Our steering committee meets but rarely decides anything. How do we fix it?
Governance without decisionsDesign the meeting around decisions within the committee's authority. Provide options, consequences, recommendations, and required dates before the session instead of filling the agenda with routine status.
What to do now
- List the decisions needing committee authority
- Prepare concise decision briefs
- Confirm quorum and decision rules
- Record outcomes and accountable follow-up
When to escalate
Escalate when
Repeated indecision threatens commitments or removes viable options.
Who decides
The sponsor or formally delegated governance body
Example
A committee resolves a scope trade-off after receiving two costed options rather than another progress slide deck.
Mistake to avoid
Using governance meetings as presentation ceremonies.
Prevent a repeat
Review overdue decisions and confirm that decision makers have the authority and evidence they need.
Suggested ApprovedFlow setup
- Approvals
- Documents
- Projects
Attach the decision brief and evidence to a configured approval route only after confirming the actual authority and delegation rules. See the platform
Related cases
- A governance committee has no quorum. Can the project continue?Invalid decision process
- The project board and product owner disagree. Who decides?Conflicting governance accountabilities
- The steering committee wants all requirements frozen before discovery ends. What should we explain?Premature certainty requirement
- Two stakeholders want contradictory requirements. Who decides?Conflicting requirements