Decision_Making_in_Groups

The purpose of this paper is to identify decision making and the strengths and weaknesses of a group making a decision. This process may perhaps lead to an improvement in the organizational experiment of decision making. Before an organization to exist there must be a collection of different individuals trying to achieve the same purpose. Several different issues can arise when a group comes together to discuss the issue that is at hand, discuss the different ideas, and to be able to formulate a plan throughout the organization. In able to become more effective and efficient performances is key. With the performances of the organization they must use the proper techniques in order to accomplish a specific task or activity they are trying to achieve. When planning on the way the organization is going to handle the task or activity the group must brainstorm. Brainstorming is a major part of the organization, along with meetings. If the organization doesn’t have good communication they are not able to assist in the complicated situation. The organization must be able to rely on verbal and non verbal interface in order to communicate. There for assuming that these methods are facilitated, this will increase the organizations decision making. If the organization has poorly organized meeting this will cause the members of the organization to second guess themselves and sometimes this causes the members to hold back any alternative ideas. This is due to the hidden pressures they have and the pressures of judgment and disapproval of recommendations that the members might have during their meetings. Brainstorming utilizes “an idea-generation process that specifically encourages any and all alternatives while withholding and criticism (Robert, Judge, Millett & Waters-Marsh, 2008).” When it comes to an organization brainstorming there are two components. The first one is defined as free wheeling which means that the organization share and record all the different ideas concurrently as they are being expressed by the group. There is a downfall to this type of method being used it is known as production blocking. “Production blocking is a common issue that forces a disruption in brain activity caused by the inability for more than one group member to talk at the same time (Kerr and Tindale, 2004).” This causes the randomness of the organization speaking in which turns as a distraction. In turn this also distracts the concentration of the organization and their train of thought. “The second method is defined as the Round-Robin, this is where members of the organization have a chance to speak at a precise time and has the opportunity to pass if needed (Kelly, 1994).” The performance of a group organization involves taking into account the opinions and needs of each member. An important functioning for an group organization is being able to come to an equitable decision as efficiently as possible. In order for an organization to become successful there are many steps that needs to happen before a team organization can be successful. First the team organization needs to identify the decision that needs to be made. Before the team organization can even began to gather any information and list any alternatives for the project, the group must clearly understand what it is they are trying to understand. Once the group fully understands the issue at hand they must decide on a goal for the discussion. “Potential questions to ask are: What are the particulars of the assigned task' What are we being asked to do' What conflicts is affecting out groups effectiveness' What barriers to effective group work are we facing' (University of Waterloo, n.d.).” After the group has answered the above questions they need to analyze the issue that has been given to them. Once the group has established a goal, and to conclude if they are going to run into any problems that they would have to overcome, they examine the data and resources that were given to them. After they exam the information they need to identify if there is any more information that is going to be needed. “Ask yourselves: What is causing the problem' For whom is this a problem' What is wrong with the current situation' Why do we need to deal with this issue/decision' Where else can we find resources' (University of Waterloo, n.d.).” Establishing the criteria, identify the criteria to make sure that the goals that were set are going to give a successful solution. In order for the criteria to be successful the group must use each member to their abilities and strengths. The group needs to rank the criteria in order of importance. This is done because there maybe some issues that cannot be resolved. As a team they evaluate the options that they have and select the best option to get the job done. But keep in mind that each member of the team has different options and not everyone is going to agree on the best approach to get the job done. By implementing a solution this involves by identifying the resources necessary to implement the decisions. Plus by implementing the team can also see if there is going to be any obstacles in their way that they might have to take action on. Once all the correct steps are taken then the group needs to monitor and evaluate the outcome. By evaluating the outcome they can decide if the decisions that they make were successful. (University of Waterloo, n.d.).” A great example of a successful team organization is the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In December of 2004 the task force in Detroit (Eastern District of Michigan), had started a team organization to work with the community. Once the team had organized their plan they engaged the community by immediately building on the credibility that the Weed & Seed program has already been established (PSN, 2004). During the organization part of the PSN several key themes where noted in their discussions. The PSN trial based their program in target areas with the same crime, same problem solving. Once they released that the program had been successful in one area they decisded that they would exspan. Throughout their team organization they came to the conclusion that the ‘community engagement has been most successful where the PSN task force have worked with their partners Weed & Seed (PSN, 2004).” The community engagement within the PSN is a step-by-step process that begins with an outreach and a dialogue throughout the community in order to build trust. The community outreach does not have any over complex, or expensive that the community has to pay. There are certain steps that any task force can take in the short term to increase the involvement of the community in the PSN (PSN, 2004). The PSN has various types of meetings that can be held throughout the community and give them the opportunities to share their different ideas and concerns. The first meeting that the PSN held was very small, “so a high ranking law enforcement representative, the Weed & Seed steering committee, and representatives of faith and community organizations. This group of members were asked to spread the word about a second town meeting that was going to be held (PSN, 2004). “The second meeting attracted more than 400 people and included a question and answer session as well as a “call to action.” Community participants were asked to report crimes to the police or Crime Stoppers tip line and to sign up for the existing citizens patrol and block clubs/Neighborhood Watch (22 new block watches started as a result). Distribution of trigger locks and a state police presentation on gun safety were also part of the agenda. (PSN, 2004).” This has became a very successful organization and has cut down in the crime throughout the community. In order for a person to understand what exactly is a bad decision, it is important that the person first establishes what is ment by bad decisions. A bad decision is one in which you override your senses and choose an option that, at some level, you know you should not. To make it more clear some people consider that if things happen to go extremely wrong after they have made a bad decision they end up evaluating the decision as a bad one. The person has to understand that there are going to consequences for the bad decision that they have made. A perfect example of a bad decision that is made is References: University of Waterloo, Group Decision Making. Reterived on April 11, 2011 from http://www.cte.uwaterloo.ca/teaching_resources/tips/group_decision_making.html Project Safe Neighborhoods, Examples of Community Engagement in PSN, December. 2004 Retierved on April 11, 2011 from http://www.psn.gov/pubs/page5.html The Effects of Bad Decisions, reterived on April 11, 2011 from http://www.decision-making-confidence.com/effects-of-bad-decisions.html