A Practical Guide to Consensus Author:Jim Arthur, Chris Carlson Government officials and agencies increasingly are turning to collaborative decision making processes to resolve difficult policy issues and multiparty conflicts. To do this, agency officials and staff need to understand when and how to use these approaches effectively. This step-by-step guide contains the rules of the road on how to sponsor, or... more »ganize, and participate in a public policy consensus process. The Guide helps readers ensure more effective uses of consensus processes, with "before," "during," and "after" instructions that include how to: -Assess whether a situation is appropriate for a consensus process -Select a facilitator or mediator to manage the process -Plan and organize the process -Write ground rules -Negotiate issues and reach agreement -Formalize and implement agreements.« less