DECISION MAKING

INDIVIDUAL Vs GROUP DECISION MAKING

The interaction among group members results in ideas,
insights, and strategies that no one member previously had
thought of on his or her own. (process gain)
in groups, incorrect solutions are more likely to be recognized
and rejected
groups have a more accurate memory of facts and events
than do individuals.
group members may share unique information that other
members did not know.
 DECISION MAKING
The purpose of group decision making is to decide on well-
considered, well-understood, realistic action toward goals
every member wishes to achieve.
A group decision implies that some agreement prevails among
group members as to which of several courses of action is
most desirable for achieving the group's goals.
Making a decision is just one step in the more general
problem-solving process of goal-directed groups. After
defining a problem or issue, thinking over alternative
courses of action, and weighing the advantages and
disadvantages of each, a group will decide which course is
the most desirable to implement.
 EFFECTIVE GROUP DECISION
There are five major characteristics of an effective group
decision:
1. The resources of group members are fully utilized.
2. Time is well used.
3. The decision is correct or of high quality.
4. The decision is implemented fully by all the required
group members.
5. The problem-solving ability of the group is improved,
or at least not lessened.
 ORIENTATION
Defining the Problem
One particularly valuable outcome of this period of
orientation is the development of a shared mental model
a cognitive schema that organizes declarative and
procedural information pertaining to the problem and the
group that is held in common by the group members.
Planning Process
groups were more productive when they were encouraged
to discuss their performance strategies before working on a
task requiring intermember coordination (Hackman,
Brousseau, & Weiss, 1976).
 DISCUSSION
During the discussion stage, group members gather and process the
information needed to make a decision.
Collective memory
the shared reservoir of information held in the memories of two or
more members of a group.
Information Exchange
Cross-cueing
Transactive memory
Processing Information
Members ask questions, and others offer answers. Alternative
options are discussed, and the strengths and weaknesses of each
option are considered. Group members analyze each others ideas
and offer corrections when they note errors
 DECISION
Social decision scheme A strategy or rule used in a group
to select a single alternative from among various
alternatives proposed and discussed during the groups
deliberations, including explicitly acknowledged
decision rules (e.g., the group accepts the alternative
favored by the majority) and implicit decisional
procedures (e.g., the group accepts the alternative
favored by the most powerful members)
Delegating decisions, Averaging decisions, Plurality
decisions, Unanimous decisions (consensus), Random
decisions
 Decision by authority without discussion
Decision by Expert member
Delegating decisions: An individual, subgroup, or external
party makes the decision for the group.
Averaging decisions: Each group member makes his or her
decision individually (either before or after a group
discussion) and these private recommendations are
averaged together to yield a nominal group decision.
Plurality decisions: Members express their individual
preferences by voting, either publicly or by secret ballot.
Random decisions: The group leaves the final decision to
chance by, say, flipping a coin.
Unanimous decisions (consensus): The group discusses the
issue until it reaches unanimous agreement without voting.
 IMPLEMENTATION
When the die is cast and the decision made, two
significant pieces of work remain to be done.
First, the decision must be implemented. If a union
decides to strike, it must put its strike plan into
effect. If a city planning commission decides that a
new highway bypass is needed, it must take the
steps necessary to begin construction. If an advisory
committee approves an invasion, its members must
mobilize the necessary military forces. Second, the
quality of the decision must be evaluated. Was the
strike necessary? Did we put the highway where it
was needed the most? Was it really such a good idea
to invade Cuba?
 FACTORS THAT AFFECT GROUP
DECISION MAKING
Many of the potential barriers to effective group decision making are:
lack of Group Maturity
uncritically Giving ones Dominant Response
Poor decisions often are made because group members quickly decide on an alternative
course of action based on their dominant response
social loafing: hiding in the Crowd
free Riding: Getting something for nothing
Motivation losses Due to perceived Inequity
Groupthink and Defensive Avoidance
poor Conflict Management by Group Members
egocentrism of Group Members
lack of sufficient heterogeneity
Interference or production Blocking
Inappropriate Group size
Members not having Relevant skills
lack of Individual Incentives for and Barriers to Contributing