Page 294 - 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         277

                     smug and unwilling to think of new approaches. Then procedures to increase innova-
                     tion may be essential.
                        The acceptance requirements of a problem refer to the extent to which a proposed   Acceptance
                     solution must be acceptable to people whom it will affect. Legislation enacted to solve   Requirements
                     public problems has often backfired when acceptance requirements were overlooked.   The degree to which
                     A task force recently created a planning and zoning ordinance for a county near where   the solution for a
                     one of us lives, but citizen groups, although acknowledging a need for some such law,   given problem must
                     refused to accept it. The United States experiences epic struggles over laws controlling   be accepted by the
                     guns, marijuana, and cell phone use while driving. Sometimes a group must give   people it will affect.
                     heavy consideration to the acceptability of a solution; at other times, little or none.
                        The  technical requirements characteristic of a problem’s solution refers to   Technical
                     whether it must match some standard of technical excellence or technical feasibility.   Requirements
                     For instance, Toyota has had to rethink its quality control procedures, due to several   The degree to which
                     disastrous recalls.                                                  the solution for a given
                        Use common sense when you modify P-MOPS. One of us spent two hours in a   problem is technically
                     staff meeting trying to decide what would be the most appropriate thank-you gift for a   feasible or must meet
                     college’s outgoing board of trustees. What a waste of time! Heavy problem analysis,   standards of technical
                     which the group leader insisted on, was unnecessary—there was no possibility of mak-  excellence.
                     ing a mistake because all the options were appropriate. In fact, the staff would have
                     been happy to have the leader select the gifts, with or without consultation. Examples
                     of P-MOPS modifications suggested by a problem’s characteristics are shown in
                     Table 10.9.



                                                                                          TABLE 10.9
                                                       Adaptation of Problem-Solving      How problem
                      Problem Characteristic           Procedure                            characteristics
                                                                                            suggest ways to
                      1.  Intrinsic interest is high.  A period of ventilation before systematic
                                                          problem solving.                adapt P-MOPS
                      2. Task difficulty is high.      Detailed problem mapping; many
                                                          subquestions.
                      3.  Solution multiplicity is high.  Brainstorming.
                      4.  Cooperative requirements     A criterion step, creating and ranking
                        are high.                         explicit criteria.
                      5. High level of acceptance is    Focus on concern of people affected
                        required.                         when evaluating options.
                      6. High level of technical quality    Focus on evaluating ideas, critical
                        is required.                      thinking; perhaps invite outside
                                                          experts to address group.
                      7.  Population familiarity is high.  Focus on criteria and creation of multiple
                                                          options.
                      8.  Need only one or a few stages    Shorten procedure to only steps
                        of the problem-solving process.   required.









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