Clarification of CoTech decision-making process
James Mead (Go Free Range)
Public
Seen by 75
In the outcome of the “Allow GreenNet to join CoTech” thread Chris Lowis highlighted a lack of clarity in what rules rules apply to Loomio proposals in terms of voting basis (majority, unanimity, something else?) and quorum.
In the outcome of the “Reconfigure Loomio to allow CoTech to make decisions” thread it was agreed that voting should be on a one-coop-one-vote basis and the welcome page was updated to include the following text:
> If you are a member of a CoTech network co-operative you can participate in discussions and decisions here on Loomio. Voting on proposals is on the basis of one-coop-one-vote, so before voting on an issue, discuss internally and then make it clear when you vote that you are voting on behalf of your co-operative.
I’d like us to clarify what voting basis and quorum should be used for decision-making for the CoTech network. I plan to add a proposal to start the ball rolling.
Poll Created Fri 28 Jul 2017 11:59AM
Consensus decision-making, no quorum Closed Fri 4 Aug 2017 12:02PM
Voting basis: consensus, i.e. no “block” votes. Note that Loomio “disagree” votes are intended to mean you don’t agree, but you can live with the proposal).
Quorum: no minimum, but at least 1 week between the creation of a proposal and the closing date.
Results
| Results | Option | % of points | Voters | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Agree | 50.0% | 2 |
|
| Abstain | 0.0% | 0 | ||
| Disagree | 50.0% | 2 |
|
|
| Block | 0.0% | 0 | ||
| Undecided | 0% | 92 |
|
4 of 96 people have participated (4%)
AndyrCroft
Fri 28 Jul 2017 12:15PM
Seems the fairest way to proceed. Question: What Co-Tech activities/decisions go through this process? Everything?
Simon Grant
Fri 28 Jul 2017 7:33PM
(for Cetis LLP) This simply isn't yet a proposal for a consensus decision making process. It would be great to see one.
Simon Grant
Wed 2 Aug 2017 12:32PM
(for Cetis LLP) Quick mod to reason: this is fine as the end of the process, but sorely needs complementing with reasoned consensus process.
Graham
Wed 2 Aug 2017 1:14PM
(For MC3) No quorum damages democracy. Consensus demands quality dialogue prior to a firm proposal.
Simon Grant Fri 28 Jul 2017 1:35PM
Could we perhaps please ask the question, how is consensus built in CoTech? The point, to me, of Loomio's response options is to surface disagreement and enable constructive alternatives to be formulated that more closely express the best agreement that is practical...
AndyrCroft Fri 28 Jul 2017 3:17PM
Yep - sounds good to me. Thanks for raising what I think is a very important issue and will be come increasingly so as CoTech grows both in size and sophistication.
Sion Whellens (Principle Six) Fri 28 Jul 2017 7:07PM
Not sure about the 'no block' - although there should be clarity about its meaning: I think a block should only be cast if a coop feels the proposal to be so clearly antithetical to CoTech's ethos or policies that they would feel they would have to leave if it went through. Usually it would trigger some kind of deeper review/discussion or attempt to win the blocker over to oppose/abstain. I don't think you can have consensus without the possibility of a block.
Simon Grant Fri 28 Jul 2017 7:45PM
I need to qualify my earlier response by saying thanks to Sion for implying that we need to discuss this further. I hear you talking about consensus, not just voting.
James Mead (Go Free Range) · Fri 28 Jul 2017 1:20PM
@andyrcroft:
I'd suggest that this is the default process for all decisions. I think it would be fine for someone to specify a different process upfront for a specific proposal, but useful to have some kind of well-known default process so we don't have to think about it every time.