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Consensus Decision-Making

Build the skills to bring stakeholders together to find creative & collaborative solutions to complex problems. 

This course builds on the skills learned in Communications in ADR and takes an in-depth look at the theory, model, and skills of consensus decision making. 

What Will You Learn?

Consensus building involves bringing interested stakeholders together to find creative solutions and a shared commitment to implement those solutions.  The objective of this certificate program is to help others develop skills in consensus building.   

In this course, students will:

  • Complete an internal and external assessment to conclude if a consensus building process is feasible and what prerequisites might be required
  • Explore the Five Stage Model of CDM in depth and practice implementing the model in role-play
  • Explore how the Five Stage Model of CDM is used to increase the participant’s ability to make more informed decisions and to achieve ‘win-win’ solutions
  • Gain an understanding of CDM and how this process may be similar or different from that of other decision-making processes
  • Gain an understanding of the connection between consensus building, and consensus decision-making
  • Gain an understanding of the terms used within CDM
  • Identify the requirements of a successful CDM process
  • Recognize the benefits of CDM and the myths and challenges associated with CDM
  • Understand and experience the components of the what is required to convene a multiparty consensus decision-making process
  • Understand and implement the procedural conditions necessary for a consensus building exercise
  • Understand how to respond to participants’ resistance to participate
  • Understand the various perspectives and approaches to the evaluation of consensus building processes


Who Should Take This Course?

  • All those who are currently involved in or may be involved in multi-party consultation processes as a stakeholder. 
  • People new to the consensus process or other forms of collaborative decision making.
  • People who want to learn the skills necessary for participating effectively in a consensus process who may want to go on and learn how to manage or lead consensus processes.  

  • Oil & Gas representatives who actively engage with citizen groups

  • NGOs seeking to build collaborative relationships with other NGOs (specifically Board members and Executive Directors)

  • Land Use Planners

  • Professionals whose work focuses on public engagement

  • Government regulators whose work requires them to consult and collaborate with industry and the public

  • Forestry representatives who are involved in developing forestry management agreements

NOTE: The CDM course is predominantly, though not exclusively, for students who do not plan on pursuing mediation as a practice.  Individuals looking to become a mediator specializing in multi-party mediations should follow the mediation training stream by taking National Introductory Mediation and the Multi-Party Mediation specialized training course.

Instructor

Bill Diepeveen has over 25 years’ experience in mediating and facilitating highly complex, and often politically charged, disputes. He brings extensive experience dealing with industry, citizen groups, governments, and NGO's, as well as twenty years’ experience in teaching. He has written extensively on the subject and was awarded the Lionel J. McGowan award by the ADR Institute of Canada for outstanding leadership in the field of conflict resolution.

Hear From Our Students!

Robyn Jacobsen completed the Consensus Decision Making program and describes how it was fundamental in her development of a strong foundation in collaborative, consensus processes.

"This way of doing business is more than just consultation. It provides a forum for participants to have meaningful discussions and to engage in conflict in a constructive way. Participants can discuss and test ideas without prejudice and then build solutions together… Everyone has a unique piece of the puzzle and everyone’s interests are addressed, creating shared ownership and buy-in to the final agreement."

Read more about her experience on our blog.

What are the benefits of Consensus Decision Making?

  • Forge agreement among diverse groups.
  • Solve complex issues with a range of concerns and interests.
  • Compel people to develop creative outcomes that are mutually acceptable to everyone.
  • Opportunity to integrate economic, social, community and environmental interests for truly sustainable outcomes. 
  • Decisions are more likely to be implemented, tend to be longer lasting, more sustainable than other forms of decisions.

Jay White, the President & CEO of Aquality Environmental Consulting Ltd. in Edmonton, reflected on our Consensus Decision Making course. 

Every aspect of my day to day business interactions have been improved by this course. In particular, Critical Skills for Resolving Conflict was eye-opening, and quite frankly, life changing. The Four Tongues and Four Ears/Listening for Understanding is something I use every day and reference often. I have referred my staff to most of the modules in the course. Overall, the most important lesson I learned was to listen for understanding, and speak to be understood.

