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alejandro puron recently encountered a dilemma in working with his employer's diversity task force. one of the team members claimed that a task force must always be unanimous in its recommendations. otherwise she said we will not have true consensus ,alejandro the current task force leader , disagree . he believes that unanimity is desirable but no alwas necessary to achieve consensus. you are management consultant specializing in using groups in organizations. alejandro calls you for advice. what would you tell him and why?

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Answer:

I would advise Alejandro that consensus does not necessarily mean unanimity. While it is desirable for a task force to reach a unanimous decision, it is not always necessary. In fact, striving for unanimity can sometimes be counterproductive, as it can lead to groupthink and stifle constructive debate and dissenting opinions.

Instead, I would suggest that Alejandro work to foster an environment where all task force members feel comfortable sharing their views and opinions openly and respectfully. This will enable the group to engage in constructive dialogue and come to a decision that reflects the diversity of perspectives within the group.

If the group cannot reach a unanimous decision, it may be necessary to explore alternative approaches, such as majority vote or identifying areas of agreement and disagreement to find common ground. Ultimately, the goal of the task force should be to arrive at a decision that is supported by the majority of members and that can be implemented effectively.

It is also important to remember that consensus is not an end in itself, but rather a means to an end. The task force's ultimate goal should be to develop recommendations that are effective in achieving the organization's diversity objectives, rather than simply achieving unanimity for its own sake. By focusing on the end goal and fostering an environment of open dialogue and constructive debate, Alejandro can help the task force to reach a decision that is both effective and supported by its members.

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