Sociocratie : la prise de décision par consentement

Decision-Making in Groups: From Consensus to Consent

The Shift from Consensus to Consent

• Ndong initially attempted to use consensus for decision-making within groups, inspired by experiences from his school. However, he quickly realized that this approach was ineffective due to the lengthy process involved.

• He recognized that true consensus is challenging because of diverse viewpoints; instead of seeking agreement, he proposed a different question: whether anyone has objections to a proposed decision.

• This method allows individuals to express reasoned objections rather than simply agreeing or disagreeing. The focus shifts to identifying any valid arguments against the proposal before making a decision.

• Ndong's approach emphasizes that multiple good decisions can exist in any situation, as long as they facilitate progress and have the consent of those involved. It promotes pragmatic problem-solving.

• Decisions made through this consent-based model are collective; if mistakes occur, accountability is shared among all members. This encourages openness about errors and fosters a collaborative environment for correction.

Key Distinctions in Decision-Making Approaches

• The primary difference between consent-based decision-making and traditional consensus is the ability for individuals to articulate their dissenting opinions while still moving forward with group decisions once objections are addressed.