1. Chapter 6 Group Problem Solving and Decision Making

2. Group Decision Making  The process of reaching a judgment based on feedback from more than one individual

3. Rational vs. Political Decision Making  Rational Decision Making Traditional, logical, based on scientific method  Establish goals  Establish alternatives  Examine consequences  Hope for optimum results  Political Decision Making People try to satisfy their self-interests Facts that disagree with personal biases might be rationalized away.

4. Group Problem Solving 1. Identify the problem 2. Clarify the problem 3. Analyze the cause 4. Search for alternative solutions 5. Select alternatives

5. Group Problem Solving (2) 6. Plan for implementation 7. Clarify the contract 8. Develop an action plan 9. Evaluate and hold responsible parties accountable

6. Managing Disagreement in Groups  Disagreement is not necessarily harmful  People disagreeing may have valid points and help prevent Groupthink 

7. Inquiry vs. Advocacy  Inquiry means looking for the best alternative. Open process Many ideas encouraged  Advocacy means fighting for one position. Competitive Some ideas withheld Conflicts arise

8. Brainstorming 5-7 People Everyone contributes No criticism is allowed Freewheeling is encouraged Quantity and variety! Combinations and improvements are encouraged Recorder takes notes Invite outsiders for fresh perspective Don’t overstructure; be spontaneous!

9. Nominal Group Technique  What solutions are available and how will people react to them?

10. Nominal Group Technique Steps 1. Workers are called together 2. Team leader presents a specific question 3. Workers write their ideas down independently, without speaking to other group members 4. Each worker, in turn, presents one idea to the group, but the group does not discuss the ideas 5. After all workers present their ideas, group clarifies and evaluates suggestions. 6. The meeting ends with a silent independent rating of the alternatives on a 1-10 scale. Ratings are averaged to select the best alternative.

11. Standup Meetings  Participants can reach high-quality decisions rapidly But… people prefer to sit Try it if the task can be performed in 30 minutes or less.

12. E-Mail and Meetings  Positives Save time by sending details in advance of meeting Eliminate meetings by communicating electronically  Negatives Inhibit teamwork Lose warmth and non-verbal content Lose creativity found in face-to-face exchanges

13. Groupware  Electronic brainstorming  Shared whiteboard  E-mail and many more….

14. Groupware Uses  Facilitate communication: make it faster, clearer, more persuasive  Enable communication where it wouldn't otherwise be possible  Enable telecommuting (working from home)  Cut down on travel costs  Bring together multiple perspectives and expertise  Assemble groups with common interests where it wouldn't be possible to gather a sufficient number of people face-to-face  Facilitate group problem solving