Group Process,Decision Making

8/8/2019 Group Process,Decision Making

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Group ProcessesGroup Processes

Group process generally refers to what happens in the group,Group process generally refers to what happens in the group,

especially in terms of the development and evolution ofespecially in terms of the development and evolution of

patterns of relationships between and among grouppatterns of relationships between and among group

participants.participants.

It refers to the communication patterns used by members forIt refers to the communication patterns used by members for

information exchanges, group decision processes, leaderinformation exchanges, group decision processes, leader

behavior, power dynamics, conflict interactionsbehavior, power dynamics, conflict interactions


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Groups can create outputs greater than the sum of theirGroups can create outputs greater than the sum of their

inputsinputs

Group processes can impact on a groups actual effectivenessGroup processes can impact on a groups actual effectiveness


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Synergy &Social LoafingSynergy &Social Loafing

Synergy can be defined as an action of two or moreSynergy can be defined as an action of two or more

substances that results in an effect that is different from thesubstances that results in an effect that is different from the

individual summation of the substancesindividual summation of the substances

Social loafing represents negative synergySocial loafing represents negative synergy

Social loafing refers to this tendency for individual effort toSocial loafing refers to this tendency for individual effort to

decline as group size increasesdecline as group size increases


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Laboratory studies refined these theories by identifyingLaboratory studies refined these theories by identifying

situational factors that moderated theSocial loafing effect, itsituational factors that moderated theSocial loafing effect, itoccurred when:occurred when:

(1) The task was perceived to be unimportant, simple or not(1) The task was perceived to be unimportant, simple or not

interestinginteresting

(2) Group members thought their individual output was not(2) Group members thought their individual output was notidentifiableidentifiable

(3) Group members expected their co(3) Group members expected their co--workers to loafworkers to loaf


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Social Facilitation EffectSocial Facilitation Effect

It refers to this tendency for performance to improve orIt refers to this tendency for performance to improve or

decline in response to the presence of othersdecline in response to the presence of others

The research onSocial facilitation tells that the performanceThe research onSocial facilitation tells that the performance

of simple, routine tasks tend to be speeded up & made moreof simple, routine tasks tend to be speeded up & made moreaccurate by the presence of othersaccurate by the presence of others

When the work is more complex, requiring closer attention,When the work is more complex, requiring closer attention,

the presence of others is likely to have a negative effect onthe presence of others is likely to have a negative effect on

performanceperformance People seem to perform better on a task in the presence ofPeople seem to perform better on a task in the presence of

others if that task is very well learned, but poor if it is notothers if that task is very well learned, but poor if it is not

well learnedwell learned


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Group Decision MakingGroup Decision Making

Many organizational decisions are made by groupsMany organizational decisions are made by groups Its a rare organization that doesnt at some time useIts a rare organization that doesnt at some time use

committees, task forces, review panels, study teams to makecommittees, task forces, review panels, study teams to makedecisionsdecisions

Studies show that managers may spend up to 70% of theirStudies show that managers may spend up to 70% of theirtime in group meetingstime in group meetings

The term group decision making refers to a group playing aThe term group decision making refers to a group playing arole in making a decisionrole in making a decision

Group decision making takes place in different degrees:Group decision making takes place in different degrees:(1) Consultative(1) Consultative

(2) Democratic(2) Democratic

(3) Consensus(3) Consensus


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Consultative decision making is one in which the group leaderConsultative decision making is one in which the group leaderconsults with members before making a decisionconsults with members before making a decision

Democratic decision making is one in which the problem atDemocratic decision making is one in which the problem athand is turned over to the group, & they are empowered tohand is turned over to the group, & they are empowered tomake the decision themselvesmake the decision themselves

Consensus decision making is one in which the managerConsensus decision making is one in which the managershares the problem with group membersshares the problem with group members

Together they generate & evaluate alternatives & attempt toTogether they generate & evaluate alternatives & attempt toreach agreement on a solutionreach agreement on a solution

Consensus is achieved when every member can say, I haveConsensus is achieved when every member can say, I havehad an opportunity to express my views fully, & they havehad an opportunity to express my views fully, & they havebeen thoughtfully considered by the groupbeen thoughtfully considered by the group


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Advantages of GroupAdvantages of Groupdecision makingdecision making

Provides more complete informationProvides more complete information: Two heads are better: Two heads are betterthan one. Agroup brings a diversity of experience &than one. Agroup brings a diversity of experience &perspectives to the decision process that an individual cannotperspectives to the decision process that an individual cannot

