Friday, March 4, 2011
Group Decision Making & Problem Solving
- A common occurrence is to confuse Decision Making with Problem Solving. They are two different functions.
- Group Decision making results in reaching a conclusion where the group takes a position, holds an opinion, makes a judgment, or takes an action.
- A decision may or may not solve a problem.
- Decision making involves asking the four W questions:
- Who?
- What?
- Where?
- When?
- Problem solving involves analyzing a problem and developing a plan or course of action to remedy the problem or minimize its impact/damage.
- Problem solving questions a group should ask will include:
- Why?
- How?
- Group Decision Making & Problem Solving: Pg. 236
Decision Making: | A judgment the group chooses an alternative. | Ask who, what, where, and when. |
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Problem Solving: | A process: The group develops a plan.
| Asks Why and How? Why doesn’t our promotional campaign attract students? How should we publicize the colleges new programs? |
Decision Making Methods
o Voting
§ Seeks Majority Rule
· Some members win, while other members loose. If the decision is won by 51% of voters, then the other 49% might not be happy about it.
§ Seeks Two-Thirds Vote
· At least twice as many group members must vote for it and ensures a significant number of voters will be satisfied by the decision.
§ Voting works best when:
· A group is pressed for time
· The issue is not highly controversial
· A group is too large to use any other decision-making method.
· A groups constitution or rules require voting on certain types of decisions.
o Consensus Seeking PG. 239
§ A group reaches a consensus when every group member agrees to support a decision or action. This is a decision in which all members find at least minimally acceptable as a means of accomplishing some mutual goal.
§ When reached, a consensus can unite and energize a group.
§ Consensus does not work well for all group situations. If a leader has too much power over a group and members were unwilling to express their authentic ideas/opinions, then it would not work well. Consensus seeking works best where members have equal status in groups that create a climate in which everyone feels comfortable about expressing their views.
(Decision Making Methods: PG. 238)
Types of Structured Problem solving
Through trial, error, and experience, groups will discover what method of problem solving works best for them. Some examples are:
- The Standard Agenda: “Reflective thinking Procedures”
- The Functional Perspective: “Communication behavior Procedures”
- The Single Question Format: “Question Answer Procedures” (p.243)
- The Standard Agenda: “Reflective thinking Procedures”
- The Functional Perspective: “Communication behavior Procedures”
- The Single Question Format: “Question Answer Procedures” (p.243)
The Standard Agenda
“The founding father of problem solving procedures is John Dewey, a U.S.
In a standard agenda the most important thing is to work on understanding the problem, and then take into account all the different possible options for resolving the problem.
The main points of this agenda are:
1) Making sure that everyone understands the task
2) Identifying the Problem
3) Fact Finding: Understanding all facts and aspects of the problem
4) Solution Criteria: Understanding what the solution will entail, and to see if it truly will resolve the issue
5) Solution Suggestions: Identifying known solutions, discussing solutions, and coming up with new ones
6) Evaluating the solutions completely and then choosing the best one
7) Put the solution into effect
In a standard agenda the most important thing is to work on understanding the problem, and then take into account all the different possible options for resolving the problem.
The main points of this agenda are:
1) Making sure that everyone understands the task
2) Identifying the Problem
3) Fact Finding: Understanding all facts and aspects of the problem
4) Solution Criteria: Understanding what the solution will entail, and to see if it truly will resolve the issue
5) Solution Suggestions: Identifying known solutions, discussing solutions, and coming up with new ones
6) Evaluating the solutions completely and then choosing the best one
7) Put the solution into effect
The Functional Perspective
The functional perspective is very much like the standard agenda, but with the addition of preparation, competence, and communication.
1) Preparation is something the group does before it begins the problem solving. Preparation means that the group will: agree to “make the best possible decision” (p. 247), recognize all the resources they have available to problem solve, take into consideration obstacles, and come to a consensus on procedures and rules.
2) Competence means the group will: “understand the issues, determine solution criteria, identify [a wide range] of solutions, analyze the pros and cons, and select the best option.” (p. 248)
3) Communication is essential to a group’s success in problem solving. Group members must all have sharp thinking and speaking skill, as well as strong behavioral traits. They must also follow all the agreed upon rules, and base their arguments and solutions on facts and a desire for the success of the group as a whole.
1) Preparation is something the group does before it begins the problem solving. Preparation means that the group will: agree to “make the best possible decision” (p. 247), recognize all the resources they have available to problem solve, take into consideration obstacles, and come to a consensus on procedures and rules.
2) Competence means the group will: “understand the issues, determine solution criteria, identify [a wide range] of solutions, analyze the pros and cons, and select the best option.” (p. 248)
3) Communication is essential to a group’s success in problem solving. Group members must all have sharp thinking and speaking skill, as well as strong behavioral traits. They must also follow all the agreed upon rules, and base their arguments and solutions on facts and a desire for the success of the group as a whole.
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