+----------------+----------------+----------------+------------------+
| **Type of      | ## Definition  | ## Pros        | **Cons**         |
| Group          |                |                |                  |
| Decision**     |                |                |                  |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+------------------+
| Autocratic     | One person     | Fastest; good  | Less likely to   |
|                | decides        | in a crisis    | be wisest        |
|                |                |                | decision; less   |
|                |                |                | likely to be     |
|                |                |                | accepted unless  |
|                |                |                | survival is at   |
|                |                |                | stake            |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+------------------+
| Consultative   | One person     | Fast; more     | Takes more time; |
|                | decides, with  | ideas and      | less chance of   |
|                | advice from    | information    | acceptance and   |
|                | others         |                | commitment by    |
|                |                |                | others           |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+------------------+
| Minority       | "Experts," or  | Decision by    | All points of    |
|                | those with     | "experts";     | view not         |
|                | vested         | faster than    | necessarily      |
|                | interest       | whole group    | heard; not       |
|                | decide         |                | necessarily      |
|                |                |                | representative   |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+------------------+
| Majority       | Decision       | Can be used    | Win/lose         |
|                | results from   | with any size  | mentality; lack  |
|                | voting         | group; most    | of commitment by |
|                |                | people know    | losers; issues   |
|                |                | this process   | become           |
|                |                |                | personalized     |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+------------------+
| Consensus      | Loyal minority | Better         | Takes more time; |
|                | agrees to      | decision; all  | requires mature  |
|                | support the    | opinions       | members;         |
|                | majority       | aired;         | progress can be  |
|                | decision       | promotes       | blocked by one   |
|                |                | synthesis of   | person; best in  |
|                |                | ideas; elicits | small groups --  |
|                |                | more           | difficult in     |
|                |                | commitment     | large groups;    |
|                |                |                | can end up       |
|                |                |                | operating on     |
|                |                |                | lowest common    |
|                |                |                | denominator      |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+------------------+
| Unanimity      | Everyone must  | Most           | Almost           |
|                | totally agree  | comfortable    | impossible to    |
|                | in order for a |                | achieve with     |
|                | decision to be |                | more than two    |
|                | made           |                | people           |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+------------------+

Adapted from "Making Group Decisions,"

in *Communities For A Drug Free Colorado: A Community Team Training*
\[Participant training manual\]*,*

by Communities For A Drug Free Colorado. Training conducted May 1--4,
1988, Colorado Springs, CO.