The Consensus Building Handbook; A Comprehensive Guide to Reaching Agreement

by Lawrence E. Susskind

• ISBN13: 9780761908449
• ISBN10: 0761908447
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-08-09
• Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc

Summary

This handbook on group decision-making for those wanting to operate in a consensus fashion stresses the advantages of informal, common sense approaches to working together. It describes how any group can put these approaches into practice, and relates numerous examples of situations in which such approaches have been applied.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii	(4)
Introduction	xvii
Areas of Application	xviii	(2)
Common Misperceptions	xx	(2)
About This Book	xxii
PART 1: A SHORT GUIDE TO CONSENSUS BUILDING	3	(58)
An Alternative to Robert's Rules of Order for Groups, Organizations, and Ad Hoc Assemblies That Want to Operate by Consensus	3	(58)
Lawrence Susskind
What's Wrong with Robert's Rules?	5	(1)
Definitions	5	(8)
A Complete Matrix	13	(7)
Section I: Helping an Ad Hoc Assembly Reach Agreement	20	(15)
Section II: Helping a Permanent Group or Organization Reach Agreement	35	(20)
Section III: Dealing with the Barriers to Consensus Building	55	(6)
PART 2: HOW TO BUILD CONSENSUS	61	(618)
Chapter 1. Choosing Appropriate Consensus Building Techniques and Strategies	61	(38)
Susan Carpenter
Who Initiates and Who Designs a Process	62	(4)
Determining Whether Consensus Building Is Appropriate	66	(4)
Additional Issues to Consider Before Developing a Specific Consensus Strategy	70	(6)
Structuring a Specific Consensus Process	76	(21)
Summary	97	(2)
Chapter 2. Conducting a Conflict Assessment	99	(38)
Lawrence Susskind
Jennifer Thomas-Larmer
The Practice of Confict Assessment	101	(6)
How to Conduct a Conflict Assessment	107	(1)
Identify the Parties to Be Interviewed	108	(22)
Dilemmas and Debates in the Practice of Conflict Assessment	130	(5)
Conclusion	135	(2)
Chapter 3. Designing a Consensus Building Process Using a Graphic Road Map	137	(32)
David A. Straus
The Process Design Phase	138	(2)
The Process Design Committee	140	(8)
The Graphic Road Map	148	(4)
Typical Agenda Flow for a Process Design Committee	152	(14)
Building Support for the Proposed Process Design	166	(1)
Conclusion	167	(2)
Chapter 4. Convening	169	(30)
Chris Carlson
Roles	170	(1)
The Importance of Convening: Two Examples	171	(3)
Step 1: Assess the Situation	174	(11)
Step 2: Identify and Engage Participants	185	(5)
Step 3: Locate the Necessary Resources	190	(5)
Step 4: Plan and Organize the Process	195	(1)
Special Challenges to Convening for Government Agencies	195	(2)
Conclusion	197	(2)
Chapter 5. The Role of Facilitators, Mediators, and Other Consensus Building Practitioners	199	(42)
Michael L. Poirier Elliott
Use of Convening, Facilitation, Mediation, and Dispute Systems Design in Consensus Building	201	(17)
Core Tasks of Consensus Building Practitioners	218	(12)
Selecting a Consensus Building Practitioner	230	(8)
Conclusion	238	(3)
Chapter 6. Representation of Stakeholding Interests	241	(46)
David Laws
Practice Problems	245	(27)
Conclusion: The Problem of Ratification	272	(15)
Chapter 7. Managing Meetings to Build Consensus	287	(38)
David A. Straus
The Value of Face-to-Face Meetings	289	(3)
Before a Meeting: Setting Up for Success	292	(13)
During the Meeting: Attitudes, Behaviors, and Tools	305	(16)
After the Meeting	321	(1)
Conclusion	322	(3)
Chapter 8. Producing Consensus	325	(50)
Sarah McKearnan
David Fairman
Prologue: The Task Force Meeting	325	(2)
Producing Consensus: An Analytic Framework	327	(10)
Applying the Strategies to Produce Consensus	337	(34)
Conclusion	371	(4)
Chapter 9. Joint Fact-Finding and the Use of Technical Experts	375	(26)
John R. Ehrmann
Barbara L. Stinson
Advantages of Joint Fact-Finding	377	(3)
When to Use Joint Fact-Finding Procedures	380	(6)
Who Does the Fact-Finding?	386	(5)
Building Lasting Agreements: Steps in a Joint Fact-Finding Process	391	(6)
Obstacles to Effective Joint Fact-Finding	397	(1)
Conclusion	398	(3)
Chapter 10. Making the Best Use of Technology	401	(34)
Connie P. Ozawa
Dissemination of and Access to Written Documents	403	(7)
Discussion, Debate, and Deliberation	410	(7)
Analysis	417	(6)
Computer-Based Decision-Making Technologies	423	(2)
Drafting Written Documents	425	(3)
Conclusion	428	(7)
Chapter 11. Dealing with the Press	435	(28)
James E. Kunde
Case Examples: The Extremes of Media Coverage	437	(2)
Conducting a Media Assessment	439	(15)
Dealing with the Press during and after a Process	454	(5)
Conclusion	459	(4)
Chapter 12. Dealing with Deep Value Differences	463	(32)
John Forester
