The brainstorming approach: The Grubb & Ellis Company

In contrast to the City of Miami, the Grubb & Ellis Company, a commercial real estate advisory firm, uses the 'brainstorming' method of decision-making. A creative business such as Grubb & Ellis clearly believes it benefits from a decision-making model that encourages a 'free for all' of information. In this model, individuals write down, collectively or individually, every idea that comes to mind, good or bad. No censorship is allowed. Quite often, unique and off-beat solutions are generated through this method, and sometimes even the 'craziest' ideas can germinate practical solutions.

The only problem with the brainstorming model is that because it is so democratic, the organization can get bogged down debating an array of available alternatives, when a quick decision is required. Eventually, a solution must be arrived at, and the organization may find itself forced to shift to a more rational model, such as the Six-Step Method, to pick...

Army
In the case of the army, a highly hierarchical, top-down decision making model is used. Given the need for split-second decisions in the field of battle, this model seems necessary and often suits the needs of the army. However, for more bureaucratic or process-oriented decisions, allowing individuals to make decision based upon their rank alone, or rigidly following protocol to arrive at the correct decision can result in a failure to take the subtitles of a situation into consideration. For example, an expert in Vietnam might have made better decisions than a general with a five-star rank who knew little about the nation.