Article: DCIP2 IS BROKEN AND NEEDS AN UPGRADE.

Problem

There are several problems associated with using phone calls for important team and decision-making activities:

One of the significant challenges with relying solely on phone calls for assigning and committing to responsibilities is the lack of formal documentation and accountability. When tasks and responsibilities are discussed verbally, there is a higher likelihood of team members avoiding or neglecting their duties because there is no concrete record or signed agreement to hold them accountable. This issue can lead to a variety of problems within the team and organization:

Lack of Traceability: Phone calls do not provide a clear record of what was discussed and agreed upon. This can lead to confusion and misunderstandings about what decisions were made and who is responsible for carrying out certain tasks. It's also harder to refer back to the specifics of a conversation or decision made on a call [1], [2].

Difficulty in Sharing Collective Responsibility: With phone calls, it's difficult to ensure that all team members feel accountable for the decision-making process and its final outcome. The lack of a recorded, agreed-upon record of the discussion can lead to avoidance of responsibilities [1].

Over-reliance on Experts: During phone calls, the team might adapt their opinions to those of the expert or make overconfident judgments, which can distort the outcome [1].

The Problems learned from the DCIP-2 Agile Mandatory Calls can be identified as the following:

1. Ambiguity: Without written documentation, the details and specifics of assigned tasks may become vague or misunderstood. Team members might assume different interpretations of what they are responsible for, leading to confusion and potential conflicts.

2. Memory Bias: Human memory is fallible, and details discussed during phone calls can be forgotten or distorted over time. Team members may genuinely believe they have committed to a task but later claim they never agreed to it due to memory lapses.

3. Lack of Ownership: When tasks are not formally documented and tracked, team members may not feel a strong sense of ownership over their responsibilities. This can lead to a lack of commitment and dedication to completing the tasks.

4. Accountability Gap: The absence of a signed or tracked commitment can create an accountability gap. If someone fails to complete their assigned task, it becomes challenging to determine who was responsible for it and address the issue appropriately.

5. Frequent Task Overlook: During fast-paced phone conversations, some tasks may be mentioned briefly or get lost among other discussions, resulting in team members unintentionally overlooking or forgetting their responsibilities.

6. Passing the Buck: Without clear documentation, team members might try to shift blame or responsibility to others when facing challenges or setbacks. This can lead to a blame culture within the team.

7. Inconsistent Follow-Up: In the absence of tracked tasks, follow-up discussions might become irregular or neglected altogether, leaving tasks unresolved or abandoned.

Proposed Solution

Implementing a written forum for task assignments and commitments within a DAO or any organizational setting can address the mentioned issues. Using a forum for writing proposals and responsibilities that will be approved by the DAO when consensus is reached can effectively mitigate these challenges.

Clear Record: A forum provides a clear, traceable record of discussions, proposals, and decisions. This can reduce misunderstandings and ensure that all team members are on the same page [3], [4].
Accountability and Responsibility: In a forum, tasks and responsibilities can be clearly assigned and tracked. This can help ensure that all team members understand their roles and responsibilities, and that these are fulfilled [3].
Informed Decision-Making: A forum allows for more informed decision-making as it provides space for the team to gather and share information, evaluate solutions, vote on a course of action, and align around the implementation of a chosen decision [4].
DAO Voting: Using a DAO for decision-making can help ensure a fair, democratic process where every member has a say. It can also help prevent the over-reliance on experts by ensuring that decisions are made based on the consensus of the entire team [3].

The looked for solutions by using the Proof Of concept model based on Forum + DAO can be identified as the following:

1.** Clarity and Detail:** Written proposals and responsibilities can provide clear and detailed instructions, leaving no room for ambiguity or misunderstandings.

1. Commitment and Agreement: Team members can explicitly acknowledge and agree to their assigned tasks in writing, fostering a stronger sense of commitment and responsibility.

2. Accountability and Tracking: With tasks documented in a forum, there is a transparent record of each team member's responsibilities, making it easier to track progress and hold individuals accountable.

3. Timely Reminders: Written forums allow for periodic updates and reminders, ensuring that tasks are not forgotten or neglected.

4. Equal Participation: All team members can participate in the written forum, even if they miss a phone call, promoting exclusivity and collective decision-making.

5. Reflective Decision-Making: Team members can take the necessary time to review and think about their assigned tasks before committing, reducing the likelihood of taking on more than they can handle.

6. Collaborative Input: Others can provide feedback and suggestions on proposed responsibilities, enhancing the quality and feasibility of assignments.

7. Documentation for Analysis: A written forum provides a historical record that can be reviewed for analysis and learning from past experiences.

In conclusion, utilizing a forum for writing proposals and responsibilities, which are then subject to approval by a DAO, offers a more structured, transparent, and democratic approach to team decision-making compared to traditional phone calls. The written documentation ensures clarity and reduces ambiguity in task assignments, while the DAO's consensus-driven approval process fosters a sense of collective ownership and responsibility among team members. Additionally, the forum enables equal participation regardless of time zones and schedules, promoting inclusivity and diverse perspectives. Overall, this integrated approach empowers the organization to make well-informed decisions, enhance communication, and achieve greater efficiency in its operations.

References

1. Torben Emmerling; Duncan Rooders, "7 Strategies for Better Group Decision-Making", https://hbr.org/2020/09/7-strategies-for-better-group-decision-making, 2023-07-20.

2. Tallyfy, Inc., "The Step-by-Step Guide to Facilitating Team Decision Making", https://tallyfy.com/team-decision-making/, 2023-07-20.

3. Lauren Landry, "WHY MANAGERS SHOULD INVOLVE THEIR TEAM IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS", https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/team-decision-making, 2023-07-20.

4. James Smart , "How to have a more productive team meeting", https://www.sessionlab.com/blog/team-meeting/, 2023-07-20