klankbord

Klankbord is a Dutch term meaning a sounding board. In organizational and project contexts it refers to a person or group that provides feedback on ideas, plans, products, or policies. A klankbord helps test assumptions, surface risks, and improve proposals before broader implementation. The concept is common in the Netherlands and Flanders and can describe either an individual adviser or a standing group, often called a klankbordgroep.

Typical roles of a klankbord include asking critical questions, validating user needs, and representing diverse stakeholder perspectives. To maximize usefulness, klankborden are usually external to the decision-maker, with a defined scope, confidentiality, and regular interaction. Feedback is collected through meetings, written notes, workshops, or prototypes, and is summarized in a report or action plan that informs further work.

Process and implementation often involve clear invitation criteria, defined objectives, and agreed-upon timelines. A klankbord may review concepts at specific milestones, provide iterative input, and help reframing problems or solutions. Its value lies in fostering constructive dialogue and reducing the risk of biased or narrow thinking.

Contexts and examples include municipal projects, corporate strategy, product development, education, and community or civic initiatives. The klankbord is distinct from an advisory board in that it primarily offers informal feedback rather than formal governance, and it is not a market research focus group, though it may employ similar methods.

See also: sounding board, klankbordgroep, stakeholder engagement. The English equivalent is often described as a sounding board.