This short video on advocacy is quite good if you replace business with backcountry recreation group/issue. One other way to convince "VITO" (Very Important Top Officer) to make a decision in your favour is to dig up dirt on "VITO" or his/her political masters. My favourite method of digging up dirt is of course the Freedom of Information Request (also known as the "FOI"). At some point I will make a post on the art of filing an effective FOI. Lastly, very often to get the attention of "VITO", you first have to work your way up/through the bureaucracy gradually and patiently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We8-LFos3zQ&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR3Wb9WWDHjt9PcHE4k0w4YMrOzG0F8M0fJz2PEhjQ9XhS8xMw2J3NlCpjI