As the team lead, you tasked your designer to create a template for a briefing presentation. Which decision-making method best describes your interaction with the designer?

As the team lead, you tasked your designer to create a template for a briefing presentation. Which decision-making method best describes your interaction with the designer?

• A. Consultative Unilateral
• B. Unilateral
• C. Collaborative
• D. Consultative

Answer: (A)

The situation tests how a leader uses input from team members while keeping final decision authority. You asked the designer to create a template and would likely consider the designer’s input, but you retain the power to make the final call. That combination—seeking input from the designer and then deciding yourself—fits a consultative unilateral approach. It leverages the designer’s expertise to shape the result, while ensuring accountability and a single point of final decision. If you hadn’t sought any input and simply directed the designer to proceed, that would be purely unilateral. If you and the designer made the decision together rather than you reserving final authority, it would be collaborative. If the decision was made after broader input from multiple parties beyond you and the designer, it would align with a more consultative or collaborative style depending on how consensus was reached.

The situation tests how a leader uses input from team members while keeping final decision authority. You asked the designer to create a template and would likely consider the designer’s input, but you retain the power to make the final call. That combination—seeking input from the designer and then deciding yourself—fits a consultative unilateral approach. It leverages the designer’s expertise to shape the result, while ensuring accountability and a single point of final decision.

If you hadn’t sought any input and simply directed the designer to proceed, that would be purely unilateral. If you and the designer made the decision together rather than you reserving final authority, it would be collaborative. If the decision was made after broader input from multiple parties beyond you and the designer, it would align with a more consultative or collaborative style depending on how consensus was reached.