Main Takeaways: -Avoid the common decision-making traps -Understand the critical parameters for decision making -Making the decision is just the start. Follow up with what’s next

1. www.productschool.com
How to Drive an Effective
Decision-Making Process
by Microsoft PM

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6. How Product Managers can drive a
more effective decision-making process
Sunanda Saxena
Product Manager @ Microsoft Azure

7. Hi! 👋

8. What is an effective decision? 🤔
An effective decision is thoughtful, timely, considers relevant factors,
is consistent with values, and can be explained clearly.

9. 1. Decisions can have lasting impact on the overall product direction
2. Decision-making is a tool to create clarity and enable action
“The most important attribute of any leader is to create clarity when none exists” – Satya
Nadella
3. Effective decision-making can build trust and credibility with stakeholders
Why is effective decision making so important? 📈

10. The difficulty with making effective decisions
😖
1. Incomplete data
• You may never have all the data you need
• 40-70 rule
2. Consensus can slow down the process – “too many cooks in the kitchen”
3. Cognitive bias
• Confirmation bias
• IKEA effect
• Status-quo

11. A framework for making better decisions 📝
1. Ask questions and set the parameters
2. Evaluate options and decide
3. Commit and communicate
4. Revisit and learn

12. 1. Ask questions and set the parameters ⁉
•What are you deciding?
•Who are the decision makers?
•When do you need the decision by?
•What critical information are you missing?

13. 2. Evaluate options and decide ✍
•Brainstorm options
•Present the options and pros/cons for each
•Use an evaluation criterion to assess options
• Cost/benefit analysis, weighted decision matrix, voting, ranking
•Decision maker(s) decide after evaluation

14. 3. Commit and communicate 📧
•Get commitment from all stakeholders
•Summarize the decision and broadcast it to the group

15. 4. Revisit and learn 💡
•We tend to forget decisions after we make them
•Follow up early and recourse if needed

16. Thank you! 🙇‍♀
https://www.linkedin.com/in/saxenasunanda/
@_sunandasaxena

17. www.productschool.com
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