Let's look at a situation inspired by a real life case. This project team is requested to implement a solution for storing highly confidential company documents, the key stakeholders or executive board members, the team has gathered together to make a decision as to how they will handle the assignment. This is a very difficult and sensitive task. We need to be very careful, because if it goes all wrong, it will be visible to highest management. I just read an article the other day about a cool new technology developed in open source. One of their expert engineers speaks at conferences.

He's a really smart guy. I would love to get my hands around this new stuff. Let's take their solution. Oh, no, no, no, guys, this is the Executive Board. Okay. I think we don't need any risks here.

Why don't we buy an external solution? I guess there are very good unproven products on the market. In the end, if it doesn't work, it won't be on us to fix it. not our fault. You know, I definitely prefer a low risk option for us here. Come on, this is a great opportunity for us to start something new and interesting.

I see it as a good technological challenge, and we can innovate. Management always asks us to be more innovative. Here is a chance to prove we can we definitely have to do it ourselves. And this discussion goes on and on for a couple of hours. The team is stuck and they don't seem to progress towards taking any decision at all, as their individual opinions on how to solve the problem are very different. Fast forward.

Let's see what they agree on. Guys, we are not qualified to take this decision. Let's ask the architect and management to decide. Here they are two weeks later. Not surprisingly, a new discussion kicks off. Yes, but you did not think about x y z.

They keep fighting on different options. And whatever option is selected by a person empowered to take the final say the underlying dissatisfaction and some of the team members might pose a risk to the entire project. Looks like a dead end street, doesn't it? How could you address such situations differently?