In any organization or team, making important decisions can often be challenging and time-consuming. With so many different opinions and perspectives, it can be challenging to reach a consensus and ensure everyone’s voice is heard. However, there is a powerful technique that can streamline decision-making and foster collaboration, that is “Multivoting”. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the ins and outs of mastering multivoting, providing the tools and strategies necessary to make effective decisions.

From understanding the basics of multivoting to implementing it successfully in various scenarios, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to navigate complex decision-making processes and achieve optimal outcomes.

Multivoting

Multivoting is a structured decision-making technique used in group settings to prioritize a list of options or ideas. It involves a process where participants are given a specific number of votes, typically a fraction of the total options, and they distribute these votes among the available choices according to their preferences. Consequently, the primary objective is to identify and prioritize the most favored options within the group.

It is also called: Nominal group technique (NGT) voting & nominal prioritization

Multivoting, as a decision-making tool, helps condense a broad array of options into a more manageable list of top priorities or a final choice. This method is more effective than simple voting, as it enables options that are universally liked, though not anyone’s top preference, to emerge as leading choices.

When to use Multivoting

• Utilize Multivoting when dealing with a lengthy list of items.
• Apply it to condense the list into a smaller, manageable set.
• Particularly effective after brainstorming sessions.
• Helps prioritize and select ideas for further analysis and discussion.

Benefits of Multivoting

• All team members engage in the decision-making.
• It offers a straightforward and uncomplicated approach.
• Implementation is swift and hassle-free.
• A straightforward method to select the most critical item from a list.
• Provides a chance to deliberate on the project’s advantages and disadvantages.
• Foster’s dedication to the team’s choice.

Considerations and Limitations

• Nuances and complexities may be partially captured.
• It is unsuitable for highly contentious or polarizing topics.
• It is best used as a complementary tool alongside other methods.

Multivoting Procedure

Required materials include a flipchart or whiteboard, markers, 5 to 10 paper slips per person, and a pen or pencil for each participant.

• Display the list of options and combine duplicates. Affinity diagrams can be helpful to organize ideas and reduce duplication. 
• Number or letter all items.
• Determine the final list size and the number of choices each member will vote for, usually up to five.The number of allowed votes increases as the original list becomes longer, with a maximum of up to 10 votes.
• Individually, each member selects and ranks their top choices. Subsequently, they write each choice on a separate paper with the ranking.
• Tally the votes by collecting and recording rankings on a flipchart or whiteboard.
• Discuss the results briefly to address any dramatic voting differences, but avoid pressuring anyone to change their vote.
• If needed, repeat the voting process, potentially using weighted rankings (1 to 10) for greater accuracy with 10 being the highest weight.

Example

Step 1: Generate Options

A marketing team must choose a promotional campaign idea for an upcoming product launch. After brainstorming, they have the following campaign options:

1. Social Media Contests and Giveaways

2. Influencer Partnerships and Endorsements

3. Email Marketing Campaign to Existing Customers

4. Google Ads and Paid Search Campaign

5. Content Marketing and Blog Posts

6. Television Advertising

Step 2: Clarify Options

The team ensures that everyone understands what each campaign option involves.

Step 3: Assign Votes

With six options, each of the 7 team members is given three votes (approximately half the total number of options).

Step 4: Initial Voting Round

Each team member uses stickers to vote for their preferred options. Here is the initial voting:

Step 5: Narrow the Field

The top 40-50 percent of options are chosen for the next round. The team selects the top three options:

1.  Influencer Partnerships and Endorsements
2.  Content Marketing and Blog Posts
3.  Google Ads and Paid Search Campaign

Step 6: Next Voting Round

In the second round, each person has two votes. Voting might go like this:

Options	Votes	Vote Count
Influencer Partnerships and Endorsements	******	6
Google Ads and Paid Search Campaign	**	2
Content Marketing and Blog Posts	******	6

Since there’s a tie between Options 1 and 3, the team conducts a final round of voting with each person having one vote:

Options	Votes	Vote Count
Influencer Partnerships and Endorsements	*****	4
Content Marketing and Blog Posts	***	3

The team decides to proceed with Influencer Partnerships and Endorsements as the promotional campaign for their product launch.

KEY TAKEAWAY

“In a team, multivoting fosters fairness and inclusivity, thereby respecting all opinions and encouraging active involvement. Moreover, it’s ideal after brainstorming to effectively narrow down options“

Conclusion

Multivoting, a powerful decision-making technique, offers organizations and teams an efficient way to prioritize options and achieve consensus. It simplifies the process of narrowing down choices by allowing participants to allocate their votes among a list of options, encouraging collaboration and fostering a sense of ownership. Although not suitable for highly contentious topics, it excels after brainstorming sessions. It proves to be a valuable tool for effective decision-making when there’s a lengthy list of possibilities. This guide provides a comprehensive understanding of multivoting, including its procedure and a real-world example, equipping individuals and teams with the knowledge to navigate complex decision-making processes and achieve optimal outcomes.