Values statements can be used to draw lines, so to speak, in the sand. Especially (though not exclusively) when considering knowledge resources, value statements can be understood as boundary objects that enable diverse interests to be constructively aligned through institutional design. This presentation will consider examples of common value statements – such as “open” and “smart,” among others – to illustrate the institutional challenge of constructing normative boundaries that are simultaneously universal and concrete, and to illuminate the role that value statements can play in designing institutional strategies and rules. We will also discuss practical approaches to drafting value statements through democratic processes.
