Decision Making As a Group Process

“Effective executives know that decision making has its own systemic process and its own clearly defined elements.” – Peter Drucker

Important decision, such as changing the strategic direction of a group or hiring a new manager, typically require time and input from many individuals and sources of information throughout an organization. Hence, decision making can more accurately be viewed as a group process.

Managers who recognize decision making as a group process increase their likelihood of making more effective decisions. Why? By taking time, they are able to identify and assess the issues associated with making the decision. By involving others, they weigh different perspectives and deepen the discussion. Perhaps most important, taking a process-driven approach is more likely to lead to broader acceptance of the decision—which in turn leads to more effective implementation.

ACTION POINT: Identify the group that can best help you make effective decisions.