Generate more alternativesGenerate more alternatives: Because groups have a greater: Because groups have a greateramount & diversity of information, they can identify moreamount & diversity of information, they can identify morealternatives than an individual. This advantage isalternatives than an individual. This advantage isparticularly evident when group members represent differentparticularly evident when group members represent differentareas of expertise. For instance, a team made up ofareas of expertise. For instance, a team made up of

individuals from engineering, accounting, production,individuals from engineering, accounting, production,marketing & HR will generate alternatives that reflect theirmarketing & HR will generate alternatives that reflect theirdiverse perspectivesdiverse perspectives


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Increase legitimacyIncrease legitimacy: The group decision: The group decision--making process ismaking process is

consistent with democratic ideas, & decisions made by groupsconsistent with democratic ideas, & decisions made by groupsmay be perceived as more legitimate than decisions mademay be perceived as more legitimate than decisions made

unilaterally by one personunilaterally by one person


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Disadvantages of GroupDisadvantages of Groupdecision makingdecision making

Time consumingTime consuming: Putting a group together takes time as does: Putting a group together takes time as doesany decision making within the group. The result is thatany decision making within the group. The result is thatgroups almost always take more time to reach a solution thangroups almost always take more time to reach a solution thanit would take an individualit would take an individual

Minority dominationMinority domination: Members of a group are never perfectly: Members of a group are never perfectlyequal. They may differ in experience, knowledge about theequal. They may differ in experience, knowledge about theproblem, influence with other members, verbal skills,problem, influence with other members, verbal skills,assertiveness. This inequality creates the opportunity for oneassertiveness. This inequality creates the opportunity for one

or more members to dominate others.or more members to dominate others. Ambiguous responsibilityAmbiguous responsibility: In an individual decision, its clear: In an individual decision, its clear

who is responsible. In a group decision, the responsibility ofwho is responsible. In a group decision, the responsibility ofany single member is dilutedany single member is diluted


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Effectiveness & Efficiency of GroupEffectiveness & Efficiency of Group

decision makingdecision making Whether groups are effective at making decisions depends onWhether groups are effective at making decisions depends on

the criteria one uses to assess effectivenessthe criteria one uses to assess effectiveness

The effectiveness of group decision making is also influencedThe effectiveness of group decision making is also influencedby the size of the groupby the size of the group

The larger the group, the greater the opportunity for diverseThe larger the group, the greater the opportunity for diverse

representationrepresentation

On the other hand, a larger group requires more coordinationOn the other hand, a larger group requires more coordination& more time for members to contribute their ideas& more time for members to contribute their ideas

Evidence indicates that groups of five are the most effectiveEvidence indicates that groups of five are the most effective


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In terms of accuracy, group decisions will tend to be moreIn terms of accuracy, group decisions will tend to be more

accurateaccurate

Evidence indicates that groups make better quality decisionsEvidence indicates that groups make better quality decisionsthan individualsthan individuals

If decision effectiveness is defined in terms of speed,If decision effectiveness is defined in terms of speed,

individuals are superiorindividuals are superior

In terms of creativity, groups tend to be more effective thanIn terms of creativity, groups tend to be more effective than

individualsindividuals

But effectiveness cannot be considered without assessingBut effectiveness cannot be considered without assessing

efficiencyefficiency With few exceptions, group decision making consumes moreWith few exceptions, group decision making consumes more

work hours than if an individual were to tackle the samework hours than if an individual were to tackle the same

problemproblem


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Group versus Individual Decision MakingGroup versus Individual Decision Making

Table summarizes when groups or individuals are mostTable summarizes when groups or individuals are most

effectiveeffective

Criteria ofCriteria of

effectivenesseffectiveness

GroupsGroups Individuals Individuals

AccuracyAccuracy

SpeedSpeed

CreativityCreativityDegree ofDegree of

acceptanceacceptance

EfficiencyEfficiency


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Group Decision making TechniquesGroup Decision making Techniques

