Ensuring accountability in decision making. A step-by-step approach applies common sense to complex issues

All institutions must routinely make decisions that may have a profound impact on their organizations and communities. The process used to reach those decisions defines an organization's commitment to its mission, values, and corporate ethics. At Sisters of Mercy Health System in St. Louis (SMHS), a corporate decision-making process was developed over the course of a year and introduced systemwide in 1994. The process establishes a disciplined and accountable technique for evaluating initiatives, discussing options, and arriving at clear, values-based decisions. The process begins with two questions: Is the proposed action compatible with the organization's mission? Will the proposed action advance the mission in any significant manner? Next, a step-by-step approach enables members of the decision-making group to consider the proposed action in light of the SMHS mission and values. Participants explore the implications of the decision from three perspectives: social vision, responsibility, and self-interest. They also consider the potential consequences of the decision on all affected parties, particularly poor and powerless people. SMHS leaders have found the decision-making process brings clarity and comprehension to the task of making decisions.