Training Manual > 10 - Groups > Consensus Model
Decision-Making Standard & Consensus Model
Large groups also need to decide what their decision-making standard will be. Will it be "majority rules," "super-majority rules," some type of "consensus," or "unanimity." Sometimes there will be a combination of decision-making standards. For example, the group may adopt some consensus standard, such as 80% support, on individual issues, but require unanimity on the overall agreement when considered as a package. It is generally better to have some voting response system that is more sensitive than a simple and polarized "yea" or "nay" system. The following "levels of agreement" model can be used in multi-party mediation and facilitation situations. Participants can be encouraged to use their number of raised fingers to indicate their level of support for a proposal. In this model, where the group members will respond with anywhere from a "1" to a "5" or "6" depending on their degree of support for a proposal, it is common for the group to want to hear from anyone voting a "4," "5," or "6" to see if that participant's concerns can be addressed by a somewhat modified or refined proposal. After hearing from such initial "non-supporters," the group may, depending on its decision-making standard process agreements, permit itself to still take action if a near unanimity (80-90%) exists. Here is one levels of agreement consensus voting model:
1. I give an unqualified "yes" to the proposal. 2. I find the proposal acceptable. 3. I can live with the proposal although I'm not especially enthusiastic about it. 4. I do not fully agree with the proposal and need to register my view about it. However, I do not choose to block the proposal. I am willing to support the decision, if adopted, because I trust the wisdom of the group. 5. I do not agree with the proposal and feel the need to stand in the way of this decision being accepted. 6. I feel that we have no clear sense of unity in the group. We need to do more work before consensus can be reached. The above model can be simplified as:
1. Strongly support 2. Support 3. Willing to go along with 4. Want to be heard 5. Unwilling to support
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