As a CTO, decision making is a critical part of my role. Making the right decisions can have a significant impact on the success of the company, while making the wrong ones can be costly. Therefore, having a robust decision-making framework is essential.
One such framework that I have found to be highly effective is DACI. The DACI matrix is a decision-making tool that ensures that everyone involved in the decision-making process understands their role and responsibilities.
DACI stands for Driver, Approver, Contributor, and Informed. The Driver is the person responsible for leading the decision-making process. The Approver is the person who ultimately approves the decision. Contributors are those who provide input to the decision-making process. And, the Informed are those who need to be informed of the decision.
Let me explain how I use the DACI matrix in my role as a CTO.
Driver: As the CTO, I am typically the Driver of most decisions that involve technology. It is my responsibility to ensure that the decision-making process is moving forward, and everyone involved understands their role and responsibilities.
Approver: Depending on the decision, the Approver can be the CEO, Board of Directors, or me. For example, when making decisions about significant technology investments, I am the Approver.
Contributors: Contributors are typically subject matter experts who provide input to the decision-making process. In technology-related decisions, contributors may include members of the IT team, software developers, and vendors.
Informed: The Informed are those who need to know about the decision but may not have an active role in the decision-making process. For example, when we are implementing a new software application, employees who will be using the software are the Informed.
Using the DACI matrix ensures that everyone involved in the decision-making process understands their role and responsibilities. It also ensures that all perspectives are considered, and decisions are made based on the best available information.
Here is an example of a DACI matrix that we used recently to make a significant technology-related decision.
| Decision: | Replace the current CRM system |
|---|---|
| Driver: | CTO |
| Approver: | CEO |
| Contributors: | IT team, Sales team, Marketing team |
| Informed: | Customer Service team, HR team |
In this example, I am the Driver, the CEO is the Approver, and the IT team, Sales team, and Marketing team are Contributors. The Customer Service team and HR team are Informed.
The DACI matrix provides clarity and structure to the decision-making process. It ensures that everyone involved understands their role and responsibilities and provides a framework for making informed decisions.
In conclusion, as a CTO, using the DACI matrix is an effective way to make important decisions. It helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page, and all perspectives are considered. The framework can be used in a variety of situations, from technology-related decisions to business decisions, and can help to ensure that decisions are made based on the best available information.
