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So let’s dig into one thing that you just talked about a bit, which was this agree to disagree, which goes against a lot of companies that are consensus driven.
让我们来探讨一下你刚才谈到的一件事，即求同存异，这与很多以共识为导向的公司背道而驰。
And it goes against just this idea, I guess, that if it’s a good idea, everybody should recognize it and come around to it.
并且我想，与共识背道而驰，那如果这是一个好主意，每个人都应该认识到这一点并接受它。
But if you really try to go with consensus, then you tend to not have very pathbreaking, groundbreaking investments or ventures that you’re developing inside your firm.
但是，如果你真的试图与共识保持一致，那么你往往不会在公司内部进行非常具有开创性、突破性的投资或冒险。
Is that right?
是那样的吗？
That is right, Curt.
没错，柯特。
I think consensus is very important in the era of stability so that when we all know the final goal, we all have more or less the same information, and none of us expect dramatic changes, then consensus is likely the right approach.
我认为共识在稳定的时代非常重要，这样当我们都知道最终目标时，我们都或多或少地共享同样的信息，并且我们没有人期望发生巨大的变化，那么共识可能是正确的方法。
But once we face what I call unknown unknowns, once in fact the end goal is unclear.
但是，一旦我们面临我所说的未知的未知，一旦最终目标不明确。
For example, maybe we’re entering the new market.
例如，也许我们正在进入新的市场。
For example, we are trying to adopt a new technology, then consensus is dangerous.
例如，我们正在尝试采用一项新技术，那么共识是危险的。
I’m curious what specific things venture capital firms do then to get around this inertia, I guess, of consensus.
我很好奇风险投资公司具体会做些什么来克服这种共识的惯性。
What do they do to actually support that kind of disagreement and that kind of environment where disagreement can thrive and still let people proceed?
他们做了什么来实际支持这种分歧，以及这种分歧可以蓬勃发展，同时仍然让人们继续前进的环境？
They use several very practical mechanisms.
他们使用了好几种非常实用的机制。
The first one is they assign a devil’s advocate.
首先，他们会指定一位“魔鬼代言人”。
You kind of appoint one person or a small group of people to take the opposite view.
你可以指定一个人或一小群人提出相反的观点。
In fact, in a group decision making, it’s very often difficult for people to say, “I disagree.”
事实上，在一个群体决策中，人们往往很难说：“我不同意。”
Especially if somebody else is very enthusiastic about the deal, or maybe if the boss is enthusiastic about the investment.
特别是如果别人对这笔交易非常热情，或者也许如果老板对这项投资充满热情。
So you appoint somebody, and let’s say I’m going to say, “Curt, tomorrow we’re going to discuss this specific project.
那么你指定某个人，比如说我会说，“科特，明天我们要讨论这个具体的项目。
And it is your responsibility to come up with all possible weaknesses, all possible reasons why we should not pursue this project."
而你的责任是，找出所有可能的弱点，所有我们不应该追求这个项目的可能原因。”
For example, Andreessen Horowitz, a large venture capital firm, also known as A16z very often designates what they call a red team.
例如，大型风险投资公司AndreessenHorowitz，也被称为A16z，经常指定他们所谓的红队。
So they have a blue team that argues for the deal, and they have a red team tasked with arguing against a deal.
因此，他们有一个蓝队为这笔交易辩护，还有一个红队负责反对这笔交易。
Now in large organizations, they decide to implement a devil’s advocate, make sure that you alternate who the devil is.
现在，在大型组织中，他们决定实施“魔鬼代言人”制度，确保你能轮流扮演这个角色。
If you are going to be appointed as a devil again and again and again, then in fact your influence is going to be diminished over time.
如果一次又一次地被任命为恶魔，那么实际上你的影响力会随着时间的推移而减弱。
Another mechanism that venture capital firms use is what I call a consensus minus X rule.
风险投资公司使用的另一种机制是我所称的共识减X规则。
So let’s say going back to the example I gave earlier about a partnership of nine decision makers.
那么，让我们回到我之前给出的关于一个由九位决策者组成的合作伙伴关系的例子。
Consensus minus X, let’s say consensus minus two means is that the investment will be approved even if only seven people are in favor.
共识减去X，比如说共识减去二意味着即使只有七个人赞成，投资也会被批准。
So you can set this number depending on the size of the investment.
所以你可以根据投资的规模来设定这个数字。
And so you might even make it smaller than for smaller investments, so that even if one person was in favor of doing it, you could do a seed stage investment, for instance.
因此，你甚至可以把它做得比小型投资更小，这样，即使只有一个人赞成这样做，你也可以进行种子阶段的投资。
That is true.
这是真的。
That is correct.
正确。
And in fact, it’s not just about seed investment.
实际上，这不仅仅涉及种子投资。
Let me give you an example.
让我给你举个例子。
Venrock, which is a very storied venture capital firm, the firm behind investments in Intel, Apple DoubleClick and many, many other companies.
Venrock是一家非常著名的风险投资公司，它是英特尔、苹果、DoubleClick以及许多其他公司背后的投资方。
There are a number of partners, and they vigorously debate every deal.
有很多合作伙伴，他们对每一笔交易都进行激烈的辩论。
And then the partner who initially presented the idea, who is the pioneer of the idea, will have to make the final decision unilaterally.
然后，最初提出这个想法的合作伙伴，也就是这个想法的先驱者，将不得不单方面做出最终决定。
Think about this Curt.
想想这个，柯特。
There are nine partners, and one partner will hear all the feedback.
有九个合作伙伴，其中一个合作伙伴将听取所有反馈。
In fact, you’re facing now eight devils.
事实上，你现在面对的是八个恶魔。
And then you will have to make your own decision.
然后你将不得不做出你自己的决定。
