Page 258 - Effective group discussion theory and practice by Adams, Katherine H. Brilhart, John K. Galanes, Gloria J
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Problem Solving and Decision Making in Groups 241
FIGURE 9.1
Conflict Decision emergence Reinforcement Orientation Conflict Decision emergence Reinforcement Orientation Conflict Decision emergence
Decision making
within the
development of
a small group
Orientation Conflict Decision emergence Reinforcement Orientation
Series of decisions
Group Group Group
infancy adolescence maturity
As you can see, group decision making is complicated, with numerous factors
potentially influencing phasic progression. Thus, from our review of work on phasic
progression and from our own experience, we envision a group cycling repeatedly
through phases like those Fisher described while moving gradually forward from early
formation to full and efficient production. This movement is captured in the spirals of
Figure 9.1.
This back- and-forth spiral movement is typical of many continuing groups.
Scheidel and Crowell observed the spiral- like progression of a group’s problem-
solving process and noted that a group does not move in a clear, straight line
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toward a decision. This spiral- like effect has been observed by others. Sabourin
and Geist described the collaborative nature of group decision making as a process
in which group members build on each other’s proposals. Fisher and Stutman
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also observed the messy, but ultimately progressive, nature of the spiral model.
60
However, Pavitt and Johnson found great variation in the spiraling exhibited by the
groups that these authors analyzed, ranging from little or no spiraling to much
more than the spiral model indicates. Even so, it is helpful for members found to
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know that such messy cycling between problem analysis to a decision and solution
discussion is normal; a group’s progress often seems to be “two steps forward, one
step back.”
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