Group Decision Making

Group Decision-
Making
Large groups facilitate the pooling of
information about complex tasks.
 Smaller groups are better suited to
coordinating and facilitating the
implementation of complex tasks.
 Simple, routine standardized tasks reduce the
requirement that group processes be effective
in order for the group to perform well.
 Group Decision Making
 Advantages  Disadvantages
 Generates more  Time consuming
complete information  Minority domination
and knowledge.
 Pressures to conform
 Generates more
diverse alternatives.  Ambiguous
responsibility
 Increases acceptance
of a solution.
 Increases legitimacy
of decision.
 Problems in Group
Decision Making
When groups are...
• Highly cohesive
• Insulated from outside
input
• Dominated by leader
...they often experience
GROUPTHINK...
• Illusion of invulnerability
• Illusion of morality
• Illusion of unanimity
• Stereotyping of opponents
• Rationalization
...leading to decisions
characterized by...
• Limited search for
information
• Limited analysis of
alternatives
• Rejection of expert
opinions
• Few, if any, contingency
plans
...that result in...
• Decisions of poor quality
• Poor group performance
• Wasted resources
• Lost opportunities
Groupthink Defined

Groupthink indicates a situation where members

complete consensus overrides their motivation to
disagree with an argument or critically and
realistically evaluate other available alternatives
Symptoms of Groupthink
 Illusion of invulnerability
 They overestimate their ability to succeed against high odd and they

start taking greater risks and ignore obvious danger signals

 Collective rationalization
 When group start taking more time justifying the decision rather

than reflecting upon and rethinking past decisions.

 Belief in inherent morality

 When Members have a strong belief that the group is acting good

for all. This belief is so strong that the decision taken by the group
are not only considered sensible but also morally correct
Symptoms of Groupthink
 Self-censorship
 Its situation where the doubts regarding wisdom of
group consensus are internally suppressed. The
group members tends to minimize the importance
of their own feelings of disagreements.
 Illusion of unanimity
 Everyone might disagree but everyone thinks that
everyone else agrees. Means where the team
members remain silent rather than expressing his
disagreement.
Quality of Decisions

The quality of group decisions depends on:

The manner in which group members attempt to

evaluate the validity of opinions and assumptions
advanced by fellow members.
The manner in which group members attempt to
evaluate alternative choices in light of established criteria.
The nature of influence exerted by influential members
of the group.
Techniques for Making More
Creative Group
Decisions