# tool-note-and-vote

Runs a structured 25-minute group decision session using silent ideation and a final Decider supervote. Prevents groupthink and status bias in teams of 3 to 10 people.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 628 installs · ★ 763
- Author: product-on-purpose
- License: Apache-2.0 · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/product-on-purpose/pm-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/tool-note-and-vote/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-21
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/tool-note-and-vote

## What it does

The skill coordinates group decisions through a five-step sequence: framing a clear single question, silent ideation, silent voting, a timed discussion of top options, and an explicit Decider supervote. The output bundles the exact question, all proposed options, vote counts, brief discussion notes, and the Decider's final sign-off into a single markdown artifact.

The default run takes 25 minutes. Silent phases protect the session from anchoring and status bias because participants write their contributions before seeing what others posted.

Running this tool without an empowered Decider present breaks the mechanic; the protocol requires explicit authority to close the choice rather than drifting into endless consensus debates. It is built for fast checkpoints in small teams and should not replace deep, multi-day governance reviews.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add product-on-purpose/pm-skills --skill tool-note-and-vote -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/tool-note-and-vote/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/tool-note-and-vote/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add product-on-purpose/pm-skills --skill tool-note-and-vote -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/tool-note-and-vote/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add product-on-purpose/pm-skills --skill tool-note-and-vote -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/tool-note-and-vote/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install product-on-purpose/pm-skills tool-note-and-vote
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/tool-note-and-vote/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add product-on-purpose/pm-skills --skill tool-note-and-vote -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/product-on-purpose/pm-skills --path skills/tool-note-and-vote
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/tool-note-and-vote/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add product-on-purpose/pm-skills --skill tool-note-and-vote -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/product-on-purpose/pm-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/tool-note-and-vote/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- run a structured team decision in 25 minutes
- eliminate anchoring and loudest-voice bias during workshops
- produce an audit trail of chosen options and discarded alternatives
- coordinate decision checkpoints during Design Sprints and Foundation Sprints

## Example prompts
- Run a Note-and-Vote session to decide which customer segment we commit to for Day 1
- Facilitate a 25-minute tool-note-and-vote decision for our team of six

## Source text · SKILL.md · Apache-2.0

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 0ea2fa9da81e108f.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 0ea2fa9da81e108f
````text
---
name: tool-note-and-vote
description: Structured group-decision mechanic that captures silent ideation, voting summaries, and Decider sign-off in a single bundled artifact. Use when a small team needs to make a fast decision with diverse input, when groupthink is a risk, or when a workshop moment demands silent contribution before discussion. Applicable to Foundation Sprint, Design Sprint, and any participatory decision context.
license: Apache-2.0
metadata:
  classification: tool
  version: "1.0.0"
  updated: 2026-07-04
  category: coordination
  frameworks:
    - character-note-and-vote
  timebox_minutes: 25
  roles:
    - facilitator
    - decider
    - whole-team
  inputs:
    - decision question
    - time allocation
    - voting method
    - optional silent-write prompt
  outputs:
    - silent ideation board
    - vote summary
    - discussion notes
    - decision record
  author: product-on-purpose
---

<!-- PM-Skills | https://github.com/product-on-purpose/pm-skills | Apache 2.0 -->

# Note-and-Vote

Run a structured group decision in 20-30 minutes. Silent contribution surfaces independent thinking before group dynamics narrow the option space; explicit Decider supervote closes the choice. Produces a written audit trail of the decision and the alternatives considered.

## When to Use

- A small team (3-10 people) needs to make a fast decision with diverse input.
- Groupthink, status bias, or loudest-voice dominance is a real risk.
- A workshop or meeting moment demands silent ideation before open discussion.
- The decision needs an audit trail (what was considered, why the chosen option won).
- Decision authority is clear (a Decider exists and is in the room or available).
- Used heavily across Foundation Sprint and Design Sprint at decision moments.

## When NOT to Use

- A single person owns the decision and just needs to make it. Use direct judgment.
- Consensus has already emerged organically. The voting overhead adds friction without value.
- The decision is high-stakes enough to warrant longer deliberation (multi-day investigation, written proposals, formal review). Note-and-Vote is a 25-minute tool, not a governance process.
- No Decider is available and the team has no authority to close the decision themselves. Defer until a Decider can attend.

## The Five-Step Protocol

```text
1. Frame the question (1-2 min)
2. Silent ideation (3-7 min, depending on complexity)
3. Silent voting (2-5 min, multi-vote or single-vote)
4. Brief discussion of the vote distribution (5-10 min)
5. Decider supervote (1 min)
```

Total: 12-25 minutes depending on time allocations. Default is 25 minutes for a non-trivial decision.

```mermaid
flowchart TB
    Start([Decision needed])
    Start --> S1[Step 1: Frame the question<br/>1-2 min, spoken]
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 0ea2fa9da81e108f

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First 2792 of 8459 bytes. © product-on-purpose · Apache-2.0 · https://github.com/product-on-purpose/pm-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/tool-note-and-vote/SKILL.md

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