OCN: Decision-Making Process

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Consensus Decision-Making & Index

Introduction

With the exception of matters of a constitutional nature, decisions regarding the type, nature, scope and details of work the OCF Collab Network undertakes are determined through a processes of consensus. The figure on the left illustrates the process. All work of the Network starts with ideas that get vetted, tested against the scopes of the Network and workgroups and documented through a proposal that is made up of one or more Use Cases and Project Plans. Participation in developing a proposal MUST be transparent and inclusive to the extent that all members of the workgroup developing the proposal are fully engaged in its development.

When a workgroup chair or a facilitator deems a proposal sufficiently complete, there is a formal question asked to measure consensus. All engaged members are asked to "consent" if they approve, "stand aside" if they don't feel they can either consent or object. An objection is valid only if it is accompanied by a justification and an alternative that cures the objection.

If there are objections, there are two paths forward: (1) a modification to the proposal curing the objection is developed using the same transparent and inclusive process that resulted in the original proposal and a re-assessment of consensus is taken based on the modified proposal; or (2) there is an acceptable justification by those involved that : (a) the objection has been previously considered and rejected; or (b) the matter is out of scope; or (c) the matter is something that should be delayed for subsequent work.

It is only after all objections have been formally addressed and decisions recorded that a consensus can be declared. The key to this consensus process is that all voices are heard and all objections addressed.

Even in rapid decision making contexts, minorities (the "minus") have the right to have dissenting opinion or negative outcome predictions recorded. [¶] If there is any single simple rule that defines what is not consensus decision-making, it is censoring the dissenting opinion. Regardless of how decisions are made, dissents are always recorded in all consensus decision making systems, if only so that accuracy of predictions can be examined later so the group can learn. - Wikpedia

As part of the maintenance of the OCF Collab Network's institutional memory, a permanent public record is kept of all formal decisions made by the Network and its workgroups in the Decisions Index below.

Formal Decisions Index

OCFC:CD-001 TAW: DESM Configuration Dashboard

• Consensus Question: Do you consent to Project Plan OCFC:PP-001 and Use Case OCFC:UC-003 and the work embodied therein for the development of a DESM Configuration Dashboard?
• Narrative Description of the Work
• Related Use Case
• Related Project Plan
• Online Consensus Questionnaire
• Question Asked: 2021-11-23 (Online)
• Question Closed: 2021-12-01
• Result:
  • Consensus Reached
  • Funding agreed
  • Project started

OCFC:CD-002 TAW: Availability and Enhancement of OCFC Competency Explorer

• Consensus Question: Do you consent to Project Plan OCFC:PP-002 and Use Case OCFC:UC-004 and the work embodied therein for availability and enhancement of OCFC Competency Explorer?
• Related Use Case.
• Related Project Plan.
• Question asked: 2022-08-04.
• Question closed: 2022-08-11.
• Result:
  • Consensus reached
  • Funding agreed

Contacts

If you have questions regarding OCFC consensus decisions, contact either Phil Barker (Email) or Jeanne Kitchens (Email).