The Quakers base all their decisions on consensus. First time I heard this it seemed ridiculous, they'll never get anything done!
But it usually works out well. It especially helps prioritizing: finding a consensus on whether to fix the leaking roof, works out quickly. Something more controversial but not pressing? Discuss, realize you can't find a solid consensus ... and defer to the next meeting.
This obviously doesn't work in all contexts, but in situations where values are aligned and there is an actual will to find a good consensus, it works very well.
The aligned values and will were present especially in early internet standards back in the days when everything was run by nerds employed at universities with no commercial interests at play.
But it usually works out well. It especially helps prioritizing: finding a consensus on whether to fix the leaking roof, works out quickly. Something more controversial but not pressing? Discuss, realize you can't find a solid consensus ... and defer to the next meeting.
This obviously doesn't work in all contexts, but in situations where values are aligned and there is an actual will to find a good consensus, it works very well.
The aligned values and will were present especially in early internet standards back in the days when everything was run by nerds employed at universities with no commercial interests at play.