Five Levels of Decision Making

The following is a link to an article by J.T Taylor, Five Levels of Decision Making, that is relevant to decision making in business:

http://www.teambuildingusa.com/article-making-effective-decisions.asp

The author presents five levels of involvement that leaders use when deciding who should be part of the decision making process

Level 1: Leader makes the decision alone
Most often used in emergency situations where immediate action is critical. Input from others is not helpful when immediate action is necessary.

Level 2: Leader makes the decision with input from stakeholders
The leaders seek input at this level to enhance their depth of understanding around the issue. Stakeholders hold valuable information and their input is wise to use at this point.

Level 3: Consensus Building-Leader gets final say
The leader solicits input from a variety of sources, builds consensus around a specific direction allowing the group to make a recommendation which the leader approves.

Level 4: Delegate the decision to someone else
In this level, the authority and responsibility are clearly shifted away from the leader (to a direct report). The leader and the direct report must live with consequences-whether they be good or bad. The leader will review the decision , but it doesn't change and uses it as an opportunity for development.

Level 5: True consensus
The leader fully delegates the decision to a group (usually a committee). The leader may be a part of the committee, but is treated just the same as anyone else. The group then processes all of the decision involved and then compromises positions until everyone agrees.