For Germans, decisions are made to be implemented. The purpose of deciding is to enable doing. Once a decision is made, implementation is expected to follow. Decisions that are made but not implemented represent failure.
The gap between deciding and doing should be small. When working with German colleagues, understand that deciding creates expectation of action. Decision-makers bear responsibility for follow-through. Organizations that decide without implementing lose credibility.
The decision process is not complete until the decision is enacted. This also means decisions must be realistic and actionable—deciding something that cannot be implemented is pointless.
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