Team Development: Reaching Consensus from Conflicting Opinions

discussionWhen developing a software application there are typically several possible solutions for a given set of requirements.  Often the “best” solution isn’t immediately obvious causing intense debates among team members with strong conflicting opinions.  Rigorous debates are actually a normal healthy part of the creative process.   The best solutions often result from the combined analysis of diametrically opposing viewpoints.  However for the sake of team morale it is critically important that team members agree to follow specific guidelines while debating.  In this blog entry I present some guidelines I’ve found helpful for engaging in intense debates while maintaining team respect and cohesiveness. Continue reading →