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Knowledge-Based Decision Making (KBDM) & Work Groups

Five Key Elements

Five key elements comprise the Knowledge-Based Decision-Making process to reach an informed group conscience: 

  1. Open communication between leadership and membership.
  2. Dialogue before deliberation.
  3. All decision-makers have common access to full information.
  4. Existence in a culture of trust.
  5. Confidence in the competency of our partners.

Discussion Preparation

In a Knowledge-Based Decision-Making (KBDM) culture, full discussion of an idea takes place with background information introduced to frame the topic before a motion is presented. Sometimes these discussions continue over several Conferences before any decision for a motion or action is made.

KBDM requires considerable research and information gathering before and possibly even during the discussion. At the end of a discussion, further information and knowledge may be necessary to reach an informed group conscience. A motion need not be made after every discussion. Premature action (e.g., making or amending motions early in the discussion or hastily calling the question) can divert attention from the subject at hand, thus confusing or delaying Conference business. With KBDM, the decision reached is usually one that most Conference members can support.

Five KBDM Questions

The background information used to frame a topic is usually the result of answering the 5 KBDM questions below:

Question 1:  What do we know about our members’ or prospective members’ wants, needs, or preferences that are relevant to this discussion?

Question 2:  What do we know about the capacity and strategic position of the organization relative to this issue?

Question 3:  What do we know about the current realities and evolving dynamics that are relevant to this discussion?

Question 4:  What are the ethical implications of our choices (pros and cons)? This includes consideration of how the Legacies apply. Identify both Pros and Cons.

Question 5:  What do we wish we knew, but don’t?

KBDM Tools

Work Groups, Thought Forces & Task Forces

  • A work group is a unit of people established to meet an ongoing need of the originating body. See page 71 of the Al-Anon/ Alateen Groups At Work for a full description.
  • A thought force is a temporary unit of people established to brainstorm ideas and to develop strategies on a single defined. task or activity. See page 71 of the Al-Anon/ Alateen Groups At Work for a full description.
  • A task force is a temporary unit of people established to work on a single defined task or activity. See page 71 of the Al-Anon/ Alateen Groups At Work for a full description.

None of these groups is a decision‑making body, but they may make recommendations. p71 of the Al-Anon/ Alateen Groups At Work

More From The Archives

  • Page 70 of the Al-Anon/ Alateen Groups At Work: WSO committees are vital to Al‑Anon Family Groups. Since Al‑Anon’s earliest days, they have provided input, feedback, and creative ideas to assist the Board of Trustees in its efforts to lead Al‑Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. WSO committees use the Knowledge‑Based Decision‑Making Process to Reach an Informed Group Conscience (KBDM). (Footnote on p70: For a detailed explanation of KBDM, see the 2008 World Service Conference Summary, available on the Members menu at al-anon.org.)
  • AFG Area Highlights Spring 2015: “There were many suggestions about the meetings. Knowledge-Based Decision-Making (KBDM) process to reach an informed group conscience was discussed in the November Bulletin, which answered a few questions as to why we don’t use Robert’s Rules and why KBDM is more inclusive than the old way of conducting business.”
  • Work groups: Thought Forces and Task Forces: WSC 2012 Summary p3