Consensus Decision-Making

A Virtual Learning Center for People
Interested In Making Decisions by Consensus

Test Your Understanding of Consensus

The following test is based on the video Consensus 101. After you complete the test you can check your answers and print a certificate of completion to verify that you have aquired a solid basic understanding of consensus.

1) Who are the "stakeholders" of a decision?

The people with the power to decide what will happen
The people with the information needed to make a decision
All the people affected by a decision

2) What increases the likelihood of active participation by group members?

Groundrules about respectful communication

Facilitator interventions when communication becomes adversarial

Efficient progress toward resolution of an issue

All of the above

3) Why would we never take a vote on Joe's proposal?

Because all proposals belong to the group, no matter who originated them

Because Joe might not be popular enough to convince people

Because voting is an unfair use of power

4) How much agreement are we trying to get in a consensus process?

It depends on our decision rule

It doesn't matter whether people agree as long as they consent

We always try for as much agreement as possible

5) Whole Group Thinking is:

When the whole group is in agreement
When the group thinks of something no one thought of before
When a person is thinking about what might be best for the whole group

6) The facilitator

decides what proposals pass if the group is stuck
directs the process of the meeting
should never be challenged in a cooperative group

7) The "vibes watcher"

monitors the emotional tone of the meeting
makes suggestions about how to address strong feelings in the room
does both of the above

8) The stacker

fills the agenda with important items
keeps a list of people requesting a chance to speak
is an important part of every discussion

9) Participants

should not object to the plans of the facilitator
can contribute to group leadership when they practice whole group thinking
should be quiet if they don't agree with the majority

10) Important topics

should begin with an open discussion
should start with a pre-prepared proposal
should take at least three hours to discuss

11) A list of needs and concerns

can bog down progress on passing a proposal
can provide a criteria for proposals to address
can help each participant choose what to advocate for

12) Open discussion happens

by each person taking a turn around the circle
by each person speaking when they are ready
without any particular structure
in any of the above, or other possible formats

13) The goal of open discussion is

to get everyone's ideas out on the table
to begin identifying all the needs and concerns of the group
to give everyone a chance to participate
all of the above

14) When discussing proposals participants should

try to convince the group which priorities to address
undermine the arguments that support opposing proposals
build a proposal that meets all of the group's concerns as much as possible

15) If you object to a popular proposal, you should

stay quiet so the group can make progress
ask the group to modify the proposal to address your conerns
announce that you will block this idea so the group will not waste more time discussing it

16) If only a few people object to a popular idea, the others should

drop the idea, out of respect for the people who object
persuade the objectors to consent to avoid facing the resentment of the others
listen, and then think creatively about how the concerns of the objectors can be better addressed

17) Groups work more collaboratively when

they address each competing proposal in turn, all working to improve each one
they debate the pros and cons of each proposal simultaneously
the flaws of bad ideas are quickly confronted

18) Unanimity

is required for all groups that use a consensus process
is the name for the decision rule of groups that require full consent to pass a proposal
both of the above

19) A decision rule is

the amount of agreement needed to pass a proposal
applied at the end of a decision making process
chosen by the group before further decision-making discussions ensue
all of the above

20) To be functional, a group needs

to have a decision rule it can relatively reliably satisfy
make sure everyone agrees before proceeding
not allow naysayers to slow things down

21) What benefits ensue from a unanimity decision rule?

members feel safe that their concerns will not be overriden
a group may be motivated to use a consensus process or face stagnation
both of the above

22) When a popular proposal is blocked

everyone usually feels good about the result
the importance of respecting everyone's buy in is validated
the values of equality, collaboration, and maximum agreement seeking are not realized

23) Groups that have difficulty satisfying their decision rule

suffer stagnation
may split or disband
begin making decisions outside of a full group process
all of the above

24) To get maximum agreement, it is most important to

require full consent to pass a proposal
use a process that embodies consensus values
have a charismatic leader

25) Groups most suited to a uninimity decision rule are

are small in number
are like-minded
have strong interpersonal relationships
are well trained in consensus process
are willing to devote sufficient time to meetings
all of the above

26) Which of the following is NOT one of the ethics of blocking:

A block must be based on a core value of the group
Someone blocking should take responsibility to participate in continuing efforts to resolve the issue
If the group fails to convince you, exercise your right to block

27) A consensus process can be used

only in relatively homogenous groups
only in groups of alternative-minded people
in any group that values inclusiveness, participation, collaboration, agreement seeking, relationship building and whole group thinking

Hooray! You are done with the test. Click here to check your answers.