clients is able to solve the problem with this information, or with a little help
- Clients are satisfied with advice/help 7,5 on a scale to 10
[edit] Active Assistance Products
The Microjustice Facilitators actually perform tasks for the clients. Generally these products will be more expensive, and the fee will be higher. Requirements:
- An efficient division of tasks between client and MJ facilitator
- Expected time, expected result, expected costs are made explicit in writing/on website
- Time guarantee is met in 85% of the cases,
- Explanation and new time limit in remaining cases
- Result guarantee is obtained in 85% of the cases
- 50% of the target group is willing/and able to purchase it, if in a situation that requires the product
- Satisfaction with product and price above 7,5 on scale to 10
[edit] Level of complexity
Secondly, the products have to be developed for gradually increasing levels of complexity of what has to be done:
[edit] Simple registration or simple interaction/negotiation with other party
For instance birth registration
[edit] An intervention which involves a neutral third party, who makes some limited intervention
For instance administrative procedure for small errors in birth registration; a simple, local dispute resolution procedure
[edit] An intervention which involves a complicated interaction with many parties
Such as a legal correction procedure for a birth registration; an official court action.
Of course, when the level of complexity becomes higher, it may be that self-help is less likely to be possible. But beware: Microjustice is meant to be empowering, so it is the client who acts, and not the professional, like in the traditional lawyer/client relationship.
[edit] Level of Innovation and Change
This is another distinction that may be helpful. Sometimes products can be designed that can help individual clients right away, in the existing setting. Sometimes products an only work if the whole setting is changed.
[edit] Products that Fit the Existing Situation
The first product category assumes that the existing system can be made to work for the poor, with some help. For instance, a birth registration is very burdensome to achieve for the client, but with some smart organization, efficiency, and economies of scale a birth registration can be made affordable and sufficiently interesting to obtain for the majority of the target group. So these are products that work in the existing social and legal environment. This category assumes that the client can solve the legal problem within that existing setting, if only he had the right information available, or the right type of assistance. We call them (for the moment, we have to find a better name) Fit Present Setting Products.
[edit] Quantum Change Products
Sometimes, however the existing setting is such that no affordable products can be developed. Reliable land registration, with sufficient protection of property against claims or interference from others, is more or less impossible to obtain in many rural settings. In those situations, there are two things that will have to be done:
- Collecting and publishing reliable information (we have to find a word for this, something like Performance Information) that shows that the system/procedure does not work for/reaches the poor. This can be done with the Measuring Access to Justice methodology developed by TISCO and Hiil.
- Then products will have to be developed that are truly novel. For instance, building on the existing ways of settling property disputes and the customs of proving the facts that substantiate claims to property, a new way to protect assets will have to be developed, making use of Google Maps, of existing criteria for dividing property in situations of uncertainty, and of a procedure before a local council in order to negotiate and settle disputes about the property. These Quantum Change Products really require setting up a new infrastructure. So this is a different type of design activity.
[edit] Which versions will be developed?
Product development will go in versions.
[edit] Version 0.5 (Experimental version)
The Bolivia team has developed initial versions of the products that are present on the website (as of February 6, 2008). This was done on the basis of a questionaire, that was developed at Tilburg University. This questionaire has been adjusted to the La Paz situation, and has been translated in Spanish.
[edit] Version 0.7 (Beta Version)
The Beta version will be a version that is enriched with more systematic know how. This may come from Dispute Resolution System Design from studying the needs and capabilities of the clients in accordance with the BOP Protocol. It does not yet fully meet the Product Requirements. The Beta version will be tested, however, to monitor the progress of the product development.
[edit] Version 0.8 (Intermediate Version)
There will probably be an intermediate version.
[edit] Version 1.0 (Sustainable Version)
This will be the first version that fully meets the product requirements. It will thus be a sustainable and affordable version of the product.
[edit] Versions 2.0, 3.0, etc.
These will be next editions of the Sustainable Version. Developed in the more distant future.
