Decisions from the weekly conferences give quick results and allow work to proceed. If anyone is too unhappy, instant appeals to the project manager are possible, but this happens very rarely.

The fruitfulness of these meetings springs from several sources:

1. The same group—architects, users, and implementers—meets weekly for months. No time is needed for bringing people up to date.

2. The group is bright, resourceful, well versed in the issues, and deeply involved in the outcome. No one has an "advisory" role. Everyone is authorized to make binding commitments.

3. When problems are raised, solutions are sought both within and outside the obvious boundaries.

4. The formality of written proposals focuses attention, forces decision, and avoids committee-drafted inconsistencies.

5. The clear vesting of decision-making power in the chief architect avoids compromise and delay.