Consensus Building and Complex Adaptive Systems
Innes and Booher propose evaluating collaborative planning through a complex adaptive systems lens—showing how authentic dialogue among interdependent stakeholders can produce system learning, innovative agreements, and network capacity beyond lowest-common-denominator outcomes.
Primary findings
Authentic dialogue among interdependent stakeholders can generate system learning
ExploratoryConsensus processes create network capacity, not only single agreements
ExploratoryEvaluation should track adaptive outcomes, not only whether a deal was signed
ExploratoryCollaborative planning fits conditions of uncertainty, interdependence, and contested values
Exploratory
Methodology
Theoretical framework for evaluating collaborative planning as complex adaptive systems practice
Application context
Limitations
- Single-study synthesis; context may not transfer universally.
Evidence suggests association within stated boundaries — not universal causation.