Committee Effectiveness

"To get something done, a committee should consist of no more than three people, two of whom are absent."

Robert Copeland

I've been on a few committees where I wish this had been true, including some where the outcome would have been better had I been one of the two not there.

But in general, the effectiveness of a committee has more to do with the ability of its members and the clarity of its mission.  

Get that wrong and even a committee of one will fail.