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Making: Constructive
Controversy
It takes conflict to correct the common errors in decision making
The purpose of group decision making is to decide upon well-considered, well-
understood, realistic action toward goals every member wishes to achieve (Johnson & F.
Johnson, 2017). A group decision implies that some agreement prevails among group
members as to which of several courses of action is most desirable for achieving the
group’s goals. Typically, groups try to make their decisions as effective as possible.
There are five major characteristics of an effective group decision (Johnson & F. Johnson,
2017):
A decision is effective to the extent that these five criteria are met.
Fourth, Each advocacy team presents without being interrupted the best case possible
for its assigned alternative course of action to the entire group. Other advocacy teams
listen carefully, take notes, and strive to learn the information provided.
Sixth, group members should encourage spirited arguing and playing devil’s advocate.
Members should argue forcefully and persuasively for their position, presenting as many
facts as they can to support their alternative course of action. Members should also listen
critically to the opposing teams’ positions, ask them for their supporting facts, and then
present counterarguments. Members should remember that the issue is complex and
they understand all proposed alternative courses of action to make a good decision.
Seventh, group members should demonstrate their understanding of the pros and cons
of all proposed alternative courses of action by summarizing them, that is, paraphrasing
them. In paraphrasing the pros of an alternative course of action, the advocates of that
alternative need to correct anything that is stated incorrectly and add anything that is left
out until all members are confident that each understands the alternatives being
considered. To make a reasoned, high quality decision, members must be able to see
the problem from all available perspectives simultaneously.
Eighth, group members drop their advocacy and reach the best reasoned decision they
are capable of by consensus, changing their mind only when the facts and the logic clearly
indicate that they should do so. Sometimes the final decision is different from and of
higher quality than the original alternatives considered.
Finally, as the decision is being finalized, all members commit themselves to implement
it regardless of whether they initially favored it or not.
Decision making inherently involves conflict among alternative courses of action. This is
primarily a conflict among ideas, that is a controversy. In order to manage a controversy
constructively each alternative course of action needs to be strongly advocated and
strongly critiqued. It is through the controversy process that high-quality decisions tend
to be made.