Unanimity
A decision rule in which every person in the group agrees on one chosen course of action.
Key Points
- Requires 100% agreement; a single objection prevents a decision.
- Often needs active facilitation, discussion, and compromise to reach alignment.
- Tends to take longer than majority vote but creates strong buy-in and commitment.
- Best for high-impact decisions where team support is critical; risk of stalemate exists.
Example
The change control board reviews a proposed scope change. After thorough discussion and adjustments, every member agrees to approve the change, so the decision is unanimous.
PMP Example Question
The project manager wants a decision rule that ensures every stakeholder supports the selected risk response. Which group decision-making technique should be used?
- Majority
- Plurality
- Autocratic
- Unanimity
Correct Answer: D — Unanimity (everyone agrees on one option)
Explanation: Unanimity requires full agreement from all decision makers, ensuring complete support for the chosen action.