Whether you work in the corporate world, a nonprofit organization, or the government sector, you likely face the need to work with others to solve problems and make decisions on a daily basis. And you′ve undoubtedly been frustrated by how laborious and conflict-ridden such group efforts can be. At all levels – from neighborhood block associations to boards of directors of multinational corporations – the consensus building process is highly effective in an increasingly fragmented, contentious society. In addition, the old top-down methods such as Robert′s Rules of Orders often prompt more problems then they solve. Consensus helps you to implement better, more creative solutions. It provides a winning alternative to top-down decision making – and even parliamentary procedure. By learning to build consensus, stakeholders come to understand and respect one another′s perspectives. The consensus building process allows participants to find solutions and forge agreements that meet everyone′s needs – and provides a meaningful basis for effective, long-range implementation of decisions. The Consensus Building Handbook provides a blueprint to help make the process work in your organization, including a practical, quick-reference Short Guide. Plus, you′ll find in-depth commentary and seventeen case studies with in-depth commentaries to provide the theoretical basis for this new approach. CASE STUDIES INCLUDE: Activating a Policy Network: The Case of Mainport Schiphol The Northern Oxford County Coalition: Four Maine Towns Tackle a Public Health Mystery The Chelsea Charter Consensus Process Resolving Science-Intensive Public Policy Disputes: Reflections on the New York Bight Initiative Negotiation Superfund Cleanup at the Massachusetts Military Reservation Rule Net: An Experiment in Online Consensus Building Regulatory Negotiations: The Native American Experience The Chattanooga Process: A City′s Vision Is Realized From City Hall to the Streets: A Community Plan Meets the Real World The Catron County Citizens Group: A Case Study in Community Collaboration Facilitating Statewide HIV/AIDS Policies and Priorities in Colorado Building Consensus for Change Within a Major Corporation: The Case of Levi-Strauss & Company
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Introduction
PART ONE: A SHORT GUIDE TO CONSENSUS BUILDING
An Alternative to Robert′s Rules of Order for Groups, Organizations and Ad Hoc Assemblies that Want to Operate by Consensus – Lawrence Susskind
PART TWO: HOW TO BULID CONSENSUS
Choosing Appropriate Consensus Building Techniques and Strategies – Susan Carpenter
Conducting a Conflict Assessment – Lawrence Susskind and Jennifer Thomas-Larmer
Designing a Consensus Building Process using a Graphic Road Map – David A Straus
Convening – Chris Carlson
The Role of Facilitators, Mediators, and Other Consensus Building Practitioners – Michael Elliot
Representation of Stakeholding Interests – David Laws
Managing Meetings to Build Consensus – David A Straus
Producing Consensus – Sarah Mc Kearnan and David Fairman
Joint Fact-Finding and the Use of Technical Experts – John R Ehrmann and Barbara L Stinson
Making the Best Use of Technology – Connie P Ozawa
Dealing with the Press – James E Kunde
Dealing with Deep Value Differences – John Forester
Legal Issues in Consensus Building – Dwight Golann and Eric E Van Loon
Implementing Consenus-Based Agreements – William R Potapchuk and Jarle Crocker
Visioning – Carl M Moore, Gianni Longo and Patsy Palmer
Collaborative Problem Solving within Organizations – Christopher W Moore and Peter Woodrow
Evaluating Consensus Building – Judith E Innes
PART THREE: CASES AND COMMENTARIES
Introduction to the Cases and Commentaries – Michèle Ferenz
Activating a Policy Network – Peter Driessen
The Case of Mainport Schipol
The Northern Oxford County Coalition – Sarah Mc Kearnan and Patrick Field
Four Maine Towns Tackle a Public Health Mystery
The Chelsea Charter Consensus Process – Susan L Podziba
Affordable Housing Mediation – Lawrence Susskind and Susan L Podziba
Building Consensus for Regional Agreements in the Hartford Area
San Francisco Estuary Project – Judith E Innes and Sarah Connick
Resolving Science-Intensive Public Policy Disputes – Scott Mc Creary
Reflections on the New York Bight Initiative
Negotiating Superfund Cleanup at the Massachusetts Military Reservation – Edward Scher
Rule Net – Michèle Ferenz and Colin Rule
An Experiment in On-Line Consensus Building
Regulatory Negotiations – Jan Jung-Min Sunoo and Juliette A Falkner
The Native American Experience
Cross-Cultural Community-Based Planning – Norman Dale
Negotiating the Future of the Haida Gwaii (British Columbia)
The Chattanooga Process – John Parr
A City′s Vision is Realized
From City Hall to the Streets – Catherine Connolly
A Community Plan Meets the Real World
The Catron County Citizens′ Group – Melinda Smith
A Case Study in Community Collaboration
Facilitating Statewide HIV/AIDS Policies and Priorities in Colorado – Michael A Hughes with John Forester and Irene Weiser
Finding Common Ground on Abortion – Michelle Le Baron and Nike Carstarphen
Organizational Trauma Recovery – David Brubaker
The ‚God′s Fellowship Community Church‘ Reconciliation Process
Building Consensus for Change within a Major Corporation – Judy Mares-Dixon, Julie A Mc Kay and Scott Peppett
The Case of Levi Strauss & Co
Über den Autor
Sarah Mc Kearnan is a nationally recognized multiparty mediator/facilitator. She served as a Consensus Building Institute Senior Associate for five years, and is now an International Programme on the Management of Sustainability faculty member. She is also a trainer of negotiation simulations, consulting reports, and articles on the history and practice of dispute resolution in academic journals and magazines.