What is the Two Pizza Rule and Does it Actually Work?

Running meetings is an essential part of any business. However, organizing meetings can be a daunting task, especially when dealing with different schedules and dietary requirements. To make things easier, companies often use various techniques such as agenda preparation, minute-taking, and time management to ensure that the meeting is productive. One of the techniques that have gained popularity in the corporate world is the “Two Pizza Rule”. It is claimed to be an efficient way of conducting meetings, and in this article, we will delve into what the Two Pizza Rule is and whether it actually works, so you can decide whether it would be useful for your business.

What is the Two Pizza Rule?

The Two Pizza Rule is a concept that was coined by Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon. According to Bezos, a meeting should only have attendees that can be fed by two pizzas. This rule was created to encourage smaller and more conducive meetings with few people to make quick and decisive decisions. Proponents of the Two Pizza Rule argue that large meetings can often lead to discussions being unproductive and getting sidetracked by irrelevant information.

Advantages of the Two Pizza Rule

1. Better communication: In smaller meetings, it is easier for participants to communicate more effectively, and everyone has a chance to contribute. This leads to productive discussions, clear direction, and quick decision making.
2. Enhanced Focus: Small meetings help to maintain focus on the agenda without distractions. This reduces the chances of participants sidetracking to unrelated topics and lengthy discussions.
3. Streamlined Decision Making: In large meetings, it can be challenging to make decisions and reach a consensus. The Two Pizza Rule overcomes this challenge by facilitating quicker decision-making processes since there are fewer attendees.
4. Reduced Costs: Smaller meetings require fewer resources, meaning reduced costs both monetary and time-wise. Since fewer people are involved, there’s reduced time spent waiting for attendees to gather in the conference room the same goes for the resources applicable to them.

Disadvantages of the Two Pizza Rule

1. Limited Input: Smaller meetings might result in limited input from the members present, and their ideas might be overlooked. Therefore, the rule can be followed with caution. It should be used for meetings that require quick decision-making, instead of creative brainstorming sessions.
2. Limited collaboration: While smaller meetings facilitate a more productive discussion, it comes at the cost of collaboration and diverse viewpoints. Diverse viewpoints might be necessary for complex issues and significant business strategies.
3. Exclusion of essential members: The rule’s implementation might exclude vital members who have a unique skillset, and their inputs are required to solve a specific problem. This can delay decision-making if the remaining team members lack specific skills.
4. Constraints: The Two Pizza Rule might limit the number of attendees and be challenging to implement for large-scale meetings.

Does the Two Pizza Rule Work?

The Two Pizza Rule approach has been adopted by several companies worldwide, including Amazon and Microsoft. Companies have embraced the rule as a way of improving their meeting productivity and limiting unproductive discussions. However, the rule’s effectiveness has come under scrutiny, with several critics arguing that the rule’s success depends on the company culture, size, and existing meeting protocols.

Several studies have investigated the effectiveness of the Two Pizza Rule in meeting productivity. A study conducted by the Kellogg School of Management concluded that smaller meetings indeed lead to better outcomes in terms of decision-making speed and accuracy. Similarly, the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration found the Two Pizza Rule to be effective in smaller groups measuring eight and below.

In practice, the rule works better for daily or weekly meetings that require quick decision-making than for one-and-done meetings like hiring decisions or promotions. The Two Pizza Rule can also work best for recurring meetings where the smaller group is reviewing progress and adjusting the plan accordingly.

How to Implement the Two Pizza Rule

1. Identify meeting goals: Before you schedule a meeting, outline the meeting’s agenda, objective, and expected outcome to determine if it’s necessary.
2. Choose attendees wisely: Be selective when inviting attendees to the meeting. Invite people who can bring valuable insights to the discussion. Strive to stick to the limit of people that can be fed by two pizzas. However, you should start by identifying key stakeholders who can bring relevant ideas that will steer the discussion towards a decision.
3. Set Time Limits: Ensure that the meeting starts on time and that the agenda is followed rigorously. The meeting’s length should be limited to ensure that attendees are focused on the agenda, even if that means rapidly going through it to exhaust all points.
4. Encourage Discussion: Encourage the attendees to participate actively and share their viewpoints. Set the tone by showing your openness to their suggestions and ideas. Encourage the meeting’s facilitator to move discussions along and bring a balance to the critical topics and less important ones.

Conclusion

The Two Pizza Rule is an increasingly popular technique used by companies worldwide to improve meeting productivity. When implemented effectively, the rule can lead to better decision-making processes, enhanced communication, reduced costs, and streamlined meeting agendas. However, it is important to remember that the success of implementing the rule depends on a company’s culture, size, meeting protocol, and the attendees’ needs. The Two Pizza Rule is not ideal for one-and-done meetings or brainstorming sessions but works best for recurring meetings where the smaller group is reviewing progress and adjusting the plan accordingly.