Voting
Voting is a collective decision-making technique and an assessment process having multiple alternatives with an expected outcome in the form of future actions. Examples of voting techniques include:
- Unanimity. A decision taken where, everyone agrees on a single course of action.
- A decision taken, with support obtained from more than 50% of the members of the group. Having a group size with an uneven number of participants can ensure that a decision will be reached, rather than resulting in a tie.
- Plurality. A decision taken by the largest block in a group, even when majority is not achieved. This method is generally used when the number of options nominated is more than two.
Where applied?
Within the PMBOK® Guide, Voting technique used in the following processes:
PROCESSES | KNOWLEDGE AREA | PROCESS GROUPS |
Collect Requirements | Project Scope Management | Planning |
Estimating Activity Duration | Project Schedule Management | Planning |
Estimate Costs | Project Cost Management | Planning |
Monitor and Control Project Work | Project Integration Management | Monitoring and Controlling |
Monitor Stakeholder Engagement | Project Stakeholder Engagement | Monitoring and Controlling |
Perform Integrated Change Control | Project Integration Management | Monitoring and Controlling |
Validate Scope | Project Scope Management | Monitoring and Controlling |
Collect Requirements
In collect requirements process, this technique can be used to generate, classify, and prioritize product requirements.
Estimating Activity Durations
One variation of the voting method that is often used in agile-based projects is called the “fist of five” (also called fist to five). In this technique, the project manager asks the team to show their level of support for a decision by holding up a closed fist (indicating no support) up to five fingers (indicating full support). If a team member holds up fewer than three fingers, the team member is given the opportunity to discuss any objections with the team. The project manager continues the fist-of-five process until the team achieves consensus (everyone holds up three or more fingers) or agrees to move on to the next decision.
Estimate Costs
Voting is an assessment process having multiple alternatives with an expected outcome in the form of future actions. These techniques are useful for engaging team members to improve estimate accuracy and commitment to the emerging estimates.
Monitor and Control Project Work
As part of monitor and control project work, decisions related to changes to scope, schedule, cost baselines, forecasts of schedule and cost- determining corrective actions and their priorities have to be made. Where there are more options or where many stakeholders are involved, to arrive at a participative decision making process, voting can be used towards effective stakeholder engagement.
Monitor Stakeholder Engagement
Voting can be used to select the best response for a variance in stakeholder engagement.
Perform Integrated Change Control
Voting can take the form of unanimity, majority, or plurality to decide on whether to accept, defer, or reject change requests.
Validate Scope
Voting is used to reach a conclusion when the validation is performed by the project team and other stakeholders.
References:
PMBOK® GUIDE SIXTH EDITION
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