View video – Ashok Pannikar: Consensus Building. [2:03 min.] Pannikar, a conflict resolution specialist, gives a concise definition of consensus-building as collaborative problem solving by concerned stakeholders. He points out that consensus solutions support sustainability because they are based in stakeholder agreements.

View video – Lawrence Susskind: The Consensus-Building Approach. Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation. [7:57 min.] Professor Susskind defines consensus-building as problem solving that seeks unanimity versus a bare majority. He describes key steps of convening, clarifying, deliberation and commitment, and the activities and skills involved in each step. He notes that neutral facilitation is very important to successful consensus-building.