HOW TO MAKE DECISIONS DEMOCRATICALLY! Time: Varies Age: All WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

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1 HOW TO MAKE DECISIONS DEMOCRATICALLY! Time: Varies Age: All WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Grup decisin-making is ne way yur grup practices demcracy. Nt nly is it imprtant fr yu t make a gd decisin, but t make it demcratically. The prcess f making decisins is a great learning pprtunity make sure t discuss the prcess bth during and after making the decisin. There are a variety f methds depending n the dynamics f yur decisin a chice between tw alternatives, a chice between many alternatives, when cnflicts between students are present, etc. Belw yu will find three different methds cnsensus, majrity rule, ranking preferences. In reality, yu need t be flexible because yu may have t try a number f different methds t make the decisin, ften changing n the fly. WHEN IS THIS USEFUL? Anytime yur grup needs t make a decisin MATERIALS: CONCEPTS: SKILLS: Varies, thugh nthing mre than a flip chart / black bard, r paper and pencils. pwer, plitics, interests, diversity cnsensus building, cnstructive criticism, deliberating, exercising public judgment, having an pen mind (suspending pre-judgment), public speaking, teamwrk. BEFORE YOU BEGIN: In all decisin making, regardless f methd, it is imprtant t discuss with yur grup the fllwing elements f decisin making: 1. D we have enugh infrmatin t make a decisin? When there is a lack f infrmatin, decisins tend t be made n the basis f individual persnalities, friendships r, whatever idea is the flashiest. Make sure t have the grup take sme time t think thrugh, research, and articulate their psitins. After listing ideas r ptins, take sme time t have grup members individually r in pairs grups t discuss / research their preferences accrding t agreed upn criteria. This may mean having students think, write, r research their issue between sessins and then cme back t the decisin at the next meeting.

2 2. What are the criteria fr making ur decisin? This can be dne by the cach r the students identify the criteria themselves. Criteria will frame the discussin, research, and will end in a better decisin. Examples: Hw is this prject public? What change d we hpe t bring abut? What are we excited abut ding? Is this prject d-able and winnable? 3. What are the grund-rules fr ur deliberatins? a. Everyne will try t listen t and respect each thers views. b. Everyne will have a chance t vice their pinins. c. Everyne will try t separate the peple frm the prblem. Often the persnalities f the grup becme part f the decisin making prcess. Reinfrce the need t separate ideas frm peple (e.g. It is kay t criticize ideas, but nt peple). d. Everyne will try t fcus n interests, nt psitins. When negtiating, ften peple will establish their bargaining psitin (e.g. Hw much d yu want? Hw abut $50.00? I can give yu $ Hw abut $35? etc.). Instead f fcusing n psitins, try t keep in mind what each party s self-interests are in their prpsals. This allws fr greater pssibilities f reaching a decisin that benefits everyne.

3 METHOD #1: CONSENSUS Cnsensus is the prcess in which every member f the grup agrees n the decisin (unanimus). This is typically a prcess f talking abut the issue until a cnsensus is reached. STEPS/TIPS: Psitives: Everyne agrees n the decisin, has wnership Allws minrity views t be heard May imprve grup dynamics Can the teach the art f cmprmising Takes a lng time Smetimes decisins are made t appease stubbrn members wh hld ut the lngest May hurt grup dynamics if peple feel like they were frced t agree With all decisin making, it is best t discuss / g ver grund rules befre yu start. Additinal grund rules fr cnsensus: 1. The gal is t make a unanimus decisin (everyne agrees) 2. We recgnize that there may be a deadlck. If we are frced due t time limits t make a decisin, dissenters can register their views withut blcking cnsensus. After an idea r pssible decisin has been prpsed, give everyne a chance t state their pinin, ask questins abut the prpsal, and/r ffer their wn prpsal. Identify disagreements Ask fr pssible ways t cmprmise n disagreements, negtiate differences Lk fr alternatives ways t reslve cnflict, r alternative chices that side-step the cnflict. If alternatives are fund, make sure that everyne agrees. If there is deadlck and yu are frced t make a decisin because f time cnstraints, allw dissenters t register their dissent. What was it like t be part f this prcess? If disagreements, ask students t reflect n hw they addressed them. Did peple change their views? Why? Hw was pwer exercised in this prcess? Was the prcess fair? Are there better ways t make a decisin?

4 METHOD #2: MAJORITY RULE Majrity rule is the system that many peple are used t in institutinal plitics. It typically invlves vting, with the majrity vte determining the decisin. Psitives: Efficient way t make a decisin Speaking pprtunities are equal Can the teach the art f cmprmising Grup can determine the prcedures f debate, decisin Lsers may feel left ut Speaking pprtunities my be limited Prcedures can be manipulated Can be experienced as zer-sum game STEPS/TIPS: With all decisin making, it is best t describe grund rules befre yu start. Additinal grund rules fr majrity rule: 1. There may be a time-limit n discussin. This can be determined by grup (again by majrity) r facilitatr. Grups can als vte t extend discussin. 2. The decisin will be made n the basis f majrity vte. 3. Grup decides hw t cunt vtes secret ballt, hands, vice, etc. Try t alternate ppsing views, try t allw fr as many vices as pssible within time limits Identify disagreements Amendments r alternatives can be prpsed, grup can vte if they want t decide n amended r alternative prpsals What was it like t be part f this prcess? What was it like t be n the winning side? What was it like t be n the lsing side? Wh had pwer in this decisin? Was the prcess fair? Are there better ways t make a decisin? ALTERNATIVES: Divide the wrk: Smetimes there may be three distinct blcks f preferences (i.e. three peple want ptin #1, fur peple want ptin #2, and fur peple want ptin #3. Smetimes it is best t mve ahead with different sub-grups wrking n different mini-prjects. D the secnd chice later: If the tw tp chices are related, smetimes it makes sense t d them sequentially.

5 METHOD #3: RANKING PREFERENCES Ranking preferences is a prcess when grups are trying t decide amng many different alternatives. This is a gd way t narrw chices amng many different alternatives. Psitives: Is a gd way t narrw chices amng multiple alternatives Avids direct cnflict Smetimes there are sub-ptimal utcmes: i.e. the final chice is everyne s secnd r third chice. Avids direct cnflict Avids direct cmprmise STEPS/STEPS/TIPS: With all decisin making, it is best t describe grund rules befre yu start. Additinal grund rules fr majrity rule: 1. We will list all pssible ptins. 2. Members will then rank their first chice, secnd chice, and ne chice that they find unacceptable. 3. The decisin will be made n the basis which ptin gets the mst pints. Allw members t brainstrm list f pssible chices, write n flip chart r bard Allw members t discuss / ask questins abut each thers prpsals Members will vte n their first preference, secnd preference, and any ptin they think is unacceptable. Give 2 pints fr every first preference, ne pint fr every secnd preference. Yu can either take the tp ptin, r have a run-ff between the tp 2-3 ptins. Fun ff: List tp tw r three ptins. If smene fund a tp ptin unacceptable, give them a chance t express their reasns Grup can then decide amng narrw ptins using majrity r cnsensus. What was it like t be part f this prcess? What d students think f the decisin that was made? Was it the best decisin? Was it fair? Are there better ways t make a decisin? Hw was pwer exercised in this decisin?