BUSINESS & IT
Do You Know This Amazingly Simple and Efficient Method for Making Group Decisions?
The results will amaze you
During a leadership seminar, I learned about an interesting method. In summary, the method helps to make the best decision in a team.
Through the method, the team quickly collects many possible solutions. These are then evaluated, and the group makes a majority decision.
What is the best thing about it? It is fast, and the possible solutions are likely to be better than if the manager worked them out alone.
The method brings many other advantages. More on this later.
First, I will explain the process of the so-called “one-third plus one” method (1/3 + 1 method)[1].
How it works
The method contains the following simple steps:
- chose a problem/topic
- invite experts to a meeting and write the topic on a flip chart/ whiteboard
- the team collects possible solutions (ideas) for the problem
- rank the possible solutions as priorities
- tally the votes.
1 — Chose a problem/topic
Identify a problem or challenge that you want the team to solve.
The method brings solutions to problems or challenges in any imaginable area.
For example, to improve customer service, or to solve problems within a department. The method finds ideas for a new product or helps decide for the next team event.
The possibilities are endless.
2 — Experts meeting with a topic on a flip chart/whiteboard
Organize a meeting and invite the experts that may contribute good solutions. Start the meeting by writing the following sentence on a flip chart or whiteboard:
“What opportunities do we have to improve (situation/problem)?”
3 — Collect possible solutions
The team gets three minutes to write down how they could improve or solve the problem or situation. Everyone on his own, so he or she is not influenced by others.
Collect as many ideas as possible, without looking at cost or effort first. Still, ask them to be as realistic as possible.
- Alternative 1: Write all the team members’ ideas on the whiteboard or flip chart.
- Alternative 2: write down each team member’s three best ideas.
Number each item on the list.
4 — Rank the possible solutions as priorities
The next step is to rank the ideas on the list as priorities.
The voting process is like this: take the number of items you have on your list, divide it by 3, and then add 1.
Example: 12 possible solutions on the list means 12 ÷ 3 + 1 = 5 votes for each person.
Everyone has two minutes to:
- check out the list you have created together
- write down their (in example 5) votes for the best solutions by themselves. These are their priorities.
Explain that everybody should write down exactly 5 (or whatever your 1/3 + 3 number is) different items.
5 — Tally the votes
Now go over the list item by item.
Everyone shows their votes by raising their hands on the item if it is on their priority list. Write the number of votes each list item received.
You receive a prioritized list of items that could solve the problem! You will end up with one or two top solutions.
Sometimes the selected idea is not yet a complete solution. The idea can be further elaborated, e.g. with the “1/3 + 1” method.
The many advantages of the method
As already mentioned, the application of this simple method has many advantages:
- the manager does not have to work out the possible solutions alone (the manager saves time)
- the manager does not have to make the decision for the best solution alone (better quality of the solution)
- the motivation of the team as it selects possible solutions and decides on a solution
- the team includes all experts on a topic, so they propose the best possible solution options
- the individual team members feel valued
- the motivation increases
- combining possible solutions of the team to new ideas is possible
- it is fast and easy to implement.
Join with my link to get full access to all stories on Medium!About Me — Iris B. Stehn ▪ Twitter ▪ Facebook[1] source: https://crestcom.com/de/blog/2017/06/07/die-1-3-1-methode/