What ensures fairness in decision making during a meeting?

Fairness in decision-making during a meeting is fundamentally enhanced by ensuring that all participants have equal speaking time. This practice allows every attendee a voice in discussions, leading to more comprehensive and diverse opinions being considered. When everyone has the opportunity to contribute, it creates an environment where decisions are made collaboratively and collectively, rather than being dominated by a few voices. This approach promotes inclusivity and can lead to better outcomes, as insights from various perspectives are taken into account.

While having a detailed agenda is important for keeping the meeting focused and organized, and the presence of a quorum ensures that there is enough representation for decisions to be made validly, these elements do not directly address the equitable distribution of speaking opportunities. Similarly, the chairperson's ability to control discussions can be crucial for maintaining order, but if that control results in some voices being heard more than others, it can undermine fairness. Thus, the practice of ensuring equal speaking time stands out as the key to fostering a fair decision-making process.