FamilySearch Wiki:Consensus

On many wikis, community consensus must be reached before making a policy or guideline.

Definition of Consensus
Consensus decision-making is a group decision making process that seeks the consent of all participants. Consensus may be defined professionally as an acceptable resolution, one that can be supported, even if not the "favorite" of each individual. Consensus is defined by Merriam-Webster as, first, general agreement, and second, group solidarity of belief or sentiment.

Informal Consensus
Items that might meet the need for this type of consensus:


 * A suggestion that would not change stated policy, practices, and guiding principles.
 * The reasons for this change may be the change is needed to keep the site up to date, clean or functioning.
 * This change may help a special group like beginners, contributors or researchers
 * All in a group are asking for this change

Steps to Informal Consensus

 * Group that wants to reach consensus discuss the need to change til agreement and evaluate what the changes may cause
 * They make sure that the change or changes are not against any policy, guiding principles, or practices with in the Wiki
 * Inform all who may be affected by this change and listen to their concerns
 * Put their plan into action

Many items may fit informal consensus:

In a project group, a group working on a country, topic or county together, the following may apply:


 * Page style, arrangement of links and tables
 * Titles of pages, section titles and sub-section titles
 * What templates would be useful on the pages
 * And many, many more