NICE Research Support Unit December 2015
- A rapid assessment of the evidence for the impact of the structure and management of committees on decision making and outputs.
- Findings
- Committee performance depends upon their members, whether they: are aware of their tasks, roles and responsibilities; understand the wider the context and culture; bring analytical and political competence, interest and willingness; offer time and commitment; actively participate; and behave appropriately over external relationships, confidentially and conflicts of interest.
- Particularly important are the different perspectives and sets of knowledge brought by individual members or presented to them in papers or meetings. Time is required for a committee to explore their collective knowledge to make choices or solve problems.
- Time and facilitation skills for sharing knowledge and developing mutual trust allows sharing of ideas and individual learning, better quality decisions, more commitment to decisions by group members and wider acceptability of decisions within the group’s wider networks.
- Implications for the organisation and management of committees.
- Committee composition and size: Having members representing the full range of stakeholders could bring the full range of relevant knowledge to discussions, although increasing the size of a committee above 12 members has diminishing returns.
- Competencies of effective chairs: Effective chairs are more likely to be generalists with good facilitation skills to help members share their knowledge; manage hierarchy and conflict constructively; and develop an atmosphere of inclusiveness, openness and trust.
- Timing of committee work: Time is required to allow knowledge brought to the meeting to be shared and evaluated before decisions are made.
- Effective processes and structures for supporting group decision making: Formal consensus methods are recommended, with guideline groups given the relevant technical literature to inform their decisions.
- Use of media for committee interaction and decision making: Distance working reduces the influence of individuals, but also opportunities for discussion. Computer-mediated communication (email and chat) may take longer and reduce member satisfaction.
- Equity issues: Demographic diversity is valued for bringing different perspectives and a wider variety of alternatives for consideration. Educational and functional diversity has given teams greater strategic clarity. More time and effort may be required to explore issues requiring judgements where committee members vary in status.