Read more about his experience on our blog


Program Certificate in Consensus Decision Making Requirements

The Certificate in Consensus Decision Making program is made up of two courses: Communications in ADR and Consensus Decision Making.  Taken together, students will develop a set of skills that go beyond facilitation towards actively working with parties to come to consensus.

Learners must successfully complete both Communications in ADR and Consensus Decision-Making in order to receive the Certificate in Consensus Decision Making. 

While it is not necessary to complete Communications in ADR before Consensus Decision Making, it is highly recommended in order to fully benefit from the Consensus Decision Making course. 

Course Details & Requirements

ADRIA membership is required to take this course.

This course is 5 days in length; full attendance is required to receive a certificate of course completion.

Course Fees

The fee for this course is $1,800 plus GST.

Course Materials 

Course materials will be provided on the first day of class.

Learning Format

This course includes lecture, class discussion, role-playing, and small group work.

ADR Designation Qualification

This course qualifies as 40 hours of specialized training toward a Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) or Chartered Mediator (C.Med) professional designation.

Program Certificate Credits

Upon successful completion, this course counts as 40 hours of specialized training towards ADRIA's Program Certificate in Conflict Leadership.


Upcoming Course Dates

  • Communications in ADR - Online Class

    • Tuesday, February 02, 2021
    • 8:30 AM (MST)
    • Wednesday, March 10, 2021
    • 11:30 AM (MST)
    • Online
    • 3
    Register

    This course will introduce students to the causes and effects of interpersonal conflict, with particular emphasis on the dynamics of conflict, conflict resolution styles and the cycle of conflict.

    This course is available to ADRIA and ADRIC provincial affiliate members only. 

    Total Credit Hours: 40

    Online Class (login information will be emailed prior to the first class)

    *This course will be presented online. In order to participate in this format, students must to be available during session times listed without distraction. In addition, students require a strong internet connection, computer with a webcam and microphone. 

    Instructor:  Mark Donovan

    Prerequisites: none

    In addition to the group sessions, students will have approximately 3-4 hours of reading and homework per week to prep for the group sessions and role-play. 

    Pre-course – once you have signed the confidentiality agreement, the materials will be sent to you, and you will also be given access to the course web page on adralberta.com. You can read the manual, and begin the course work for the first group session.  

    Week 1:

    Session 1,  Tuesday, February 2, 8:30 am - 12 pm

    Session 2,  Wednesday, February 3, 8:30 am - 12 pm

    Week 2:

    Session 3,  Tuesday, February 9, 8:30 am - 12 pm

    Session 4,  Wednesday, February 10, 8:30 am - 12 pm

    Week 3:

    Session 5,  Tuesday, February 16, 8:30 am - 12 pm

    Session 6,  Wednesday, February 17, 8:30 am - 12 pm

    Week 4:

    Session 7,  Tuesday, February 23, 8:30 am - 12 pm

    Session 8,  Wednesday, February 24, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm (longer class, role-plays)

    Week 5:

    Session 9,  Tuesday, March 2, 8:30 am - 12 pm

    Session 10, Wednesday, March 3, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm (longer class, role-plays)

    Week 6:

    Session 11,  Tuesday, March 9, 8:30 am - 12 pm

    Session 12,  Wednesday, March 10, 8:30 am - 11:30 am (evaluated role-plays)


    Course Costs:

    Early Bird registration (paid by January 5): $1900 + GST

    Regular Registration (paid after January 5): $2000 + GST



    _________________________________________________________________

    Full payment is due 30 days before class starts, unless the course is full. If the course is full,  full payment is due immediately upon registration/notification otherwise you will forfeit your spot. 

    Show details

  • Communications in ADR

    • Thursday, February 25, 2021
    • 8:30 AM (MST)
    • Saturday, March 20, 2021
    • 4:30 PM (MDT)
    • Calgary
    • 11
    Register


    This course will introduce students to the causes and effects of interpersonal conflict, with particular emphasis on the dynamics of conflict, conflict resolution styles and the cycle of conflict.

