Three.

'Intelligence is the ability to recognise a better argument than your own.'

- Anonymous

The third of the Five Steps to a Good Decision is to Assess the information.

‘Investigation’ has sinister, negative overtones.  

‘We’re carrying out an investigation.’

‘We’re being investigated.’  

These all imply that someone has done something wrong.

Yet no decision should be made without gathering as much information as we can – ie investigating.

An investigation can be as simple as a telephone call, a conversation, reading a policy, an email asking questions, seeking expert advice – or as detailed as a royal commission.

What information do you need to decide what to do?

What information do you need to make your Widget?

What is important is the attitude that you take to the gathering of information.

Be curious.

Take the position of the ‘naïve inquirer’.

Seek the advice of experts, more experienced people, policies and procedures.

Be inquisitorial not adversarial.

Aim to learn rather than blame.