Building consensus online
From:
David Newman
Date:
Jan 27 14:50 UTC
Short link
Steven Clift wrote:
> I've found that most online tools and techniques bring our
> differences of opinion rather than forging agreement within large
> groups online (over say 15 people). The Internet does a great job at
> getting issues on the table, allowing like-minds to coalase, and when
> done right builds respect among those with differing opinions.
>
> Can take this further?
>
> Let's say that we want move online from the statement of positions or
> surveys that show current opinions to agreement or consensus on
> actions or proposals among the vast majority of say 1,000 people.
>
> What would you do?
Run a de Borda preferendum (see www.deborda.org).
1. First you need a human + computer process to make sure you have the
full range of options.
2. Then you need people to come together in groups to draft wordings for
options that (a) give them what they need, but (b) don't alienate so
many others that they would put your option last.
3. Run a vote using a preference ranking system, where everyone has to
order the options from best to worst.
4. Calculate the highest consensus option using a de Borda count. This
simply adds up 1 point for a last choice, 2 points for a second last
choice and so on.
5. If one option has over 75% of the maximum possible mark, then go for it.
6. Otherwise, try to merge the leading options into a new one combining
the advantages of both, offer people the chance to redraft their
options, and run another vote.
This process finds what people will settle for if they cannot all get
their first choice. In trials in Northern Ireland, it has even found
consensus between Sinn Fein and DUP supporters, in the years before
money brought them together in government.
Note that this only covers options on one issue. If the best solutions
require trading off different questions (you get A if I get B), then a
system based on interest-based negotiation (as in the Harvard
Negotiating Project and some of John Zeleznikow's systems for mediating
divorces) would be better.