Decision Strategies

Decision strategies may vary from team to team, but each team should establish early, and firmly, how it will make its important decisions. Since it is unlikely that all members will agree with all decisions, some mechanism must be established to make decisions in the face of conflicting ideas. Three schemes that have been tried with success are:

1. Decision by Majority
   in which a vote by more than half the members of the team carries the decision (more difficult in small teams, especially with an even number of members);
2. Decision by Unanimous Consent
   in which discussion proceeds, and the decision is revised, until all are satisfied that the decision is truly the best choice (which may take a significant amount of time on occasions);
3. Decision by Consensus
   in which the team discussion is open and responsive to the views of all participants and the decision, while not necessarily exactly what everyone finds optimal, is still understood by all, was influenced by all, and can be accepted by all (which requires a significant degree of honesty, openness, and maturity from all participants).