February 5, 2012

Making Team Decisions

The challenges of communicating in hospitals

Interest-based problem solving (IBPS) is an issue-resolution process that addresses individual and group differences. 

Consensus is a form of group decision making. 

Both of these process tools are used routinely in the Labor Management Partnership.

IBPS may be used with your unit-based team if an issue arises that needs to be resolved by the team. The IBPS process can help a team focus on key interests shared by different members of the group. The team then comes to an agreement through consensus that meets mutual interests and solves the issue at hand. IBPS is not a tool for process improvement, but rather a tool to resolve issues within a team.

Your team may benefit from having a neutral facilitator taking it through IBPS and arriving at a solution by consensus.