DCI Framework
A great decision-making process that helps you gain consensus and drive better decisions.
The What
Decision Maker — Individual(s) who makes the decision and is accountable for its impact on the business
Consulted — Individual(s) accountable for providing guidance based on functional expertise and experience, highlighting issues and raising alternatives to support the Decision Maker
Informed — Impacted stakeholder(s) are notified after the decision has been made and who will need to support the execution of the decision
The How
Step 1: The Decision Maker to prepare a document with context, goals, options, driving factors, constraints (people, cost, time, quality, etc)
Clarify the problem to be solved.
Share the constraints that facing.
Quantify each option in a format that has pros & cons for simple scenarios or decision metrics for complex ones.
Step 2: The Decision Maker to consult with people from various functions.
Confirm context & goals & constraints
Captures a variety of opinions and ideas from individuals
Polish each option with related experts via meeting, slack, document
Step 3: The Decision Maker to revisit these options and makes a trade off
It should be very clear who is making the decision.
The Decision Maker can be anyone, and it doesn’t or shouldn’t have to be the leader or the manger.
It helps drive ownership and accountability.
Step 4: The Decision Maker to inform the decision to relevant people
Engage the relevant people.
A decision needs to be executed eventually.
Pro Tips
All these steps can be done via a shared document, meetings, or both. I found async communication + regrouping at to be more effective.
You want to engage the “right” amount of people — having everybody in a meeting doesn’t help at all. Don’t do that.
Prevents one person from holding the meeting hostage or allowing others to agree but not contribute.
Encourages more open thinking vs. driving consensus
Keep a record.
Sharing back is equally important.
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