Continuous Improvement Resources at Arizona State University

Consensus

Consensus is a decision making style that reflects the ideas and thoughts of all team members. Reaching consensus helps ensure that decisions are explored thoroughly and that strong disagreements have been resolved.

Consensus is. . .

• a decision that is acceptable to everyone.

Is not. . .

• unanimity--a consensus may not represent everyone's first choice,
• majority vote--in a majority vote, some people win and others lose.

Requires. . .

• time
• communication skills such as active listening, questioning, probing, and conflict management,
• viewing disagreements and positive conflict as part of the process,
• keeping an open mind and thinking creatively.

Although everyone in the group may not agree that the decision reached is the best solution, they can support the decision. To reach consensus, major differences of opinion in the group must be addressed. When the pooling of and exploration of ideas is desirable, reaching consensus may enable the group to achieve a higher quality decision. As consensus requires time, the appropriateness of its use must be weighed against the importance of the decision to be made.

Nominal Group Technique, Multi-Voting techniques and Criteria/Prioritization Matrices are very structured ways to help reach consensus.