Selecting a Decision-Making Approach

The spectrum of group decision-making approaches includes four general types:

Once you’ve selected the participants, determine what decision-making approach you will take. The group you assemble needs to understand up front the process it will follow and how the final decision will be made. The spectrum of group decision-making approaches includes four general types:

Consensus. All team member meet together to discuss the proposal openly and strive to reach agreement, with everyone accepting the final decision.

Majority. The group votes and the majority rules. The team leader may elect to break a tie, if necessary.

Qualified consensus. The team tries to reach a collective agreement, but if it is unable to do so, the team agrees that the team leader makes the decision.

Directive leadership. The leader makes the decision and then informs the group of the decision that was made. A crisis or sudden unexpected emergency is a classic example of when this approach might be necessary.

These approaches, with the exception of directive leadership, vary in the extent that they empower the participants and create a sense of responsibility within the group. Be aware, however, that regardless of approach, when a group is trying to find areas agreement, it may avoid exploring minority viewpoints.

ACTION POINT: Encourage exploration of ideas, when faced with making a decision no matter what approach you will take to make the decision.