Decision Making Model
The first neighbourhoods decision making process was drawn from the EarthSong community in Auckland, inspiring them to adopt a similar approach but with some adaptations that suit their needs.
Decision-making Process
Consensus is the most inclusive form of decision making. However it is sometimes misunderstood. As we see it all participants have the right to be heard, but not to veto. The dissenting voice must either ask for time to make a better case or else step aside and agree not to impede implementation.
They use a powerful but simple system using coloured cards to help facilitate discussion and making decisions. It is used successfully by many cohousing groups world-wide..
Every member has a set of six coloured cards which are used in meetings in two different ways:
Discussion Mode
Each person wishing to speak raises the appropriate card at any time during the discussion. The facilitator calls on people to speak according to the following priority:
Black I have an interpersonal difficulty that is preventing my full participation
Red I have a process observation
Orange I wish to acknowledge someone or something
Yellow I have a question, or need clarification
Green I can provide clarification
Blue I have a comment or opinion
Black cards have first priority, and the holder is asked to state their difficulty and how they would like the matter dealt with. The group then decides whether this should be processed within the meeting or between the individuals concerned.
The red card has the next priority, and is used to point out a process issue such as a breach of procedure, discussion going off-topic or over-time, or to make a group observation. Next, people holding up orange cards are called upon to deliver their acknowledgment/s.
After a question has been asked using a yellow card, people raise green cards to provide clarification. Only after all questions have been answered does the facilitator call on those holding blue cards to state their comments and opinions.
Decision Making Mode
When the group is ready to make a decision following a period of discussion, each person chooses a card to indicate their level of support for the proposal as follows:
Green I agree with the proposal at hand
Blue I am neutral or basically for it, with some slight reservation
Yellow I have a question to be answered before I can make a decision
Orange I have a serious reservation, but I am not willing to block consensus
Red I am blocking this proposal and I am willing to help find a collective solution
If orange or red cards are raised, those people get to voice their concerns if they have not already done so. At this point the current proposal may be amended to address concerns. A second show of cards then follows. On the second carding a proposal is passed unless red cards are still being raised.
If consensus is not reached, the proposal is sent back to the appropriate focus group for more work. If consensus is still not reached at a subsequent meeting, and the proposal is considered both important and urgent, the decision can be made by a 75% majority vote of people eligible to take part in the decision making. Earthsong had only gone to a vote twice in it’s 15 year history, both at crucial times during development when the consequences of having the decision stopped or delayed would have been serious.
Our commitment is to working issues through to reach consensus if at all possible, but the voting backstop means that progress can't be stopped by a veto of one or two people.
“https://www.earthsong.org.nz/about/decision-making”
