Decision Making and Project Management

Hi Daire,

I am not working in constructions but I doubt that such a decision (building either a bridge or a tunnel) can be taken by a project manager.

Probably a group of engineers would be asked to come with different solutions and the board of directors would decide based on many factors including cost.

In my opinion this a an executive-level decision and since such infrastructure projects are usually delivered to public authorities very often this is a political decision.

I don't think your example is very good.

I believe you misunderstood me. I clearly said "with" the team. not by the team. I also wrote that I will make decisions that are mine to make however that such decision need to be transparent to achieve acceptance. At no time did I propose decision by consensus. As to your point that the client "will go with the project manager" - that's because they trust that the project manager relied on the expertise of his team rather than basing the recommendation on his knowledge, experience, and ability only. .

Dear Daire
Thanks for this opinion
It's one thing to consult people before making a decision.
Another thing, completely different, is to decide by consensus

Of course, in my opinion consensus would be ideal

When you have to communicate the decision, do you consider any issues?

Dear Adrian,

Many project mangers start out as engineers and SME's in their areas of expertise and gravitate up to being project managers when they have learnt the lay of the land and how large scale project operate. A Politician would be seen as foolish if they hire an expert group and do not heed their advise. Its like telling somebody else how to do their job. Simplex but I believe in distilling a problem into its simplest form. Any infrastructure project in my home country have required political involvement to make it happen but all the technical implementation of the projects have used private companies working on behalf of the government. All employ project manager and engineers in order to make the best use of resources and funding.

Daire

Dear Peter,

My experience of the decision making process is either 1. Person with Seniority with all available information makes a decision 2. Person with seniority in conjunction with a board of directors vote on the decision with the chairman having the casting vote. 3. A mid level manager, or project manager in consultation with the project team decides on the best course of action and makes a decision. Is there any other approaches to making a decision?

Daire

Dear Luis,

I would see decision by consensus happening more in SCRUM methodology environment than in Agile environment because the Scrum master is not a project manager and does not impose the authority, hierarchy and organisational structure that you would see in an Agile project management office. I think decision by consensus should be kept to decision about what pub to go to at the weekend and decision which are more complex than that should be left alone.

Daire

Dear Adrian
Even if it is the project manager who decides (which is unlikely) he would have, as he said, to consult the experts

Peter if you don't rely on your own knowledge or experience then you don't make the decision, those that have the knowledge do. At most you are a middle man between the client and the experts but not a decision maker. If the client asks for something and the experts come up with the solution then what decisions do you really make?

The client does know very well who has provided the solution. They know very well if the PM has made the decision on his own or the decision has been made by someone else and the PM just presented it.

Dear Adrian
Thank you for your opinion

Do you consider it wise to consult the experts and staff (where there are many experts) before making a decision?

Dear Peter
Thanks for your feedback

Who is responsible for:
- Moderate information gathering sessions?
-Take the decision?
- Communicate the decision?
- Check if the decision is being implemented?

Luis

I use different ways to come to decisions, not only one process.
The 'processes' I saw in this post are in my view mostly problem solution steps. They do not talk much about stakeholders involved.

As I wrote before, as example for a process the project change decision (approve/reject) is normally a formal process included in the Project Management Plan (or even the contract).

In decision meetings I strive for consensus of the group/team, if there is a major dissent, it might require an breakout before reaching the consensus.

A good analog is a hospital when doctors enter a concilium and make decisions about treatments, or the triage in case of catastrophe treatment when only one doctor makes live or die decisions.

I have seen many make decisions based on input from (several) subject matter experts, so I belief the decision maker must not be an expert at all. In most governments and corporations the people who decide up the ladder are no experts.

Having worked with Japanese a lot, they way they make decisions is a lengthy process involving all stakeholders (Ringi), decisions are accepted by all parties thru the process and are stable since real consensus is reached.

In time critical situations, I might decide by myself.

And yes, I strive to 'socialize' the context and content of the decision.

Dear Tim
Thank you for participating in this reflection and for your opinion.

Very interesting his approach and what he wrote at the end: "So in summary my focus on project decision making would be people, plan and purpose"

Do you use any process to communicate your decisions?

And to check if they are being implemented?