The following materials have been compiled to provide an
overview of Consensus Decision Making, including definitions and
suggested procedures. -- Nancy Irons, a past member of W&R in
CMwD. Consensus decision-making is a group decision making
process that not only seeks the agreement of most participants,
but also the resolution or mitigation of minority objections.
This strategy involves everyone playing a role in the decision
making of the group. In order for this to be successful it is
important to be open to compromise! Consensus is usually defined
as meaning both general agreement, and the process of getting to
such agreement. Consensus decision-making is thus concerned
primarily with that process. While not as common as other
decision-making procedures, such as the parliamentary procedure
explained in Robert's Rules of Order, consensus is used by a
wide variety of groups. Religious denominations such as the
Quakers. . . . As a decision-making process, consensus decision-
making aims to be: - Inclusive: A