When is management by consensus appropriate and what are the alternatives

Conference · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 2007

OSTI ID:21290795

Timm, C M ^[1]

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1. PECOS Management Services, Inc., Albuquerque, NM (United States)

One of the more misunderstood words in the English language is 'consensus', particularly as it is applied to decision making and management. It is often interpreted and used as though it means the same as 'unanimous', but is appropriately used to suggest general agreement or agreement in principle though not necessarily with all the details. This paper discusses how the term 'consensus' is positively and negatively applied to decision making and management, particularly of public bodies. For example, striving to make consensus the same as unanimous can often result in 'no action' if there is strong opposition by even one party to the proposed action. Contrarily, members of groups that decide to perform actions by consensus will use the interpretation that it means unanimous, and thus force members that may have legitimate questions or concerns with rebuttals and accusations that they 'are against progress' or 'not being a team player'. This paper discusses different situations including the positive and negative aspects of the possible paths leading to the final decision when applying consensus as part of the decision-making process. (authors)

• Research Organization: WM Symposia, 1628 E. Southern Avenue, Suite 9 - 332, Tempe, AZ 85282 (United States)
• OSTI ID: 21290795
• Report Number(s): INIS-US--09-WM-07182
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
DECISION MAKING
PUBLIC OFFICIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT