Devil's Advocate

Origin. The advocatus diaboli of canonization proceedings; formalized as dialectical inquiry in Schwenk's strategic-decision research.

Mechanism. Assigns opposition as a role, decoupling dissent from the dissenter's standing. A designated critic can voice objections that an undesignated one would pay for.

Procedure. Assign the role explicitly and publicly. The advocate builds the strongest case against, using the proposal's own evidence. Rotate the assignment. Do not permit the advocate to be answered by attacking the advocate.

Applies to. Groups whose decisions are being made by the highest-status opinion rather than by the evidence.

Limitations. Known and well-documented: authentic dissent shifts group judgment; role-played dissent shifts it much less, because the group discounts what it knows to be assigned. The role can also be used to inoculate a decision against real objection by staging one.