{"id":190,"date":"2017-08-07T17:27:42","date_gmt":"2017-08-07T17:27:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/atd-tc3-management\/?post_type=chapter&p=190"},"modified":"2017-08-07T17:27:42","modified_gmt":"2017-08-07T17:27:42","slug":"decision-making-in-groups","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/atd-tc3-management\/chapter\/decision-making-in-groups\/","title":{"raw":"Decision Making in Groups","rendered":"Decision Making in Groups"},"content":{"raw":"
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Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n
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  1. Understand the pros and cons of individual and group decision making.<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Learn to recognize the signs of groupthink.<\/li>\r\n \t
  3. Recognize different tools and techniques for making better decisions.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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    When It Comes to Decision Making, Are Two Heads Better Than One?<\/h2>\r\nWhen it comes to decision making, are two heads better than one? The answer to this question depends on several factors. Group decision making has the advantages of drawing from the experiences and perspectives of a larger number of individuals. Hence, they have the potential to be more creative and lead to a more effective decision. In fact, groups may sometimes achieve results beyond what they could have done as individuals. Groups also make the task more enjoyable for members in question. Finally, when the decision is made by a group rather than a single individual, implementation of the decision will be easier because group members will be invested in the decision. If the group is diverse, better decisions may be made because different group members may have different ideas based on their background and experiences. Research shows that for top management teams, groups that debate issues and that are diverse make decisions that are more comprehensive and better for the bottom line in terms of profitability and sales.\r\n\r\nDespite its popularity within organizations, group decision making suffers from a number of disadvantages. We know that groups rarely outperform their best member. While groups have the potential to arrive at an effective decision, they often suffer from process losses. For example, groups may suffer from coordination problems. Anyone who has worked with a team of individuals on a project can attest to the difficulty of coordinating members\u2019 work or even coordinating everyone\u2019s presence in a team meeting. Furthermore, groups can suffer from\u00a0<\/span>social loafing<\/span><\/span>, or the tendency of some members to put forth less effort while working within a group. Groups may also suffer from\u00a0<\/span>groupthink<\/span><\/span>, the tendency to avoid critical evaluation of ideas the group favors. Finally, group decision making takes a longer time compared with individual decision making, given that all members need to discuss their thoughts regarding different alternatives.\r\n\r\nThus, whether an individual or a group decision is preferable will depend on the specifics of the situation. For example, if there is an emergency and a decision needs to be made quickly, individual decision making might be preferred. Individual decision making may also be appropriate if the individual in question has all the information needed to make the decision and if implementation problems are not expected. However, if one person does not have all the information and skills needed to make the decision, if implementing the decision will be difficult without the involvement of those who will be affected by the decision, and if time urgency is more modest, then decision making by a group may be more effective.\r\n
    \r\n\r\nFigure 11.14<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Levels of Decision Making\r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n
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    Groupthink<\/h2>\r\nHave you ever been in a decision-making group that you felt was heading in the wrong direction, but you didn\u2019t speak up and say so? If so, you have already been a victim of groupthink. Groupthink is a group pressure phenomenon that increases the risk of the group making flawed decisions by leading to reduced mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment. Groupthink is characterized by eight symptoms that include:\r\n
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    1. Illusion of invulnerability<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>shared by most or all of the group members that creates excessive optimism and encourages them to take extreme risks.<\/li>\r\n \t
    2. Collective rationalizations<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>where members downplay negative information or warnings that might cause them to reconsider their assumptions.<\/li>\r\n \t
    3. An unquestioned belief in the group\u2019s inherent morality<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>that may incline members to ignore ethical or moral consequences of their actions.<\/li>\r\n \t
    4. Stereotyped views of out-groups<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>are seen when groups discount rivals\u2019 abilities to make effective responses.<\/li>\r\n \t
    5. Direct pressure<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>on any member who expresses strong arguments against any of the group\u2019s stereotypes, illusions, or commitments.<\/li>\r\n \t
    6. Self-censorship<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>when members of the group minimize their own doubts and counterarguments.<\/li>\r\n \t
    7. Illusions of unanimity<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>based on self-censorship and direct pressure on the group; the lack of dissent is viewed as unanimity.<\/li>\r\n \t
    8. The emergence of self-appointed mindguards<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>where one or more members protect the group from information that runs counter to the group\u2019s assumptions and course of action.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n
      \r\n\r\nFigure 11.15<\/span>\r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>\r\n\r\nAvoiding groupthink can be a matter of life or death. In January 1986, the space shuttle\u00a0<\/span>Challenger<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>exploded 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all seven astronauts aboard. The decision to launch\u00a0<\/span>Challenger<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>that day, despite problems with mechanical components of the vehicle and unfavorable weather conditions, is cited as an example of groupthink.\r\n
      \r\n\r\nSource<\/em>:\u00a0<\/span>http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Image:Challenger_flight_51-l_crew.jpg<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nWhile research on groupthink has not confirmed all of the theory, groups do tend to suffer from symptoms of groupthink when they are large and when the group is cohesive because the members like each other. The assumption is that the more frequently a group displays one or more of the eight symptoms, the worse the quality of their decisions will be.\r\n\r\nHowever, if your group is cohesive, it is not necessarily doomed to engage in groupthink.\r\n
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      Recommendations for Avoiding Groupthink<\/h2>\r\n
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      Groups Should:<\/h2>\r\n