AbstractIn this paper, the χ‐consensus problems for multiple high‐order dynamical agents within fixed and switching topologies are investigated. A linear protocol is established to globally asymptotically solve χ‐consensus problem for such systems. Moreover, the decision value may be determined by the feedback gains and the initial states of agents. Based on spectral analysis of system's coefficient matrix some conditions are presented for solving the consensus problem with fixed topologies. In the switching topologies case solving the consensus problem is proved by the asymptotical stability analysis regarding to the origin of its disagreement dynamics through Lyapunov approach. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society