What consensus reveals
Consensus processes can surface concerns, improve proposals, and build legitimacy before a decision. They are strongest when the group has time and trust to deliberate.
They can struggle when the group needs to compare many alternatives, quantify remaining disagreement, or decide how deep opposition really is.
What quadratic voting reveals
Quadratic voting gives a structured signal after discussion. Participants spend finite voice credits to show support or opposition across clear alternatives.
Nicolas can complement consensus by turning the final set of options into aggregate support, costs, and outcome probabilities.
How to choose
Use consensus when the group wants agreement-seeking deliberation and proposal refinement.
Use Nicolas when the group has named alternatives and needs an auditable preference-intensity signal.