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Equation #8 · Chapter 2

Consensus Paralysis Factor F_cp

Fcp=n(n−1)2F_{cp} = \frac{n(n-1)}{2}

Consensus Paralysis Factor

F_cp · Ch 2

Communication paths in a decision group — n(n−1)/2. Why big rooms can't decide.

Worked example — The weekly release-planning meeting

Nine people, because everyone who might object was invited. The decision has now slipped four weeks running.

It came out at 36 communication paths. Red — canon turns red at seven people.

They cut the deciding group to three — the engineer, the product owner, and the one VP who can actually say yes — and sent everyone else the notes. Three paths. The decision that had slipped four weeks was made the next day.

Your turn — change one number
Result36paths

Red. Paralyzed. Committees are graveyards — shrink the deciding group or nothing ships.