Decision Making Process

ADIZES 8-STEP DECISION-MAKING PROCESS: The steps used to facilitate the process a capi group goes through to reach solutions to complex problems. The eight steps are: defreeze, accumulate, deliberate, incubate, illuminate, accommodate, finalize, and reinforce:

DEFREEZE: This step serves to settle both the mind and the body in the meeting space and provides an opportunity for introductions and team building. Defreeze is accomplished by having all participants answer one or more defreeze questions, which always include, “How do you feel about the meeting we are about to have?” By answering this question, participants can take stock of where they are and what they are about to do.

ACCUMULATE: The second step in the Adizes 8-step decision-making process is collecting and writing down all possible pertinent data related to the topics under consideration. All members in the group contribute their ideas in a disciplined order, first as individuals and then as a team. No judgmental comments may be made, and no questions may be asked except to clarify a person’s statement.

DELIBERATE: The purpose of deliberation is to process the information amassed during accumulation. This is accomplished by combining or patterning items that mean the same thing, clarifying definitions, and other techniques. Deliberation is an exercise in conveyance, where the accumulation results are reduced to a more manageable format.

INCUBATE: In this step, the team takes a break, allowing their subconscious to process the information that was accumulated (in step 2) and deliberated (in step 3), preparing to illuminate (in step 5).

ILLUMINATE: The team identifies the big idea that will determine the basic outline of the decision.

ACCOMMODATE: The proposed decision (i.e., illumination) is tested for practicality and real-world application. The accommodation process consists of accumulating questions, doubts, and disagreements (“Q.D.D.”) from session participants, then answering them in a predefined sequence. Accommodation is typically the most frustrating step in the 8-step decision-making process.

FINALIZE: The transition is made from democracy, where disagreement is encouraged, to dictatorship, where disagreement is discouraged. This step allows each individual in the team to voice any last concerns about the illuminated (step 6) and accommodated (step 7) decision. The Implementor, having heard the final words of everyone on the team, may veto or accept the decision. If she accepts the decision, then the decision is said to be finalized.

REINFORCE: Starting with the Observer, everyone has a chance to reflect on and provide feedback as to how the learning environment and the process used during the session can be improved. This step aims to give each participant a final chance to speak, with the Implementor speaking last. In this step, the participants may accept or reject the decision finalized by the Implementor.