Page 270 - Effective group discussion theory and practice by Adams, Katherine H. Brilhart, John K. Galanes, Gloria J

Problem Solving and Decision Making in Groups 253

Recap: A Quick Review

any things can affect the processes of problem solving and decision making,
Mwhich require vigilance on the part of group members.
1. Among the factors that can impair decision making are the facts that members often
do not share the information they have with each other, do not use a systematic
process for decision making, fail to test for consensus, and pay too much attention
to ascribed (external) status.
2. Hidden profile conditions, where members together have the information they need
to make the best decision, but individually do not have what they need, can be
overcome if members appreciate their diversity of opinion and seek out opinions
contrary to their initial preferences.
3. Group polarization, the tendency of groups to make decisions that are more
extreme than the individuals in the group would make on their own, can hurt deci-
sion making by shifting members too far toward either risk or caution.
4. Social Comparison Theory explains polarization by noting that members want to
look good to each other on the values important to the group, so they exaggerate
their opinions in those directions.
5. Persuasive Arguments Theory explains polarization by noting that the number,
novelty, and salience of the arguments members hear from each other pushes them
in a particular direction.
6. Groupthink, the failure of group members to think critically and evaluate information
thoroughly, has been blamed for several disastrous decisions, including the launch
of the shuttle Challenger and the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW

The opening case in this chapter concerned a group of types of questions seem harder to resolve than
officials in O’Fallon, Missouri, who were faced with others? If so, which ones?
finding a long- term solution to the city’s water treatment 4. What were the criteria against which the group
problems. Reread the case, if necessary, to answer the compared its three realistic options? Why do you
following review questions: think the solution chosen— the membrane treatment
facility— met the criteria better than the others?
1. How systematic in its problem- solving approach did
the O’Fallon group seem to be? Do you think they Where were the others weaker?
achieved the assembly effect? 5. How critical was the O’Fallon group’s thinking?
2. How well did they seem to meet the functions iden- What examples in the story lead you to that
tified by the Functional Perspective as being neces- conclusion?
sary for good problem solving? 6. Is there any evidence that the O’Fallon group’s
3. What types of questions did the group have to deal problem- solving process experienced polarization
with in the course of solving its problem? Do some or groupthink?

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