Decision-Making Strategies: Faculty Teams That Reach Consensus

DECISION-MAKING
STRATEGIES
FACULTY TEAMS THAT REACH CONSENSUS
Developed from the Contents of

Reginald Leon Greens
Practicing the Art of Leadership: A

Problem-based Approach to
Implementing the ISLLC Standards
Chapter 5
Decision-Making
Strategies
Leaders of learning
organizations are
skilled in
determining
decisions that must
be made with the
involvement of
members of the
faculty.
Decision-Making Strategies
This module presents strategies that

can be used by school leaders to
effectively involve faculty members in
the decision-making process.
The Art of Decision Making
Decision making is a
skill that must be
mastered.
The Art of Decision Making
There are at least three ways in which

school leaders make group decisions:
Autocratic
Democratic
Group
Consensus
Autocratic Group Decisions

Decisions that are made for the group
by the leader are known as autocratic
decisions and are likely to produce
winners and losers.
Quick decision making is an advantage
of this process.
Democratic Decision Making
Democratic decision making is a slow

and cumbersome process. However, it
works well for very large groups, like a
school faculty.
With this process, there are also

winners and losers.
Decision Making by Consensus
Consensus is another form of group decision

making. It is difficult to master; however, in
terms of acceptance and implementation of
decisions made, it is the most rewarding.
This method works very well for small group

problem-solving.
Group Decision Making
In a Learning Organization:
The final decision does not produce
winners or losers; everyone wins.
All participants own the final decision and
willingly assist in its implementation.
A positive atmosphere promotes a level of trust
and understanding among faculty members.
Disagreement is not considered a barrier to
reaching final agreement.
Brainstorming techniques are used to
generate possible solutions without
value judgments being made as to
the merit of suggested solutions.
Group Decision-making
Strategies
Keep
the goal foremost in mind.
Seek
group consensus.
Strategies
Move discussions to higher levels of

generality (general ideas unite and
specific ideas divide).
Keep the group considering the issues,

asking why, and seeking common
ground.
Strategies
Focus the group on collecting ideas
and placing them into categories.
Have the group establish some
criteria by which discussions are
conducted.
Strategies
If the group is having difficulty, stop
the discussion and have the members
reflect independently by writing down
their concerns or ideas about what is
happening.
Seeking Group Consensus
To move non-supporters toward

consensus, the school leaders should
ask questions such as:
Under what conditions would you support
this solution?
What part of the solution do you oppose?
What parts of the solution would you
modify so you would be more comfortable
with the solution?
More questions:
What would be necessary for you to agree
with this solution?
Would you be willing to live with the
solution for a limited time?
What would be a reasonable time before
we reassess the decision?
Under what conditions would you be willing
to put aside your differences?
Questions to ask team members who

support the solution:
What are you willing to do to adjust your
views to respond to the discomfort of
those who are not yet in agreement?
If you were not in agreement, what parts
of the solution might be troublesome to
you?
One Caution: Individuals who feel as if

they havent been heard can become
uncomfortable by being singled out for
this kind of attention. The facilitator
needs to be sensitive to that issue as
well.
Honoring all voices crucial in consensus. Tools for Schools (NSDC
Newsletter). October/November 1997, p. 8.
When There Is No Consensus
When there is no consensus, try these

suggestions from the the NSDCs School
Improvement Planning Manual:
Create a compromise position and ask

everyone to react to that.
Provide private think time and begin
the discussion again.
When There Is No
Consensus
Leave the issue and return to it later;
Organize small groups to reach
consensus and then begin large group
discussion again;
Create a contradictory statement to
refocus the discussion and identify real
concerns, and/or
Choose another facilitator.
Knowing When Consensus Is

Reached
The Consensus
Criteria:
Individuals
acknowledge that
they believe that
their point of view
is understood.
Knowing When Consensus Is

Reached
The
Consensus Criteria:
Dissenting individuals agree to

support the idea and acknowledge
that it was reached openly and fairly.
William Ouchi, Theory Z
A Decision-Making Feedback
Strategy
Plus and Minus
(+ and -)
Feedback Strategies
Prepare
two sheets of
newsprint paper.
Label
one with a
other a -.
and the
Feedback Strategies
Have
participants write a critique of

the process on sticky notes without
identifying themselves.
Feedback Strategies
Participants
should first write down

what they liked about the session
and then what they would change.
Feedback Strategies
Have
them
place what
they liked about
the session on
the Plus paper
and then what
they would
change on the
Minus paper.
Group Decisions
The group decision-making process holds

many advantages. Groups tend to generate
more ideas and make higher quality
decisions.
Group Decisions
Working with others often causes members to

perform better; they receive support and
encouragement and tend to look at alternatives
more thoroughly.
Group Decisions
They acquire a greater understanding of

the issues and take ownership of the
decision, realizing they will have to live with
the outcomes.
References
Honoring all voices crucial in consensus.
October/November, 1997 Tools for
Schools (NSDC Newsletter), p. 8.
Ouchi, William, (1993). Theory Z: How
American Business Can Meet the

Japanese Challenge. New York: Avon
Books.
Internet Resources for

Consensus Building
Using Consensus for Decision-Making

http://www.sna.com/switp/consen.html
Consensus Decision Making

http://www.wolfenet.com/~marymc/consensus.ht
m
Consensus Process
http://www.activism.net/peace/nvcdh/consensus.
htm

Consensus Building

http://www.web.net/~lrobinso/lconsens.html

http://www.globenet.org/horizonlocal/consent.html
THE FACILITATOR TOOLBOX: "How do

I get groups unstuck?"
http://www.dragonfire.net/~EOE/FacilitatorToolbo
x.htm

Consensus Building
Consensus: A Mini-Guide by Mark

Shepard
http://www.libraries.psu.edu/iasweb/catsweb/rare
book/consent.htm

http://www.actupny.org/documents/CDdocuments
/Consensus.html

Consensus Building
Using consensus for decision making:

Why should a team use consensus
decision making?
http://www.sna.com/switp/consen.html
Consensus Evaluation Summary for

Development of New Requirements
http://nssc.llnl.gov/RuleNet/Facilitator/Developme
nt_Of_New_Requirements.evaluation.1.html

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DECISION-MAKING

Developed from the Contents of

Practicing the Art of Leadership: A

This module presents strategies that

The Art of Decision Making

The Art of Decision Making

There are at least three ways in which

Autocratic Group Decisions

Democratic Decision Making

Democratic decision making is a slow

With this process, there are also

Decision Making by Consensus

Consensus is another form of group decision

This method works very well for small group

Group Decision Making

Group Decision Making

Group Decision Making

the goal foremost in mind.

Move discussions to higher levels of

Keep the group considering the issues,

Seeking Group Consensus

Seeking Group Consensus

To move non-supporters toward

Seeking Group Consensus

Seeking Group Consensus

Questions to ask team members who

Seeking Group Consensus

One Caution: Individuals who feel as if

When There Is No Consensus

When there is no consensus, try these

Improvement Planning Manual:

Create a compromise position and ask

Knowing When Consensus Is

Knowing When Consensus Is

Dissenting individuals agree to

participants write a critique of

should first write down

The group decision-making process holds

Working with others often causes members to

They acquire a greater understanding of

American Business Can Meet the

Internet Resources for

Using Consensus for Decision-Making

Consensus Decision Making

Internet Resources for

Consensus Decision Making

Consensus Decision Making

THE FACILITATOR TOOLBOX: "How do

Internet Resources for

Consensus: A Mini-Guide by Mark

Consensus Decision Making

Internet Resources for

Using consensus for decision making:

Consensus Evaluation Summary for

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