Make Better Decisions

A good process for decision making matters more than data analysis by a factor of six, according to a study cited in Dan and Chip Heath's book, "Decisive: How to make better choices in life and work"

It's a lesson that state and federal government find difficult to apply according to a report commissioned by the New Democracy Foundation. They reported a tendency for policies to be rushed, use flawed decision-making process, with little transparency or consultation.

We decision-makers are happy enough with the beginning and end of the process - here's a problem, here's what we can do. But this misses out the important gooey centre.

Have we thought about the context, how are we engaging others, have we come up with a few options, is this the right question and who actually decides?

Who hasn't encountered the thought bubble that becomes a project or a policy, only to see an erosion of trust in the leadership and institution?

It's time to find a simple way to avoid this and do better.