Audio version of "Group decision making" tip sheet (MP3) Show
Because the performance of a group involves taking into account the needs and opinions of every group member, being able to come to an equitable decision as efficiently as possible is important for the functioning of the group. There are a variety of ways to make decisions as a group; the seven-step decision-making model presented below offers an effective structure for choosing an appropriate course of action for a particular task or project. It can also be an effective method for dealing with a problem or interpersonal conflict that arises within the group.
Decision-making methodsIn order to make the jump from brainstorming potential solutions for solving a problem to evaluating and selecting the best solution, group members need to make decisions. There are several possible methods of decision making that a group can use. A few of them are briefly described below, with advantages on the left and disadvantages on the right for each one: Decision by authorityThe group generates ideas and holds open discussions, but the final decision is made by one person.
Decision by majorityThe group holds a vote on a particular issue following a period of discussion. The majority wins.
Decision by negative minorityThe group holds a vote for the most unpopular idea and eliminates it. They repeat this process until only one idea is left.
Decision by rankingGroup members individually write down the 5 (or fewer) ideas they like best, then rank each idea from 1 to 5, with 5 being the best. The votes are recorded on the board and totalled. The idea with the highest total is selected.
Decision by unanimityAll group members must agree that the decision is the best one.
Decision by consensusThe decision is discussed and negotiated until everyone affected by it understands and agrees with what will be done. Consensus in decision making means that all members genuinely agree that the decision is acceptable. After a group has identified a decision to be made, each member is asked how he/she feels about the proposed decision by selecting one of the following responses:
If all the responses from the group members are 1, 2, 3, or 4, you have a consensus and are ready to move on.
Combining ideasInstead of dropping one idea in favor of another, the group searches for possibilities of implementing both or combining them into one solution.
Example:
Resources
When developing a new system there are three approaches that can be used they are?How many approaches are there for system design? There are three approaches to system design. And, they include structured design, function-oriented design, and object-oriented design.
Which of the following is not a factor for selecting a design strategy?In-house experience is not a factor to be considered for selecting a design strategy since a company is always able to hire experienced developers. Packaged diagrams cannot be verified or validated since they are too general.
When the business need is unique and the process is critical to the business the most appropriate system acquisition strategy is?A(n) value added contract, that is gaining in popularity, provides for the outsourcer to gain a percentage of the completed systems benefits. 33. When the business need is unique and the process is critical to the business, the most appropriate development strategy is packaged software.
When the timeframe for implementation is short it is best to consider custom development?When the timeframe for implementation is short, it is best to consider custom development. An alternative matrix combines several feasibility analyses into one table so that the pros and cons of alternatives can be easily compared. A request for information is used to solicit proposals from vendors.
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