What is ConsensIQ and how does a consensus session work?
ConsensIQ is next level voting: participants spread points over options across several rounds, so you measure real support instead of a bare majority.
3 min read
How it works
How ConsensIQ works
ConsensIQ runs in the browser. An admin sets up the questions, participants join on their phones and a facilitator runs the session. Here is what happens.
A session, step by step
- 1
Set up the question and options
In a simple wizard the admin creates one or more questions, each with up to 10 options. An option can be text or an image.
- 2
Let participants join
Participants scan a QR code or open a link on their own phone. There is nothing to install.
- 3
Spread the points
Everyone spreads a fixed number of points, for example 100, across the options. The presentation screen shows the points shifting live.
- 4
Discuss and adjust
The facilitator can freeze voting to give the room time to talk. While the question is open, anyone can still move their points.
- 5
Drop the weakest option
After each round the option with the least support drops out. Anyone who backed it gets those points back to spend again.
- 6
Reveal the winner and export
When one option is left, the facilitator reveals the winner. The admin can then export the results of every round.
Three screens, three roles
Participants vote on their phones, the facilitator runs the session from a remote, and the room follows along on the big screen.
What is our best opportunity for growth?
Round 1/3389 / 1200
- 1200Customer service
- 2300Innovation
- 1900New audiences
- 1400Upselling
- 700Lower prices
- 1600International markets
- 900Restructuring
Participant
What is our best opportunity for growth?
Spread your points36 / 100
Moderator
- Customer service
- Innovation
- New audiences
- Upselling
The three roles
Admin
Sets up questions and options in a wizard, applies your branding and exports the results afterwards.
Moderator or facilitator
Runs the session from a remote on a phone or tablet: previous or next question, freeze for discussion, drop or add options live and reveal the winner.
Participant
Joins through a link or QR code on their own phone, spreads points and shifts them when the discussion gives reason to.
The presentation screen
The room sees one tile per option on the big screen. Each tile has an orange bubble showing its points. More support means a bigger bubble. When an option drops out, the other tiles move up and grow. Everyone in the room can feel the mood shifting.
The tech in short
- Web based, works in any modern browser
- In person, hybrid and fully online
- Handles hundreds of participants, day licences up to 500+
- Your own logo, colours and fonts
- Embed with an iframe or share a web link
- Runs on the same platform as PresentersWall
Key terms
- Consensus voting
- Consensus voting is a way of voting that looks for the option with the broadest support across a group, rather than the option with the most first choices. People show how strongly they back each option, and options without wide support drop out step by step.
- Measuring support
- Measuring support means making visible how many people stand behind a choice, and how strongly. With point voting you see not only what wins, but also whether the rest of the group can live with it.
- Point voting (cumulative voting)
- In cumulative voting every participant gets a fixed number of points, for example 100, and spreads them across several options however they like. Someone with a strong preference puts most points on one option, someone who is unsure spreads them out.
From the knowledge base
Why spreading points works better than voting for or against
A yes or no vote gives a majority, not necessarily support. See why spreading points across options gives a fairer picture of a group.
3 min read
How to set up a ConsensIQ session in five steps
Setting up a consensus session takes five practical steps, from framing the question to testing the screen and remote beforehand.
3 min read
Together we know better
Tell us what you need to decide and how many people are involved. We'll show you in a short demo what that looks like in ConsensIQ.