Group Decision-Making and Problem-Solving Strategies

Group Decision-Making

Making a decision from among several different alternatives

Decision-Making Process

Steps to analyze and choose alternatives.

ASCGRM

Analyze the Decision

Assess/understand the current situation

Seek Information

Collect data/information to understand decision context.

Clarify Group Goals

Discuss desired outcomes collectively.

Identify Multiple Options

Use steps 1,2,and 3 to identify as many alternatives as possible

Evaluate positive/ negative Alternatives

Assess each alternative individually

Make a Choice

Select option that meets group goals.

Decision by Expert

Choice made by a knowledgeable individual.

Majority Rule

Decision based on majority agreement.

decision by consensus

discussion leads to one alternative being favored by most members and the other members agree to support it

Dialectical Theory

Problem-solving is characterized by competing tensions that can pull conversation in differing directions

Stability vs. Change
Separate vs. Connected
Individual needs vs. Team needs
Structure vs. Interaction

Fischer's Phase Model

Orientation--> Conflict--> Emergence--> Reinforcement.

Gersick's Punctuated Equilibrium

Line starting bottom left then going top right

Poole's Multisequence Model

Task track on top (3), relational track in middle (2), and topic track on bottom (1)

Sunk Cost Bias

"We've made it this far, we'll never give up!"

Overconfidence Bias

"I've led 39 people to the top. I'm the best in the business"

Recency Bias

"Nobody has experienced bad weather in years"

Reflective Thinking Process

Structured approach to problem identification and solving.

Shared Information Bias

favoring information which group members share as the basis for decisions and to discount unshared information (even if it is relevant)

Preference Bias

Dismissing opposing opinions in discussions because they don't align with their own opinions.

Ownership Bias

Valuing one's own information more highly.

Social Validation Bias

Trusting information more when validated by multiple individuals

Group Creativity

The generation, application, combination, and extension of new ideas

Amabile's Componential Theory

Creativity depends on novelty, feasibility, and impact.

Divergence

Efforts to identify diverse perspectives and reveal differing knowledge

Convergence

Efforts to integrate diverse perspectives to achieve common ground

Pros of Remote Work

Its easy
More spread out
Potential for reduced redundancy
Potential for creativity

Affordances

Potential uses of technology based on specific social context.

Effective Virtual Teams

Strategies for enhancing teamwork in digital spaces.

Decision by Average rankings

Rank the options in order

Random choice

Choose the outcome by random

Decision by vocal minority

Small group of people that are loud or outspoken about an issue

Scheidel and Crowell's Spiraling Model

Orientation, conflict, emergence, and reinforcement in 4 roller coaster circles

Why is problem solving so hard?

Consensus is rare
Discussion can turn into conflict
People can be reluctant to conflict
Many biases can result in false security

CDPM

Biases and barriers to problem-solving?

SC, O, R, GT, TP

Group dynamics and team structure

Power dynamics can silence minority opinions

Time pressures

Can lead teams to take shortcuts/ use heuristics

Problem-solving strategies

A,I,C,I,E,M

Novelty

proposed solution departs from existing approaches

Feasibility

proposed solution can be achieved in the current social context

Impact

proposed solution provides the potential to solve the problem at hand

Pros of divergence?

Generates a rich variety of resources, ideas, and perspectives

Cons of divergence?

Plethora of options--> Ambiguity how to proceed, fracturing

Pros of convergence?

Common-ground; coordination

Cons of convergence?

Homogenizing; dilute benefits of diversity

What does the affordance theory remind us of?

We have the agency to influence the effects of technology

Step one of reflective thinking process?

Identify and define problem

Inputs, process, and outputs of identify and define problem?

Input= interviews, data from observations, experiences,etc

Process=Journalist 6 questions, SWOT analysis, Is/ is not analysis

Output= clearly defined problem statement

Step two of reflective thinking process?

Analyze the problem

Inputs, process, and outputs of analyze the problem?

Input= Problem statement from step 1

Process=Fishbone diagram, force-field analysis

Output= Our solution needs to address ____

Step three of reflective thinking process?

Identify possible solutions

Inputs, process, and outputs of identify possible solutions

Input= Solution criteria from step 2 (our solution needs to address)

Process= Brainstorming

Output= 3-5 possible solutions

Step four of reflective thinking process?

Select the best solution

Inputs, process, and outputs of select the best solution

Input= Possible solutions from step 3

Process= Pros and cons, rankings

Output= Decision of best possible solution(s)

Step five of reflective thinking process?

Implement the solution

Effects of the hidden profile?

Shared information bias

Why do people have individual biases?

Preference, ownership, and social validation bias

How can we address individual biases?

Be aware (warning beforehand)

Evaluate data not it's consistency

Use structured processes that actively seek multiple choices, and consider the (+/-) of each outcome

Why do we have group dynamics?

Groups often enter decision-making with a competitive frame as opposed to a collaborative orientation

People tend to advocate for opinions they have, rather than question them

Pressures toward conformity

Groups often punish dissenting views

Rather than learn from each other, groups often spend time justifying their early choices

"Majority Wins" rule

Time constraints exacerbate this: groups tend to discuss shared information first, before finding unshared information

GPPGRMT

First step of enabling creative problem solving?

Be aware of and manage potentially negative group dynamics

(e.g. Decision biases, defensive climate, low psychological safety)

Second step of enabling creative problem solving?

Actively seek & use minority / dissenting opinions

Third step of enabling creative problem solving?

Try to dissociate individual ideas from their authors

e.g.= Confirmatory language

Fourth step of enabling creative problem solving?

Be data driven

e.g.=When you reach an impasse, seek more data

Fifth step of enabling creative problem solving?

Use a shared display & visual aids

Sixth step of enabling creative problem solving?

Assign task & maintenance roles

How to enable creative problem solving?

BATBUA

Why do we need a problem-solving process?

Divergence and Convergence

(+) novelty & impact, but (-) feasibility

Far out ideas

(+) feasibility & impact, but (-) novelty

Existing conventional solutions

(+) novelty & feasibility, but (-) impact

Wacky ideas

Influences on teamwork?

Non-task oriented speech

Dramatic increase in coordination labor
(Scheduling meetings and sharing documents)

Decreased perspective taking and mutual awareness
(Less likely to identify psuedo conflict.
More likely to encounter mixed motivations)

Attention, familiarity, trust, group identity, and cooperation are all down

Specific strategies to enable effective virtual teams?

Early phases of group development remain essential
(In-person meetings are especially valuable!
Formalized efforts help too (e.g. team charters))

Prioritize and incentivize bonding opportunities
(Onboard new members by explicitly assigning tasks requiring collaboration)

Cultivate digital spaces to establish awareness of each other's knowledge & skills

Build digital spaces for informal connection
(e.g. open digital office hours from senior members and respected experts)