What is the primary goal of consensus decision making?

The primary goal of consensus decision making is to achieve the best possible decisions. This approach emphasizes collaboration and collective input from all members involved in the decision-making process. By engaging individuals in discussion and consideration of different perspectives, consensus decision making fosters an environment where all voices are heard, promoting more comprehensive and inclusive outcomes. This method values the contributions of each participant and strives for a decision that everyone can support, which often leads to better buy-in and implementation of the decision made.

Expediting decision-making processes or minimizing discussions may undermine the thoroughness required to reach a well-rounded conclusion. Maintaining hierarchy could stifle the voices of those less powerful in the group, ultimately detracting from the aim of creating a collective agreement. Thus, the emphasis on reaching a consensus inherently prioritizes the quality of the decision above the speed of the process or the influence of hierarchy.