Processes that Occur in Group Decision Making

1. Processes that Occur in Group Decision Making • Problem Solving • group as a whole • single coordinated response rather than a group of individual responses • an integrative perspective, cooperative • Persuasion • sides trying to convince each other • increased conflict • coalitions of individuals or sub-groups • distributive approach

2. Benefits of Group Decision Making 1) Synergy: sum of whole is more than sum of the parts 2) Innovation: greater number of approaches 3) Acceptance increases with participation 4) Understanding of decision increases

3. Problems with Group Decision Making 1) Social Pressure • Accept majority view • minority opinions lack influence 2) Social Valence • acceptance of the solution is related to the number of statements made for solution independent of quality 3) Individual Domination • (in leaderless groups) and mere appointment of a leader causes person to dominate discussion 4) Secondary Goal • winning the argument versus finding the best solution

4. Group Polarization The average group member’s post discussion attitude can become more extreme than the average prediscussion attitude when 1) individuals discover in group discussion that their feelings are shared by others 2) persuasive arguments are offered 3) diffusion of responsibility among group members leads individuals to support a more extreme position

5. Groupthink Occurs when concurrence seeking becomes so dominant in a cohesive group that it tends to override realistic appraisal of alternative courses of action Symptoms 1) invulnerability 2) rationalization 3) morality 4) stereotyping 5) peer pressure 6) self-censorship 7) unanimity 8) mindguards