"For too long, decisions have been taken behind closed doors - tablets of stone have simply been past down to people without bothering to involve people, listen to their views or give them information about what we are doing and why"

In this quote, Peter Mandelson is critiquing a longstanding approach to decision-making within companies, institutions, or governments, where decisions are made without transparency or stakeholder participation. When he refers to decisions taken "behind closed doors", Mandelson highlights an absence of openness and suggests that such processes leave out the public or relevant parties from the solution of policies or initiatives.

The expression "tablets of stone" metaphorically evokes the idea of rules or unchangeable decrees. Mandelson suggests that once choices have actually been made, they are frequently provided to the general public or to stakeholders as last and unquestionable, rather than as proposals open for discussion or modification. This imagery underscores the authoritarian or paternalistic nature of such decision-making procedures, where information is bied far from a position of power without space for settlement or input from those it affects.

By specifying that decisions have actually been "passed down to individuals without troubling to involve them", Mandelson highlights the exemption of varied voices and opinions which, if included, could enhance the decision-making process. His critique implies a need for democratic engagement, where people's voices and viewpoints are not only heard but actively solicited as part of an inclusive procedure. This point of view lines up with principles of openness, accountability, and participatory governance.

In addition, the absence of an effort to "provide information about what we are doing and why" talks to a substantial space in communication. This lack of details leaves stakeholders uninformed and potentially distrustful of the processes and results affecting their lives. Mandelson's declaration implicitly requires a cultural shift where transparency and responsibility are prioritized, fostering trust, collaboration, and shared understanding in between decision-makers and the general public.

Overall, Mandelson's quote is a call to action for more participatory and transparent governance, advocating for decision-making procedures that value and incorporate the insights and concerns of those affected.