Blog #8

I believe the only true precondition necessary for using consensus decision making in a group, is the willingness of the group to participate in making a consensus decision. Depending on the situation a facilitator, or someone to help follow the process and make sure everyone is fairly heard. The willingness, however, is the real precondition. Everyone has an opinion on the matter, and by hearing everyone, only then can a consensus decision be made, but this also means participation is required. The strengths are numerous, as decisions that the whole can support are often come to. It is empowering to people, to have their voice heard, and to be part of the process, actively and equally. Another huge advantage would appear to come with time, in that it would bring a group closer together, as by the mere act of participation people would get to know each other on a much more intimate level than merely “neighbor” or “coworker”. The only weakness I can see to the principle comes in on the large scale, where it could potentially take a long time to come to consensus, or if you had a number of people unwilling to participate in a fair manner, and instead becoming negative.