Decisions that last
For formal gatherings and deliberative bodies. Common Thread tracks contributions, surfaces decision points, and evaluates deliberation quality over time. A companion for facilitators who take collective decision-making seriously.
Every organization makes decisions together. But how many track whether those decisions were good? Not just whether they worked out, but whether the process of deciding was sound?
Common Thread is built for groups that take collective decision-making seriously—boards, councils, committees, assemblies. It doesn't just record what happened. It helps you see how you're deciding, and whether you're getting better at it over time.
Who's speaking? Who's being heard? Are all voices contributing to the decision?
Surfaces moments of choice, the options considered, and the reasoning that led to decisions.
Flags when more information might be needed—research to conduct, expertise to consult.
Track deliberation quality across meetings. See trends. Identify what's improving.
Makes explicit the directions being considered, even before they become formal proposals.
Designed to work alongside trained facilitators, not replace them. Enhances human judgment.
Both tools observe group conversations. But they're designed for different purposes.
Track decision patterns across meetings. Ensure all directors are contributing. Document deliberation quality for governance purposes.
Surface when decisions are being made by habit vs. deliberation. Identify when more data is needed before committing.
Ensure all community voices are heard in deliberation. Track whether decisions reflect the full range of input.
Document the reasoning behind decisions. Create institutional memory that survives member turnover.
Good decisions emerge from good deliberation. But most groups never examine their deliberation process—they only evaluate outcomes. Common Thread makes the invisible visible: the patterns of participation, the moments of choice, the quality of reasoning.
This isn't about surveillance or scoring. It's about helping groups become more reflective about how they decide together. The goal is collective capacity, not individual evaluation.
Common Thread is in early development. Interested in piloting with your organization?
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