Gather information

Information gathering and decision making are two distinct processes. Care should be taken to keep them separate and to ensure that one informs the other.

A range of information is required to underpin decision making. This can be considered under three headings:

• Information about the services that will be delivered from the facility. This should be recorded in the operational briefing sheets for the project.
• Information about possible sites considered.
• Information about funding routes.

Information gathering and decision making may be undertaken by one or more individuals or teams, depending on the scale and complexity of the project.

Information gathering and decision making are two distinct processes. Care should be taken to keep them separate and to ensure that one informs the other. Information is usually gathered through a process of informal and formal interview, with outcomes recorded in notes and minutes which can be used to inform the briefing process

Information gathering about services is the responsibility of the service leads and should be recorded in the operational briefing sheets, covering issues such as scope, scale, hours of operation, staffing, types of activity and key relationships.