Decisions Over Decimals Quotes

“As you chase the decision, you are seeking consensus by trying to get to general permission by addressing all inputs. Consensus is where everyone's opinions are understood and a solution is created that respects those opinions. Consensus results in a solution that the group can achieve at the time.7 Note that it may not be the best solution as it is looking to accommodate everyone's input at a point in time. Majority approval often leads to minority decisions. Some of the inputs are facts based on expertise, while many are opinions, a view, or judgment not necessarily based on knowledge. They are delivered with conviction or take on added weight based on positional authority. You will save time and effort by discounting this type of input.”
― Paul F. Magnone, Decisions Over Decimals: Striking the Balance between Intuition and Information

“Smart decisions reflect diverse opinions across disciplines, experiences, and outcomes. In today's collaborative mindset culture, teams strive to optimize each of these inputs. We listen to everyone's input and respond to it. We seek to bring everyone along. Everyone is treated as having an equal voice in the decision. Agility is compromised when people believe they need to make decisions together. In the end, the process is exhausting, and the decision is vanilla.”
― Paul F. Magnone, Decisions Over Decimals: Striking the Balance between Intuition and Information

“Follow Fermi's approach to obtain rough estimates: Break down the problem into small subproblems with factors that are easier to estimate. Start with facts that you may know. For figures you don't know, remember the Goldilocks rule: too small, too big, about right. Assess possible ranges or comparables. Don't worry about small details; you're looking for rough estimates. Use worst‐case scenario bounds but be honest with your estimates.”
― Paul F. Magnone, Decisions Over Decimals: Striking the Balance between Intuition and Information

“What distinguishes a person who makes smart, confident data‐driven decisions? It is not exceptional analytic skills. Instead, successful decision‐makers balance data, experience, and intuition. They quickly sort through information, apply judgment, and are fierce interrogators of data to cultivate sharp insights. They know there is more to decision‐making than just the data. They resist being intoxicated by information. Instead, they apply first‐order principles to understand what the decision really is, why it must be taken, and to what end. They then seek the relevant data to help make that decision. In short, they make informed decisions with incomplete information.”
― Paul F. Magnone, Decisions Over Decimals: Striking the Balance between Intuition and Information