By definition, a team is a group of experts working together to achieve a common goal. It must, therefore, make all the necessary decisions to ensure the success of the initiative. It relies on collective intelligence to arrive at the best possible decisions despite uncertainties, divergent perspectives and sometimes conflicting objectives.

Also, decision-making should not be about looking good or protecting one’s turf. If one team member’s success is achieved without helping a struggling colleague, or worse, if it is to his or her detriment, then the team as a whole fails and the project stalls. A strong team strives to understand the problem from all angles, agree on the best solution for all given the context and implement it effectively for the good of the project and its stakeholders.

Therefore, we focus on understanding the importance of good team decision-making, the symptoms that indicate poor decision-making and the most common impediments to good decision-making. We will also discuss the cornerstone of good decision making, that is, strategic thinking. This will help us understand the relevance of the principles proposed in the following sections.