5 Decision-Making in Teams Free Online FlashCards

What distinguishes a decision question from a proposed solution?

State the question the team must answer and the outcome it needs to achieve, without embedding a proposed solution in the question.

How does leader consultation work?

The leader gathers input from relevant people, then makes the final choice and remains accountable for it.

Who should be involved in a team decision?

Invite people with relevant expertise, affected perspectives, resource-approval authority, or responsibility for carrying out the decision.

What options should a team generate before comparing choices?

Include more than one plausible option, and consider “do nothing” when appropriate.

What should a team communicate after making a decision?

Communicate what was decided and why, who owns each next step and its deadline, what remains uncertain, and when progress will be reviewed.

What should a team clarify before discussion begins?

Clarify who is accountable for the final choice, who contributes, what constraints apply, and when the decision must be made.

What is a key trade-off of majority voting?

Members discuss options and vote; the option with the most support is selected. It can be timely, but a minority may feel unheard.

What does consensus require, and what is its trade-off?

Members seek a choice everyone can support, even if it is not everyone’s first preference. It can build commitment but takes time.

How can a team prevent consensus-seeking from stalling?

Agree on a time limit and a fallback in advance, such as asking the accountable leader to decide if consensus is not reached.

When is delegation useful for a team decision?

Assign the decision to an individual or subgroup whose expertise fits the task, with clear boundaries on their authority.

How can a leader reduce the influence of status or the first opinion?

Ask members to write down their views before discussion, invite each person to speak, and share the leader’s preference only after hearing others.

How should a team interpret disagreement?

Treat disagreement as information about differing evidence, priorities, or risk assessments, rather than as a personal conflict.