Committees vs. Task Forces

What pops into your mind when someone invites you to join a committee? If you are like most people, probably a list of reasons why you shouldn't rated according to plausibility.Committees move slowly. They often require a lot of energy for very little result. Which begs the question....why? If we believe that groups of people collaborating together produce the best results, then why are committees not the most efficient way to plan facilities?

What if we used the phrase "task force"? We invite you to join a task force? Do the same excuses pop into your head or do you find yourself intrigued?

In contrast to committees, task forces are efficient. They move quickly. They operate more like 'special ops' than a full army.

So what is the difference? Why would one group of people--with an intent to collaborate--function so differently than the other? It may be that there is a key difference in the construct and expectations.

Committees are typically made up of people representing different interests. For example, a university facilities committee might have representatives from the various departments, there may be student representation, administrative members... Each person is there with a mission to represent their group.

A task force--however--is made up of people selected for their individual skills as it relates to an objective. For example, a site search task force might include a commercial realtor, an assessor, a marketer, someone with administrative talent, a person with deep understanding of the user group... Each person is there to complete the objective.

Committees serve long term with different members rotating in and out. Issues can be debated and decisions made with no real impact on the individual members. In fact, many times as the make-up of the committee changes, it can be difficult to trace back why certain decisions were made in the first place. Success would be measured differently by the groups represented based on how well their agenda was met. In fact, this idea of "different agendas" may be the single reason committees so often produce mediocre results.

Task forces are mission-specific. Success is measured based on the objective rather than by individuals in the group. Moreover, when the objective is complete, the task force dissolves and new task forces are assembled to complete different objectives.

When assembling your facility planning team, we highly recommend going the "task force" route. An empowered, talented group of individuals working to a common objective.

And the next time you are invited to join a committee, you just might decide to pass...

© Strategic Dimensions 2010