A632.7.3.RB - Collaborative Decision Making

There are many factors that influence the decisions we make.  Many decisions, especially those made by leaders, have the potential to affect a large number of people.  It is important for a decision-maker to approach a challenging decision from multiple viewpoints to get the whole picture of the issue.  By involving all interested parties in the decision making process the understanding of the issue can be expanded and better decisions can be made.  “Improving the decision-making process comes as a result of evolving ideas around collaboration and by connecting people and empowering them to work together” (Austin, 2013, para. 2).  Collaboration harnesses and combines the abilities, creativity, and potential of everyone involved. “Collaboration . . . attempts to build a shared vision, accountability, and buy-in” (Warner, 2012, para. 1).  

It is often the dimension of time that influences the level of collaboration that is employed while making a challenging decision.  When decisions are urgent it is challenging to engage others and collaborate. Urgency often results in poor decision quality. When there is ample time available to make a decision it is possible to seek opinions and input from others and decision quality improves.  “Electing to pursue a more collaborative approach is likely to increase any manager’s effectiveness in making important decisions” (Warner, 2012, para. 11). As leaders are confronted with decisions it is important to consider the element of time to ensure the right balance of collaboration.  If leaders misdiagnose the urgency of the matter and take too long to make a decision, the results can be catastrophic. However, if leaders rush a decision that should involve multiple parties, they can miss an opportunity to foster buy-in and accountability.

Last week I was asked to assess the suitability of our parking layout on the ramp at our principle base of operations.  The current layout was designed about thirty years ago when most of our helicopters were much smaller. Today the aircraft are larger and they need more space to ensure a safe distance between rotor blades.  Although it is still a work in progress I was ably to apply many of the principles that Levine (2009) discussed in his Cycle of Resolution. I quickly realized that in designing the ramp parking layout there are many different departments that need to be involved.  The pilots need to provide input to ensure a functional solution is developed. The safety department needs to be involved to ensure that policies regarding safety and obstacle clearance are followed. The maintenance department needs to be involved to ensure that their needs are met regarding a workable plan and to ensure they have the space they need on the ramp.  The facilities department needs to have a voice so that the plan is realistic and fits within the constraints of the budget for capital improvements. The best ramp parking design can only be developed as the various departments collaborate on the design.

As the various departments come together to develop a suitable design it will be important for all parties involved to have an attitude of resolution.  We will be positioned to make a better decision as we understand that we will be working together to design a system that serves the needs of everyone involved.  In these situations it is easy for the discussions to devolve into negotiations. Negotiations tend to be agreements to protect individual interests, whereas collaborations seek to fulfill the needs of all involved parties.  

As we move forward with designing and planning the ramp layout it will be important for representatives from each department to tell their story and discuss their needs, as well as listen to the needs of the other departments.  As stories are told and heard everyone involved will be able to expand their point of view and begin to see and understand the needs of each department. As discussions continue and plans progress, a vision regarding ramp design will begin to develop and an agreement will be crafted that will result in a design that is much better than any single individual could have generated alone.  

As I have considered the challenges we face as a group in collaborating to come up with a design that satisfies the demands of each department I have learned a few lessons.  First, collaboration and conflict can improve creativity. As discussions progress we will be forced to dig deeper to generate ideas that satisfy the needs of each department.  That is a challenge that cannot be accomplished by one person with a limited point of view. It is critical that everyone involved share their concerns and voice their opinions.  Second, through this experience I have learned the importance of ensuring that each party clearly identifies their goals. Last week as I walked the ramp with the Director of Safety we ended up with more questions than answers; How many pads does maintenance need? How many pads for each aircraft type are needed? What rotor clearance do we want to ensure, ⅓ diameter or ½ diameter?  As each department identifies their goals these questions can be answered. Third, I think the most important lesson I am learning from this opportunity is how much everyone’s attitude can affect the outcome. As we come together with a collaborative attitude and an attitude of resolution we will be able to work together in a powerful way to achieve the best results possible.

Henry Ford said "If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself" (as cited in (Tabaka, 2017).  As everyone works together creativity is generated, goals are accomplished, and success is discovered.

References

Austin, K. (2013). Improve decision-making: collaborate to engage. Retrieved from https://blogs.cisco.com/collaboration/decision-making-2
Levine, S. (2009). Getting to resolution: Turning conflict into collaboration. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler.
Tabaka, M. (2017). Richard Branson says collaboration is the key to success. The top 10 collaboration quotes he finds most inspiring. Retrieved from https://www.inc.com/marla-tabaka/virgins-success-is-driven-by-people-working-togeth.html

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