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Also known as: DM, final approver

Decision Maker

FoundationalSales

Definition

Decision Maker: A decision maker is someone with authority to approve and finalize a purchase decision. In small companies, this might be the CEO; in large enterprises, it could be department heads, committees, or procurement. Identifying decision makers early prevents wasted effort on stakeholders who can't actually say yes.

Example Usage

β€œWe learned to ask in discovery: 'Who besides yourself needs to approve this purchase?' to map decision makers early.”

Common Misconceptions

The loudest person is the decision maker. Sometimes quiet stakeholders hold the real authority.
There's only one decision maker. Complex purchases often require multiple approvals.
Decision makers decide alone. They're often influenced by champions, users, and other stakeholders.

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