Improving Executive Decisions by Formalizing Dissent: The Corporate Devil's Advocate

Abstract

In this article the authors examine the concept of formalized dissent and discuss how this principle can be applied to the decision making process of executives in order to improve their decisions. They examine various forms of formalized dissent such as the Catholic Church's use of a devil's advocate in the selection of an individual for sainthood as well as the work of consumer advocates who bring negative product information into public view. They suggest that a corporate devil's advocate could play a significant role in an organization, providing constructive criticism in an institutionalized manner that would depersonalize the idea of having one's work criticized. They note that corporate decisions can have significant results and therefore reaching optimal decisions is invaluable.