Chapter 9, Problem 30CR

Summary Introduction

Case Summary:

Consensus or reaching to an agreement is a preferred way for groups to take any decision. The members in the group need to collaborate as well as cooperate to come to a consensus. The decision taken thus are said to have higher trust levels. However, this does not guarantee that the right decisions are being taken. It is also argued that many a times group come to consensus due to pressure and the decision that is taken is the one that is the least disliked.

Characters in the case:

There are no specific characters cited in this case. However, reference has been made to the 2012 fiscal cliff that the US government faced. Here references to White House, Congress, Republicans and democrats have been made.

Adequate Information:

Coming to consensus does not necessarily mean that the right decisions are being taken. The decisions reached via voting or a decision made by the leader is considered far more superior than the one taken by consensus. Pressure to conform also makes the group to come to a consensus and thereby taking a decision that is least disliked by all.

To Determine:

If the statement made by Martin Luther King that “A genuine leader is not seeker of consensus but a modeler of consensus” is agreeable to or not.