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Ideas: Being a Decision Maker

Decision Makers have special access to review ideas, make decisions and manage the Ideas feature in Mo.

Tahera Barok McArthur avatar
Written by Tahera Barok McArthur
Updated over 3 weeks ago

What is a Decision Maker? 

A Decision Maker can:

✅ Review ideas submitted by colleagues

✅ Approve, reject, or place ideas on hold

✅ Edit and delete ideas

✅ Change idea status

✅ Assign ideas to other decision-makers

✅ Create challenges for the organisation

Types of Decision Makers

Two Types of Decision Makers

Global Decision Maker

Who: Users with Decision Maker permissions in Mo

Access: Can make decisions on any idea across the organisation

Assigned by: Mo administrators

Assigned Decision Maker

Who: Users assigned to decide on a specific idea

Access: Can only decide on ideas specifically assigned to them

Assigned by: Global Decision Makers

Note: You receive an email notification when assigned to an idea.


What Global Decision Makers Can Do

Make Decisions on Any Idea

Three decision options:

Approve: The idea will be implemented or progressed

Reject: The idea will not move forward

On Hold: The idea needs more consideration or is deferred

When making decisions:

  • Explain your reasoning

  • Inform the idea creator and followers

  • Provide clear feedback

Assign Ideas to Others

Assign specific ideas to subject matter experts who are best placed to evaluate them.

To assign an idea:

  1. Open the idea

  2. Click Assign

  3. Select a colleague from your organisation

Why assign:

  • Experts can better evaluate technical ideas

  • Department heads can assess department-specific proposals

  • Distribute decision-making workloa

Create Challenges

Create challenges that invite colleagues to submit ideas addressing specific organisational needs.

Challenges help:

  • Focus ideas on priority areas

  • Encourage targeted innovation

  • Address specific business problems

Create Challenges

Create challenges that invite colleagues to submit ideas addressing specific organisational needs.

Challenges help:

  • Focus ideas on priority areas

  • Encourage targeted innovation

  • Address specific business problems

Learn more: See How to Create a Challenge article.


Monitor and Engage

As a Global Decision Maker, you should:

  • Monitor new ideas regularly

  • Assign ideas to appropriate decision-makers

  • Ensure ideas (especially challenge responses) have someone assigned

  • Comment on ideas to ask questions and show engagement

  • Encourage colleagues to vote and comment

  • Make timely decisions

What Assigned Decision Makers Should Do

1. Review the Idea

When assigned to an idea:

  • Log in to Mo and open the idea

  • Read the full description

  • Check who submitted it and which groups it affects

  • Review voting progress (Yes, No Opinion, No)

  • Read all comments and discussion

2. Engage and Gather Information

Ask questions in comments:

  • Request clarification on unclear points

  • Ask about implementation details

  • Check if it's been tried before

  • Understand feasibility and resources needed

Engage with commenters:

  • Reply to questions and concerns

  • Acknowledge valuable input

  • Build understanding through discussion

3. Encourage Participation

Invite relevant colleagues to vote:

  • Share the idea with people who would be affected

  • Ask subject matter experts for input

  • Encourage voting to gauge support level

Why participation matters:

  • Shows level of support or opposition

  • Helps understand potential impact

  • Provides diverse perspectives

4. Set Expectations

Communicate your process:

  • Let followers know when you'll make a decision

  • Explain any steps needed before deciding

  • Update if timeline changes

Example comment: "Thanks for this idea. I'll review all comments and voting by the end of next week and make a decision shortly after. Please share any additional thoughts before then."

5. Wait for Voting to Close

After voting closes:

  • Users can no longer vote

  • Comments may still be added

  • Review all final comments before deciding

Allow time for:

  • Last-minute feedback

  • Additional perspectives

  • Final questions to be answered

6. Make Your Decision

Choose the appropriate status:

  • Approve

  • Reject

  • On Hold

Explain your decision:

  • State your reasoning clearly

  • Reference voting results and comments

  • Explain next steps (if approved)

  • Provide constructive feedback (if rejected)

  • Set timeline for review (if on hold)

7. Update the Status

After deciding:

  1. Change the idea status in Mo

  2. Add your decision and reasoning

  3. Save the update

What happens:

  • All voters and followers receive email notification

  • Decision appears on the idea

  • Idea moves to decided status


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