Forming committees is mostly useful for avoiding responsibility. If I make a bad technical decision then I get flak. If I organize a committee to justify that decision then I might even get points for "leadership". Also, if the decision is bad then I'm not personally responsible.
To paraphrase: "Don't attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by covering one's ass".
Although there could be legitimate hope, that one of the other people is not clueless and will bring up important points. Not necessarily only "covering ones ass", but probably also a responsible thing to do, when making an important decision. At least, if the list of people actually includes technical people who have experience with the matter.
Just yesterday, someone quoted Paul Hamming on the fact that scientists who have "open doors policy" are more successful long-term.
I have never formally formed a committee, but I often organized small one-off or semiregular circles to get differing opinions on some matter and/or to understand how to align interests. And I believe it paid off for me, usually in form of a better design or a useful shortcut around an otherwise long and dark path.
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Forming committees is mostly useful for avoiding responsibility. If I make a bad technical decision then I get flak. If I organize a committee to justify that decision then I might even get points for "leadership". Also, if the decision is bad then I'm not personally responsible.
To paraphrase: "Don't attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by covering one's ass".
Although there could be legitimate hope, that one of the other people is not clueless and will bring up important points. Not necessarily only "covering ones ass", but probably also a responsible thing to do, when making an important decision. At least, if the list of people actually includes technical people who have experience with the matter.
Just yesterday, someone quoted Paul Hamming on the fact that scientists who have "open doors policy" are more successful long-term.
I have never formally formed a committee, but I often organized small one-off or semiregular circles to get differing opinions on some matter and/or to understand how to align interests. And I believe it paid off for me, usually in form of a better design or a useful shortcut around an otherwise long and dark path.