Skip to main content
Log in

A Framework for Understanding Consensus-Building Initiation

  • Published:
Negotiation Journal

Abstract

The potential of consensus building is dependent upon overcoming difficulties associated with the challenges in getting parties to the table. This article builds a framework for understanding the factors and variables most fundamentally involved in the initiation of consensus-building efforts. Nine factors involved at the beginning of a consensus-building process are identified and outlined. The framework is structured on three major functions of the initiation phase: the definition of the problem, the structure of negotiation, and the motivation to participate.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Amy, D.J. 1987. The politics of environmental mediation. New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barron, W.F., R.D. Perlack and J.J. Boland. 1998. Fundamentals of economics for environmental managers. Wesport, Conn.: Quantum Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bingham, G. 1986. Resolving environmental disputes: A decade of experience. Washington: The Conservation Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, C. 2000. Convening. In The consensus-building handbook: A comprehensive guide to reaching agreement, edited by L. Susskind, S. McKearnan and J. Thomas-Larmer. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, S.L. 2000. Choosing appropriate consensus-building techniques and strategies. In The consensus-building handbook: A comprehensive guide to reaching agreement, edited by L. Susskind, S. McKearnan and J. Thomas-Larmer. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, S.L. and W.J.D. Kennedy. 1988. Managing public disputes. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cormick, G.W. 1989. Strategic issues in structuring multi-party public policy negotiations. Negotiation Journal 5 (2): 125-132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deutsch, M. 2000. Cooperation and competition. In The handbook of conflict resolution: Theory and practice, edited by M. Deutsch and P. Coleman. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiorino, D.J. 1988. Regulatory negotiation as a policy process. Public Administration Review July-August: 764-772.

  • Fisher, R.J. 1996. Interactive conflict resolution. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, R.J., W. Ury and B. Patton. 1991. Getting to yes: Negociating agreement without giving in. 2nd ed. New York: Penguin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forrest, C.J. and R.H. Mays. 1997. The practical guide to environmental community relations. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldman, A.L. 1991. Settling for more: Mastering negotiation strategies and techniques. Washington: Bureau of National Affairs.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenhalgh, L. 1987. Relationships in negotiations. Negotiation Journal 3(3): 235-243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, R.A. 1993. Negotiation basics: Concepts, skills, and exercises. Newbury Park, Calif.: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kressel, K. and D.G. Pruitt. 1989. Mediation research: The process and effectiveness of third party intervention. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lejano, R.P. and C.A. Davos. 1999. Cooperative solutions for sustainable resource management. Environmental Management 24 (2): 167-175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Long, F.J. and M.B. Arnold. 1995. The power of environmental consensus-building efforts. Fort Worth: Dryden Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Madigan, D. 1990. New approaches to resolve local public disputes. Washington: National Institute for Dispute Resolution.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKinney, M. 1997. The challenge of funding consensus-building processes. Negotiation Journal 13(3): 235-241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ostrom, E. 1990. Governing the commons: The evolution of institutions for collective action. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ozawa, C.P. and L. Susskind. 1985. Mediating science-intensive policy disputes. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management 5(1): 23-39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poitras, J. 2001. Identification and characterization of factors involved in the initiation of consensus-building efforts to resolve coastal issues. Doctoral dissertation, University of Massachusetts Boston.

  • Poitras, J. and P. Renaud. 1997. Mediation and reconciliation of interests in public disputes. Toronto: Carswell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pruitt, D.G.and P.G. Carnevale. 1993. Negotiation in social conflict. Pacific Grove, Calif.: Brooks Cole.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raiffa, H. 1982. The art and science of negotiation: How to resolve conflicts and get the best out of bargaining. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, R. 1995. Public involvement: From consultation to participation. In Environmental and social impact assessment, edited by F. Vanclay and D.A. Bronstein. New York: John Wiley and Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saunders, H.H. 1985. We need a larger theory of negotiation: The importance of pre-negotiating phases. Negotiation Journal 1(3): 249-262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherif, M. and C.W. Sherif. 1969. Social psychology. New York: Harper and Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slaikeu, K.A. 1996. When push come to shove: A practical guide to mediating disputes. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, C.P. 2000. Content analysis and narrative analysis. In Handbook of research methods in social and personality psychology, edited by H.T. Reis and C.M. Judd. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stein, J.G. 1989. Getting to the table: The triggers, stages, functions, and consequences of prenegotiation. In Getting to the table: The process of international prenegotiation, edited by J.G. Stein. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Straus, D.A. 2000. Managing meetings to build consensus. In The consensus-building handbook: A comprehensive guide to reaching agreement, edited by L. Susskind, S. McKearnan and J. Thomas-Larmer. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Susskind, L. and J. Cruikshank. 1987. Breaking the impasse: Consensual approaches to resolving public disputes. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Susskind, L. and J. Thomas-Larmer. 2000. Conducting a conflict assessment. In The consensusbuilding handbook: A comprehensive guide to reaching agreement, edited by L. Susskind, S. McKearnan and J. Thomas-Larmer. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Susskind, L.E. and P. Field. 1996. Dealing with an angry public: The mutual gains approach to resolving disputes. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ury, W.L., J.M. Brett and S.B. Goldberg. 1993. Getting disputes resolved: Designing systems to cut the costs of conflict. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Venter, A.K. and C.M. Breen. 1998. Consensus-building effort forum framework: Participative framework for protected area outreach. Environmental Management 22(6): 803-815.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zartman, I.W. 1989. Prenegotiation: Phases and functions. In Getting to the table: The process of international prenegotiation, edited by J.G. Stein. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press: 1-17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zubeck, J.M. 1992. Disputant and mediator behaviors affecting short-term success in mediation. Journal of Conflict Resolution 36(3): 546-572.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

About this article

Cite this article

Poitras, J., Bowen, R.E. A Framework for Understanding Consensus-Building Initiation. Negotiation Journal 18, 211–232 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016382309621

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016382309621

Keywords

Navigation