The Project Management Tool Kit: 100 Tips and Techniques for Getting the Job Done Right

TEAMWORK PROCESS20Decision-Making

What:	Using a systematic process to select one option among competing alternatives.
When:	Throughout a project.
Results:	Team buy-in for a decision that can be expected to deliver good results.

Define the Issue or Question

Good decision-making begins with a clear, unambiguous statement of the question that needs to be answered. Avoid beginning to solve problems prematurely, before you understand the issues. Use cause-and-effect analysis to probe for the source of the problem, not just the symptoms. Decompose complex issues into a number of smaller, simpler ones.

Frame the question by defining what results a decision must produce. Define measures that signify successful resolution, and limit your considerations ...