The art of collaborative decision-making

1. Decisions, decisions
the art of collaborative decision-making
Ewan Milne | OVOPDC | 26 Mar 2019
Photo: this way or that by Robert Couse-Baker (https://flic.kr/p/WJ9cgJ)@ewanmilne #ovopdc

2. Rule 1: Decisions should be taken at
the lowest level possible in
the organisation.
Townsend’s Rules of Decision Making
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3. Rule 2: There are only two types of
decisions: Those that can be
made quickly because they
are cheap and easy to correct
and those that should only be
taken after due consideration
because they are expensive
and difficult to correct.
Townsend’s Rules of Decision Making
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4. Rule 3: All decisions are made on the
basis of incomplete data, so
either learn to live with this
fact or get out of the game.
Townsend’s Rules of Decision Making
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5. Rule 4: A good manager gets
1/3 of their decisions right,
1/3 wrong and the other
1/3 would have turned out
just as they did whatever
decision was made.
Townsend’s Rules of Decision Making
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6. Rule 4: A good manager gets
1/3 of their decisions right,
1/3 wrong and the other
1/3 would have turned out
just as they did whatever
decision was made.
Townsend’s Rules of Decision Making
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7. Trust the team to decide
Consider the consequences
Consider level of knowledge
Don’t become paralysed
Milne’s restatement of Townsend’s Rules
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8. Decision-making contexts
moredata
expensive
Just decide Build consensus
Run experiments Manage the risk
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both/and
explore options
inclusive solutions
delegate
toss a coin?
try something, you will learn
investigate (get
better informed)
split (what’s the
least you can do?)
70% agree,
100%commit
single decision-maker
Plan, Do, Check, Act
cheap
lessdata
Build, Measure, Learn

9. Dynamics of group decision-making
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10. Dynamics of group decision-making
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11. Dynamics of group decision-making
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12. Dynamics of group decision-making
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13. Dynamics of group decision-making
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14. Dynamics of group decision-making
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15. Dynamics of group decision-making
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16. Dynamics of group decision-making
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17. Reaching consensus
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YES! NO!
needs more discussion?
I will go along with majority?
I will abstain?

18. Gradients of agreement
5 4 3 2 1 0
Fully
agree
I can live
with it
Stand
aside
Disagree
but will
consent
More
discussion
needed
Veto
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I really like it It’s not the
decision I
would've
made, but
close enough.
I’m fine with it
I don’t have
an opinion,
or it doesn’t
affect me
I don’t agree
but will
consent to
avoid
holding
things up
I don’t
understand
the proposal
enough yet
I don’t
agree, and
cannot live
with it

19. Delegation Poker
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20. I will:
1. Inform you of my decision
2. Explain my reasoning for this decision
3. Consult with others before making this decision
4. Collaborate with others on this decision
5. Advise the decision maker
6. Inquire about the decision
7. Abstain from this decision
Collaboration Contract
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21. Delegation Poker: management30.com/practice/delegation-poker/
References
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