According to the PMBOK Guide, the project manager should assess the situation to understand how the organization’s culture impacts the decision-making process, and coach the team toward a new model. This is because the project manager is responsible for facilitating the team’s decision-making process and ensuring that it aligns with the agile principles and values1. The project manager should also consider the following factors that may affect the team’s decision-making process2:
The level of empowerment and autonomy given to the team by the organization and the stakeholders
The degree of collaboration and communication among the team members and with other parties
The availability and quality of information and data to support the decision-making process
The complexity and uncertainty of the project environment and the product requirements
The time and resource constraints and the impact of delays on the project outcomes
The potential risks and opportunities associated with the decisions and the alternatives
The feedback and learning mechanisms to evaluate and improve the decision-making process
The project manager should coach the team toward a new model of decision-making that is more agile and adaptive, such as the following3:
Decentralized decision-making: The team members are empowered to make decisions within their scope of work and authority, without waiting for approval from higher levels of management. This can increase the team’s speed, efficiency, and ownership of the decisions.
Collaborative decision-making: The team members work together to make decisions that benefit the project and the stakeholders, rather than competing or conflicting with each other. This can enhance the team’s creativity, innovation, and quality of the decisions.
Data-driven decision-making: The team members use empirical evidence and data to support their decisions, rather than relying on assumptions or opinions. This can improve the team’s accuracy, reliability, and transparency of the decisions.
Iterative decision-making: The team members make decisions in small increments and cycles, rather than in large batches and phases. This can allow the team to adapt to changing conditions and feedback, and to deliver value early and frequently.
Value-based decision-making: The team members make decisions that maximize the value delivered to the customer and the stakeholders, rather than focusing on the cost or the schedule. This can ensure the team’s alignment with the project vision and goals.
References:
PMBOK Guide, 6th edition, section 9.4.2.3
PMBOK Guide, 6th edition, section 9.4.2.4
Decision-Making Models: Five Agile Methods to Help You
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