ticipation by team members in the process, while, at the same time, preserving the ultimate responsibility and authority of the leader.
In most organizations, it is a rare event for a single individual to complete an entire decision making process without functioning at least part of the time as a member of a group. Group participation in an organizational decision making process assumes even greater significance, when it is considered that the effective execution of an organizational decision requires a commitment on the part of many people. Commitment will be both stronger and more easily developed, if those individuals of whom it is required are participants in the decision making process.
Group decision making is a form of empowerment. There are, however, both advantages and disadvantages associated with group decision making. 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 decision maker. Additionally, group participation in the decision making process typically results in a better understanding of the decision reached. This chapter would have been more useful if it had addressed group decision-making.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT STAFFING RESPONSIBILITIES: A CHAPTER CRITIQUE
Chapter 10 deals with issues associated with staff planning. These activities include determining staff requirements, recruiting staff, interviewing prospective personnel, and personnel selection. The topics receiving the greatest attention in this chapter are the interviewing process and the personnel selection process.
The authors state that this chapter "addresses the pre-employment functions" of nursing administration (Marquis & Huston, 1996, p. 210). Again, however, the authors do not state a specific purpose or objective of this chapter. Thus, again, the reader must speculate as to the authors' objective or purpose for this chapter. With resp...