Resistance poll¶
The resistance assessment reverses the insight: instead of measuring support, it measures resistance to each option. The option with the lowest overall resistance is selected. This identifies the solution that is most widely acceptable.
How it works in Rhizome¶
All participants rate their level of opposition to each proposal on a five-point scale – ranging from no opposition to strong opposition. No one may be left out. The proposal with the lowest overall level of opposition is accepted.
If none of these] was selected during creation, it appears in the list as a proposal and is also assigned a resistance value. If, at the end, none of these has the lowest resistance, the vote has failed.
The second route here leads via consent or consensus: If someone there proposes an alternative because an objection cannot be resolved by a new version, Rhizome creates a vote on the objection between the two proposals.
Advanced decision rules¶
Disqualifying resistance value¶
A disqualifying resistance level can be set – a specific point on the resistance scale (represented in the app by emojis, ranging from no resistance to maximum resistance). If a person assigns this value to the proposal in the lead, the decision fails – the proposal in second place does not move up.
This rule ensures that a result which is truly unacceptable to an individual is not imposed. It adds a strict exclusion criterion to the resistance scale – and because it causes the entire decision to fail, it is stringent: Rhizome issues a warning during configuration if the selected value is so low that it effectively blocks every vote.
Quorum¶
Specifies the minimum number of people who must respond for the decision to be valid.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| No quorum (default) | The decision is valid regardless of participation |
| Percentage | A defined proportion must respond – default settings: 50 %, 66 per cent or a custom value |
| Number | A specific number of people must reply |
| Everyone must participate | Everyone in the group must take part |
You can also enable a randomize option order for the proposals. A complete list of all the rules can be found under Special Rules.
Use cases¶
The resistance assessment is suitable as a preliminary evaluation prior to a final decision. It shifts the focus away from the logic of consent towards the question of which option raises the fewest concerns. It can serve as the basis for a subsequent decision by consent or consensus.