BrainstormingBrainstorming

The Nominal Group TechniqueThe Nominal Group Technique

The Delphi TechniqueThe Delphi Technique

Electronic MeetingElectronic Meeting


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BrainstormingBrainstorming

Brainstorming was developed byA.F Osborn, anBrainstorming was developed byA.F Osborn, an

advertising executive, to increase creativityadvertising executive, to increase creativity It refers to an ideaIt refers to an idea--generation process that specificallygeneration process that specifically

encourages any & all alternatives, while withholding anyencourages any & all alternatives, while withholding any

criticism of those alternativescriticism of those alternatives

In a typical brainstorming session, a halfIn a typical brainstorming session, a half--dozen to a dozendozen to a dozen

people sit around a tablepeople sit around a table

The group leader states the problem in a clear manner soThe group leader states the problem in a clear manner so

that it is understood by all participantsthat it is understood by all participants Members the talk about as many alternatives as they canMembers the talk about as many alternatives as they can

in a given length of timein a given length of time

No criticism is allowed, & all the alternatives are recordedNo criticism is allowed, & all the alternatives are recorded

for later discussion & analysisfor later discussion & analysis


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The Nominal Group TechniqueThe Nominal Group Technique

It refers to a group decisionIt refers to a group decision--making method in whichmaking method in whichindividual members meet faceindividual members meet face--toto--face to pool their judgmentsface to pool their judgmentsin a systematic but independent fashionin a systematic but independent fashion

Group members are all physically present, as in a traditionalGroup members are all physically present, as in a traditional

committee meeting, but members operate independentlycommittee meeting, but members operate independently Aproblem is presented & then the following steps take place:Aproblem is presented & then the following steps take place:

(1) Members meet as a group but, before any discussion takes(1) Members meet as a group but, before any discussion takesplace, each member independently writes down his or herplace, each member independently writes down his or her

ideas on the problemideas on the problem(2)After this silent period, each member presents one idea to the(2)After this silent period, each member presents one idea to the

group. Each member takes his or her turn, presenting a singlegroup. Each member takes his or her turn, presenting a singleidea until all ideas have been presented & recorded.idea until all ideas have been presented & recorded.


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(3)(3) The group now discusses the ideas for clarity & evaluatesThe group now discusses the ideas for clarity & evaluates

themthem

(4) Each group member silently & independently rank(4) Each group member silently & independently rank--orders theorders theideas. The idea with the highest aggregate ranking determinesideas. The idea with the highest aggregate ranking determines

the final decisionthe final decision

The chief advantage of the nominal group technique is that itThe chief advantage of the nominal group technique is that it

permits the group to meet formally but does not restrictpermits the group to meet formally but does not restrict

independent thinkingindependent thinking


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The Delphi TechniqueThe Delphi Technique

It incorporates a carefully structured sequence ofIt incorporates a carefully structured sequence ofquestionnaires distributed to each group member, usually byquestionnaires distributed to each group member, usually byee--mailmail

Each person answers the questionnaire about the problem atEach person answers the questionnaire about the problem athand & transmits his responses & thoughts to thehand & transmits his responses & thoughts to thecoordinator on an attached file or directly on the ecoordinator on an attached file or directly on the e--mailmailmessagemessage

The leader aggregates the responses, & then sends them backThe leader aggregates the responses, & then sends them backto the team, & asks for feedbackto the team, & asks for feedback

Group members must trust the leader to aggregate &Group members must trust the leader to aggregate &integrate the responses honestlyintegrate the responses honestly

In the last round of the questionnaire, group members areIn the last round of the questionnaire, group members areasked to vote for their choice of solutionsasked to vote for their choice of solutions


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Electronic MeetingElectronic Meeting

Ameeting where members interact on computers, allowing forAmeeting where members interact on computers, allowing foranonymity of comments & aggregating of votesanonymity of comments & aggregating of votes

Up to 50 people sit around a table, empty except for a seriesUp to 50 people sit around a table, empty except for a seriesof computer terminalsof computer terminals

Issues are presented to participants & they type theirIssues are presented to participants & they type theirresponses onto their computer screenresponses onto their computer screen

Individual comments, as well as aggregate votes are displayedIndividual comments, as well as aggregate votes are displayedon a projection screen in the roomon a projection screen in the room

The major advantage of electronic meetings are anonymity,The major advantage of electronic meetings are anonymity,honesty & speedhonesty & speed

Its fast because chitchat is eliminatedIts fast because chitchat is eliminated


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Groupthink & GroupshiftGroupthink & Groupshift

The two byThe two by--products of group decision making that haveproducts of group decision making that have

received a lot of attention by researchers in OB are:received a lot of attention by researchers in OB are:

(1) Groupthink(1) Groupthink

(2) Groupshift(2) Groupshift


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GroupthinkGroupthink


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Group Process,Decision Making