Richard the repressed

Richard is very active in the social scene. He is motivated and independent and has his own opinions. However, in a group setting, he becomes mute because he wants people to be happy and not cause conflict. He secretly resents dominant, rigid personalities who overhaul the decision-making process. He would like to be able to express his opinions without fear of confrontation or awkwardness.

Paul the Participator

Paul is active in the decision making process. He likes to arbitrate, often highlighting people's different preferences and concerns. He often notices that meeker personality types are hesitant to reveal their true preferences because they may conflict with those of more aggressive personality types. He wished that people would be more open and honest about their true opinions so a fair decision can be made, where everyone's true preferences are weighed equally.

Ian the Indecisive

Ian doesn't like to make decisions. He does not want to be bear the burden of other people's happiness, so he usually abstains from expressing any opinion in the decision making process. If asked to make a decision, he will take too long, and others will get impatient. He wants someone to make the decision for him, so he doesn't have to bear the burden of group can save time on the decision making process.

User 1

Grad student. Motivated and independent generally, but different in group decision-making process. Socializes very often.

• Takes group up to 20 minutes to decide, depending on whether there's a leader.
• Problem: Can't decide without a leader to come up with ideas and make suggestions.
• Strategy: Have leader(s) make suggestions for the group.
• Role in process: Non-confrontational, goes along with the group's decision.

User 2

Grad student. Knows what he wants for himself, but very indifferent in a group. Socializes once a week.

• Takes group 3 to 15 minutes to decide.
• Problems: Multiple suggestions but no one has a preference, sometimes people have different opinions and have difficulty reaching consensus.
• Strategy: Someone suggests a place to go, waits for everyone else to approve.
• Role: Non-confrontational personality, goes along with the group's decision.

User 3

Grad student. Active in the decision-making process, but not always to positive effect. Socializes once a week.

• Takes group up to 20 minutes to decide, depending on whether there's a leader and whether people have strong preferences.
• Problems: Sometimes no one makes a suggestion, or the suggester gives up too easily.
• Strategy: Look for suggestions strongly preferred by most people. Sometimes takes way too long.
• Role: Decision-maker when he has a strong preference; decision-rejector or passive otherwise.

User 4

Grad student. Can't make decisions easily. Socializes about twice a month.

• Takes from several minutes to half of a day to decide, depending on group's size.
• Problem: Difficult to satisfy everyone in a large group.
• Strategy: Have a decisive and persuasive person in the group.
• Role: Decision-rejector, non-confrontational personality.

Nancy the non-confrontational

Nancy does not like confrontation. When going out in groups, she knows what she likes and dislikes but never voices a strong opinion in a group setting because she dislikes arguing and creating discomfort among her peers.

David the Dominator

David is an "alpha-male". He knows what he wants and usually gets it through sheer force of his aggressive personality. David usually has an idea of what he wants before the group decision making process and asks other members of the group whether they agree to any of his predetermined preferences. David's main concern is efficiency. He doesn't like dealing with indecisiveness, and he doesn't want to waste time doing something he doesn't want.

• Getting what he wants
• Expediting the decision making process

Frank the Fastidious

Frank has many dietary constraints. He is vegetarian and allergic to dairy. He also doesn't like going to expensive places. Frank usually does not provide suggestions in the decision making process but often ends of vetoing other people's ideas.

• Choosing a place that satisfies all his constraints

User 5

Undergrad. Socializes about once a week.

• Tries to decide in the time it takes to reach the destination.
• Problems: Dietary preferences (e.g., vegetarianism), people who tend to reject suggestions, one friend who has very narrow restaurant preferences.
• Strategy: Stick to suggestions that everyone is OK with.
• Role: Generally agrees with group suggestion.