The decision group: ways to improve the quality of meetings and decisions

In spite of a negative image, the committee, or decision making group, performs a range of essential functions in modern society, and will increasingly be called upon to do so. Crucial here is that the quality of decisions be improved; many approaches to improving meetings rely on improving the quality of interpersonal relationships within the group. The suggestion here is to improve the quality of information the committee receives, and the time it receives the information. Five rules are suggested: (1) the rule of the agenda; (2) the rule of the clock; (3) the rule of halves; (4) the rule of three quarters; and (5) the rule of thirds. Each of these rules helps to organize and present information; this, in turn, will help improve decisions. A second portion of the article deals with roles (rather than rules) and focuses upon the role of chair, member, and staffer.