Creating new models and concepts, then, requires time and a supportive environment. Time and environmental support become especially important when the participants are from different cultures, disciplines, job categories, hierarchical levels or types of expertise. When a new curriculum or pedagogy is under construction, even if participatory design is the intent and all relevant groups are well represented, there may be a shortage of time and support. Ministries and administrations must plan from the beginning to allow the necessary time and resources to see the process through to a successful conclusion. Without true communication among the participants the design is likely to include flaws, possibly crippling ones, or at least to include more flaws than otherwise.
Participatory design is similar to a jigsaw classroom.
In a jigsaw exercise, each learner begins with an essential portion of the information the group must assemble in order to complete the task. All know that each person must contribute to the end result or the project will fail. Even the unpopular students become important and must be respected and listened to so that the assembled information is complete. Similarly, in participatory design each participant has some essential information. Each must learn what the others know.