Project management encompasses many different things. While you are the “leader” in group situations, it’s worth noting that group decision-making should involve each member.
Unfortunately, this can be challenging in some situations. Because of this, you may need some tips to help you. The group decision-making tips below will help you take the right steps for any project or task.
State the Decision You Need to Make
Before gathering information or listing alternatives, you must ensure everyone in the group fully understands what decision is being made. By stating this clearly, everyone can focus their discussion on the task at hand.
Discuss the Issue
After defining your goal (this is the decision you are making or the problem you are trying to overcome), look at the resources and data in place. Figure out any other information you may need. Try to answer a few questions, such as:
- What has caused the problem?
- Who is it a problem for?
- What is it a problem?
- Why is it your job to handle the problem?
- Can you find resources elsewhere?
Determine Your Criteria
Figure out the conditions or criteria that would help you decide if a solution you have chosen is effective or successful. It’s important to figure out if a solution you are considering will be effective and help the problem and entire group move forward.
It may help to rank your criteria based on how important it is. This is going to help you focus on the most important things first.
Brainstorm Possible Solutions
With the information and resources you collect in the above steps, you can begin brainstorming possible solutions to the issue. It’s best to collect as many ideas as possible from the group. Now is not the time to evaluate or criticize the ideas.
Instead, collect them for further evaluation.
Evaluate Your Options
After creating a list of possible solutions, you should evaluate them. It’s important to find the best alternative based on your criteria. Keep in mind that it’s okay to combine two or more ideas to create a viable solution. It’s best if everyone agrees with the solution chosen, but this doesn’t always happen. For these situations, you must find other decision-making processes to use.
Put the Solution into Action
This will involve identifying all the resources needed to make the decision come to life. You should also consider what obstacles you will face when taking the required action.
Continue Monitoring the Outcome
Take some time to follow up with the decision you make. Did it work out and provide the desired outcome? In hindsight, is there something you could have changed or done better?
Decision Making in Groups
Working with a group to make important decisions can be challenging. While this is true, the tips and steps above will help ensure you put everyone’s thoughts into the pool and come up with the best solution. While this can be challenging for project managers, it is a skill they need to master to be effective at their job.