The Four Variations of KerDST

The table above presents the four types of exploitation of the KerDST system's possibilities, labelled as Variations A-B-C-D. In developing the guidelines to users, we considered two options. Either produce a single guide, within which the different variations are explained; or produce a separate user's guide for each variation. In making our decision, two main factors were weighed up. First, although many steps in use of KerDST are very similar across different variations, there are nonetheless differences in detail that ramify quite widely into visual features, navigation and so on. Second, experience suggests that there are very different dynamics associated with use of kerDST from one variation to another. So, we have decided that the better option is to produce a separate users' Manual for each of the four variations

In order to facilitate comparison between the variations and to make it easy to cross-reference from one Users' Manual to another, we have adopted a generic schema for describing and numbering the 'steps' in the use of KerDST. This is shown in tabular format on the following page, as "The Generic Schema for the KerDST Users' Manual".

The Variation D, which is the most comprehensive, engages all 14 steps. By comparison, the Variation C does not engage Step 6 (for the listing of participants in an open deliberation).

When a step is 'not applicable' to a particular Variation, this is simply noted at the appropriate point in the corresponding Users' Manual.