Knowledge‐based decision making

INCEPTION: At the 2006 World Service Conference the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees shared her experience of how the Knowledge-Based Decision-Making process worked for the Board since January, 2001 and their vision of how it could work for the conference returning to the way our Co-Founders, Lois W. and Anne B., had intended it to be. Therefore, the Board has chosen to adopt the Knowledge-Based Decision-Making as well as our East Texas Al-Anon/Alateen Area Assembly because it realigns the conference with its original purpose and process. This process returns Al-Anon to its original roots. HOW IT WORKS/VOTING: The idea is presented and talked about first and background information is shared and discussed to see if the Area agrees with all or part of it. It invites everyone to be a part of big thinking, to collaborate with confidence. The Al-Anon communication process is circular within the organization. It's about knowing what you need to know to make a decision. You must be informed because your primary role is to make decisions at our Assembly, come to an understanding of the information being provided, and then be able to articulate it. Then, if the idea is accepted, a decision can be made through introduction of a motion, seconded and vote. For our Assembly ideas, we suggest that they get relayed to their respective District Representative who in turn relays it to the Chairperson and then it will be printed in our Beacon before discussion at the next Assembly. Each Al-Anon member is a valuable resource for the good of Al-Anon as a whole. FOUR ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS: 1) Open communication between leadership and membership 2) Dialogue before deliberation 3) All decision-makers having common access to full information 4) It exists in a culture of trust WHY IT'S A GOOD MODEL: It allows thorough examination of mega issues without an end in mind. It allows those who make a decision to become far less important than the fact that a good decision is made. It allows us to develop a reputation for value and nimbleness in carrying the message. BENEFITS: Group members are more likely to support the decision being made. Group effort is more likely to yield better results. Participants become part of the process, more voices are heard, more solutions are generated. Recognition that responsibility for action rests on everyone. Actions tend to lean toward the greater good for the …