The Discovery Centre puts you in a group tasked with choosing which two out of four new product concepts to launch in the Philippines, under a limited budget. What approach would you take to reach a group decision?

Situation

In the Discovery Centre group exercise, our team of five was given four product concepts: a new variant of a popular shampoo brand, an eco-friendly detergent pod, a plant-based meat alternative, and a budget-friendly toothpaste sachet. We had to choose two concepts to present to the management committee with only 30 minutes to decide.

Task

My task was to help the group make a reasoned, defensible choice quickly while ensuring every team member's perspective was heard and that the final recommendation aligned with Unilever's purpose-led and growth-driven framework.

Action

I proposed we first agree on a simple weighted criteria: market size potential, alignment with Unilever sustainability goals, fit with Philippine consumer habits, and speed to market. I then facilitated a quiet round where each member wrote down their individual pick before discussing to give introverts space. We quickly tabled the plant-based meat alternative because research showed it was still niche in the Philippines, and focused debates on the other three. I used a mini whiteboard to tally points and kept us moving when discussions stalled, saying 'I hear you, pero let's keep to the time; vote tayo now.' After 20 minutes we had consensus: the eco-friendly detergent pod and the shampoo variant.

Result

The group reached a decision with 10 minutes to spare, enough to craft our rationale. The assessors later noted our process was structured and inclusive. Two team members told me afterward they felt their voices were fully considered.