    Part 1: February 25, 26 & 27, 2021 (Thurs-Sat)
    Part 2: March 18, 19 & 20, 2021 (Thurs-Sat)
    Attendance for all 6 days is mandatory

    Total Credit Hours: 40


    Location: WeWork, Floor 23, 150 - 9 Ave. SW


    Instructor:  Jan Gehrke

    Class Times: 8:30am - 4:30pm daily

    Prerequisites: none

    Pre-course Reading: You will be sent pre-course reading approximately 2 weeks before the start of the course. If you have a government email address, consider changing to a personal email address such as gmail, outlook, yahoo, shaw, telus, etc.

    Homework: You will have homework each evening as well as, in between parts 1 & 2.


    _____________________________________________________

    Full payment is due 30 days before class starts, unless the course is full. If the course is full, full payment is due immediately upon registration/notification otherwise you will forfeit your spot.
    Show details

  • Communications in ADR

    • Thursday, March 04, 2021
    • 8:30 AM (MST)
    • Saturday, March 27, 2021
    • 4:30 PM (MDT)
    • Edmonton
    • 8
    Register


    This course will introduce students to the causes and effects of interpersonal conflict, with particular emphasis on the dynamics of conflict, conflict resolution styles and the cycle of conflict.

    Part 1: March 4, 5 & 6, 2021 (Thurs - Sat)
    Part 2: March 25, 26 & 27, 2021 (Thurs - Sat)
    Attendance for all 6 days is mandatory

    Total Credit Hours: 40

    Location
    Millbourne Market Mall
    #225, Tower 1,
    3697 Millwoods Road NW
    Edmonton, AB T6K 3L6

    Instructor:  Marne Turnbull

    Class Times: 8:30am - 4:30pm daily

    Prerequisites: none

    Pre-course Reading: You will be sent pre-course reading approximately 2 weeks before the start of the course.  If you have a government email address, consider changing to a personal email address such as gmail, outlook, yahoo, shaw, telus, etc.

    Homework: You will have homework each evening (approx. 2 hours) as well as, in between parts 1 & 2. 

    _________________________________________________________________

    Full payment is due 30 days before class starts, unless the course is full. If the course is full, full payment is due immediately upon registration/notification otherwise you will forfeit your spot.
    Show details

  • Consensus Decision Making

    • Thursday, June 10, 2021
    • 8:30 AM (MDT)
    • Tuesday, June 15, 2021
    • 4:30 PM (MDT)
    • Edmonton
    • 10
    Register

    This course will provide you with a brief and broad overview of consensus building and consensus decision making processes.

    Course Description and Details

    Part 1: June 10, 11 & 12, 2021 (Thurs-Sat)
    Part 2: June 14 &15, 2021 (Mon-Tues)
    Attendance for all 5 days is mandatory

    Total Credit Hours: 40

    Location
    Millbourne Market Mall
    #225, Tower 1, 3697 Millwoods Road NW 
    Edmonton, AB T6K 3L6

    Instructor: Bill Diepeveen & Michael Scheidl

    Class Times: 8:30am - 4:30pm daily

    Prerequisites: None.  However, it is strongly recommended that students complete Communications in ADR (or equivalent) before starting this part of the certificate program in order to fully benefit from the course.

    Certificate Requirements: Students must complete both the Communications in ADR and the Consensus Decision-Making courses in order to complete the requirements for the Certificate in Consensus Decision-Making.

    Full payment is due 30 days  before class starts. 

    You may register without paying up front by choosing the invoice option, up to 30 days before the start of the course .

    30 days before the start of the course or less, payment is due upon registration.

    Show details

Alberta's association of mediators and arbitrators. 
Your source for ADR information and expertise.

Our main office is located in Edmonton:
#225, Tower 1
3697 Millwoods Road NW 
Edmonton, AB T6K 3L6

Contact Us:

Toll Free: 1-800-232-7214
Edmonton area: (780) 433-4881
Fax: (780) 433-9024
Email: info@adralberta.com

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