A consultation can help design a service when it asks members to evaluate understandable alternatives. An abstract question about the interest in a new business can get favorable answers without clarifying availability to use, frequency and constraints. Preferences must be linked to concrete conditions.
I propose to describe a few options, indicating what they understand and what commitment they require. Consultation should be distinguished from the formal decisions of the cooperative. Its organizational function is to gather information, without attributing to the answers a deliberative meaning that they do not possess.
In a hypothetical example, a counseling service can be requested either individually or in group meetings. members may prefer different formats depending on the problem. A single question about the usefulness of counseling would leave this difference invisible.
The result should include who responded and what needs remain poorly represented. A voluntary sample can reflect especially the most interested members. The consultation informs the design when it retains these limits and makes it possible to explain how the responses influenced the proposal.