Who must join a meeting for a decision making

A group of people with diverse perspectives is more likely to generate a variety of thoughtful ideas than a group of individuals with the same background. When you choose people for your group, look for individuals who are likely to express differing points of view and who represent different interests. Your group should include:

• Key stakeholders: These are the people most directly affected by the decision or who have a stake in the decision. You need their buy-in to put the decision into effect. Since they are more likely to support a decision they helped make, include them early in the process to ensure an efficient implementation.
• Experts: Experts can educate the group and provide information about the feasibility of various options. Keep in mind that you may need more than one area of expertise represented in your group.
• Opponents: If you are aware of individuals who may oppose the decision and block its implementation, invite them to one or more of your meetings. Involving potential opponents early on can eliminate obstacles down the road.

Ideally, your group should be small in size, preferably between five and seven members. Depending on the complexity of the decision at hand, you may want to involve as many as ten or as few as two people in the decision-making process.