Value Differences and Consensus Building: Mediation Snake Oil?	465	(14)
Setting Priorities for HIV/AIDS Prevention in Colorado: A Case Example	479	(10)
Practical Implications: Consensus Building in the Face of Value Differences	489	(6)
Chapter 13. Legal Issues in Consensus Building	495	(32)
Dwight Golann
Eric E. Van Loon
Relationship to Government Agencies and the Courts	497	(5)
Procedural Requirements Imposed by Laws and Regulations	502	(3)
Substantive Restrictions on the Power of Government Representatives	505	(5)
Disclosure Requirements and Confidentiality Protections	510	(5)
Liability Issues	515	(2)
Implementation and Enforcement Considerations	517	(5)
Conclusion	522	(5)
Chapter 14. Implementing Consensus-Based Agreements	527	(30)
William R. Potapchuk
Jarle Crocker
The Challenge of Implementation	528	(4)
Before the Party Starts: Getting to the Table	532	(9)
A Menu for Success: At the Table	541	(7)
When the Music's Over: Closing the Deal	548	(3)
After the Party's Over: Moving Forward	551	(2)
Conclusion	553	(4)
Chapter 15. Visioning	557	(34)
Carl M. Moore
Gianni Longo
Patsy Palmer
The Benefits and Pitfalls of Visioning	560	(1)
The Preconditions for Community-Wide Visioning	561	(1)
The Phases of Community-Wide Visioning	562	(19)
Variations in Visioning: Beyond the Community-Wide Approach	581	(7)
Lessons and Principles for Community-Wide Visioning	588	(3)
Chapter 16. Collaborative Problem Solving within Organizations	591	(40)
Christopher W. Moore
Peter J. Woodrow
Consensus-Based Decision Making in Organizations	594	(9)
Consensus Building and Dispute Resolution Systems Design	603	(16)
Roles of Leaders and Managers in Consensus Building	619	(9)
Conclusion	628	(3)
Chapter 17. Evaluating Consensus Building	631	(48)
Judith E. Innes
What Consensus Building Can Accomplish	634	(2)
Existing Evaluations of Consensus Building	636	(2)
The Challenge of Evaluating Consensus Building	638	(4)
Complexity Science as the Basis for a New Evaluation Framework	642	(5)
Criteria for Evaluating Consensus Building	647	(7)
Evaluation Options	654	(8)
Gathering and Analyzing Data	662	(8)
Who Should Conduct an Evaluation	670	(1)
Concluding Comments	671	(8)
PART 3: CASES AND COMMENTARIES	679	(408)
Introduction to the Cases and Commentaries	679	(6)
Michele Ferenz
Case 1. Activating a Policy Network: The Case of Mainport Schiphol	685	(26)
Peter Driessen
Mark Kishlansky
Howard Raiffa
Charles F. Sabel
Case 2. The Northern Oxford County Coalition: Four Maine Towns Tackle a Public Health Mystery	711	(32)
Sarah McKearnan
Patrick Field
Max H. Bazerman
Charles F. Sabel
Case 3. The Chelsea Charter Consensus Process	743	(30)
Susan L. Podziba
Mark Kishlansky
Jane Mansbridge
Carrie J. Menkel-Meadow
Case 4. Affordable Housing Mediation: Building Consensus for Regional Agreements in the Hartford Area	773	(28)
Lawrence Susskind
Susan L. Podziba
Sally Engle Merry
Charles F. Sabel
Case 5. San Francisco Estuary Project	801	(28)
Judith E. Innes
Sarah Connick
Carrie J. Menkel-Meadow
Case 6. Resolving Science-Intensive Public Policy Disputes: Reflections on the New York Bight Initiative	829	(30)
Scott McCreary
William Moomaw
Case 7. Negotiating Superfund Cleanup at the Massachusetts Military Reservation	859	(20)
Edward Scher
Carrie J. Menkel-Meadow
William Moomaw
Howard Raiffa
Case 8. RuleNet: An Experiment in Online Consensus Building	879	(22)
Michele Ferenz
Colin Rule
William Moomaw
Case 9. Regulatory Negotiations: The Native American Experience	901	(22)
Jan Jung-Min Sunoo
Juliette A. Falkner
Carrie J. Menkel-Meadow
Case 10. Cross-Cultural Community-Based Planning: Negotiating the Future of Haida Gwaii (British Columbia)	923	(28)
Norman Dale
Max H. Bazerman
Sally Engle Merry
Case 11. The Chattanooga Process: A City's Vision Is Realized	951	(18)
John Parr
Mark Kishlansky
Sally Engle Merry
Case 12. From City Hall to the Streets: A Community Plan Meets the Real World	969	(16)
Kate Connolly
Jane Mansbridge
Case 13. The Catron County Citizens Group: A Case Study in Community Collaboration	985	(26)
Melinda Smith
Max H. Bazerman
Case 14. Facilitating Statewide HIV/AIDS Policies and Priorities in Colorado	1011	(20)
Michael A. Hughes
John Forester
Irene Weiser
Daniel Markovits
Case 15. Finding Common Ground on Abortion	1031	(20)
Michelle LeBaron
Nike Carstarphen
Carrie J. Menkel-Meadow
Case 16. Organizational Trauma Recovery: The "God's Fellowship Community Church" Reconciliation Process	1051	(14)
David Brubaker
Sally Engle Merry
Case 17. Building Consensus for Change within a Major Corporation: The Case of Levi Strauss & Co.	1065	(22)
Judy Mares-Dixon
Julie A. McKay
Scott Peppet
Sally Engle Merry
Selected Bibliography	1087	(4)
Index	1091	(34)
About the Editors	1125	(2)
About the Contributors	1127