There are two major methodologies for decision making – the authoritarian style and the group method. In the authoritarian method – the executive makes the decision and explains the decision to the group to gain their acceptance. In some studies, the time breakdown for a typical operating decision is somewhat like this: Making decisions- 5 minutes, Explaining the decision – 30 minutes, and Gaining acceptance – 30 minutes. Total 65 minutes. In the Group method – the group shares ideas do the analysis and agree upon a decision to implement. Studies show that the group often has values, feelings, and reactions quite different from those the manager supposes they have. Interestingly, the time breakdown in this method is somewhat like this: Group making decision – 30 minutes, Explaining the decision – 0 minutes, Gaining acceptance – 0 minutes. Total 30 minutes.
Clearly, group decision making is better from an efficiency standpoint. Moreover, it is well known that people prefer to implement the ideas they think of. They will work harder and more energetically to implement their idea than they would implement an idea imposed on them by others.
Here’s what Bill Cahan, an architect and founder of Cahan & Associates., has to say:
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Let me know in the comments section.
In this ongoing series #GreatMinds on my blog, I am shining a spotlight on the important ideas that some very successful people keep talking about in their public life.