Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Consensus decision making

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Aug 5, 2008, at 10:29 AM, Racheli Gai wrote:

> It seems to me to be important to define what is meant by the term
> "effective":

In sociocratic theory, an effective decision is one that moves an  
organization toward a desired result.

A fundamental assumption in sociocracy is that any action must work  
for every member of the organization who is affected by the decision.  
If it doesn't, it will weaken the organization and it won't achieve  
its aim as well as it might have otherwise.

The fundamental criterion on whether one can consent to a decision is  
whether you can "live with it." Can you consent to this decision and  
continue to work happily/enthusiastically/energetically toward the aim  
of the organization? The most effective organizations have the full  
commitment of all their members.

My personal objection to the standard of "live with it" which I read  
as a pretty low standard, was overcome by understanding that  
sociocratic methods also require measurement. Amongst other things,  
every decision includes (1) criteria for success that can be measured,  
and (2) a time limit. The important part of making a decision is to  
see if it works. This can only be done if you measure results.

Another benefit of time limits is that they often allow more people to  
consent. Almost anyone can live with what feels like a trial period. A  
person who objects to changing the temperature in the CH may consent  
if they know that that it will be changed for 1 month and that  
measurements will be done on the effectiveness of the change.

Defined and measured standards allow one to know that a decision moves  
one toward a desired result, that it was effective.

The determination of effective is in the results of the decision, not  
the process that led to the decision.

Sharon
----
Sharon Villines
Coauthor with John Buck of We the People
Consenting to a Deeper Democracy
A Guide to Sociocratic Principles and Methods
ISBN: 9780979282706
http://www.sociocracy.info