Small Group Decision Makaing Processes

Decisionmaking in groups has been described as a process of behavior with the economic model (or total rationality) at one extreme, and with the social model (or complete irrationality) at the other extreme (Kimberly, & Rottman, 1987). This description implies that only irrational decisionmaking accords human values precedence over economic values. In the group environments of the early1990s, some middle ground must be found between these extremes, for it is evident that neither set of values can be ignored.

It is recognized that the application of specific approaches to decisionmaking must, to some extent, consider leadership styles, personalities, and group requirements (Lenz, & Engledow, 1986). First, in the context of group conflict, which often develops at the time of change implementation, the decisionmaking behaviors of managers and administrators affect significantly the development of such conflict, and these

1 2decisionmaking behaviors are products of the leadership styles of the administrators and managers (Schilit, & Paine, 1987). Second, specific approaches to decisionmaking will often be shunned, if the procedure conflicts with the cognitive perspectives of decisionmakers (Schwenk, 1988).

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nmaking. A significant advantage to the process is that the potential range of knowledge among a group of individuals is much greater than that for a single decisionmaker. Additionally, group participation in the deci sionmaking process typically results in a better understanding of the decision reached. 4 The major disadvantage to group decisionmaking results from the presence in a group of social pressures. Superiorsubordinate relationships within a group, as an example, may result in no meaningful participation on the part of a subordinate. The quality of group decisions has also been questioned, because, often, consensus is viewed as a substitute for a thorough evaluation of the quality of the decision. The group decisionmaking process may also be subverted by (1) the dominance of a single individual, and (2) the development of a competitive winlose culture among participants. While not being cause for the elimination of group decisionmaking in organizational settings, the problems which may characterize group decisionmaking must be effectively addressed within an organization, if effective decisions are expected to derive from a group decisionmaking process. GROUP DECISIONMAKING TECHNIQUES Group d
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Approximate Word count = 1614
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)