Choosing Leaders: More Cooks Make a Better Broth

This article applies research findings regarding the use of groups or committees in the selection process at the very top of organizations. The findings are drawn from a larger program of research on executive selection. Findings from a retrospective interview study provide the basis for the assertion that groups or committees, especially those with a variety of members, make better selection decisions than individuals. We speculate why this finding is so and make suggestions to consultants and search firm professionals regarding how to design top-level selection groups or committees to ensure that a quality selection decision will result.