Problem Solving and

Decision Making

Mohammad Ainul Maruf, MA

Faculty of Public Health
University of Muhammadiyah
Jakarta
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Definition

 Problem solving is the communication that

analyzes the problem in detail before
decision making

 Decision making is the communication that

results in a choice

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Copyright c 2006 Oxford University Press 4
Copyright c 2006 Oxford University Press 5
Decision-Making Skills

 Task skills
 Problem recognition and framing, inference drawing, idea
generation, argument
 Relational skills
 Leadership, climate building, conflict management
 Procedural skills
 Planning, process enactment

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Decision-Making Principles

1. Evolutionary process
2. Circular rather than linear
3. Individual-level and group-level influences affect decision
making
4. Decisions are made within system of internal and external
constraints

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Why Groups are More Effective
Decision Makers

 Unlikely any individual will have all the

knowledge or resources to make an effective
decision
 Groups provide a greater diversity of
perspectives
 Group provides the opportunity to
test ideas
before one is selected and
implemented

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more 
Why Groups are More Effective
Decision Makers

 Quality of group communication affects

members ability procedure quality solutions
 The social context motivates members to find
best possible solution
 To take advantage of a group’s strengths,
structure or decision making procedures are
needed

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Functional Theory
of Decision Making

Group decision procedures should help a group

1. Thoroughly discuss the problem
2. Examine the criteria of an acceptable solution
before discussing potential solutions
3. Propose a set of alternative solutions
4. Assess the positive aspects of each proposed solution
5. Assess the negative aspects of each
proposed solution

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Why Use Decision-Making
Procedures?

 Help to accomplish the five functions

 Overcome problems that routinely arise during decision
making
 Unequal participation
 Trouble staying focused
 Pressure to conform
 Inefficient use of time
 Difficulty of balancing task and relational dimensions

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Ways in Which Decision
Making Procedures Vary

 How group members contribute

 How much group members participate
 Whether participation is voluntary or forced
 Degree of formality

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Decision Making Procedures

Standard
Ranking
agenda

Brainstorming Voting

Nominal
Group Consensus
Technique

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Standard Agenda

Linear process of six steps

1. Identifying the problem
2. Analyzing the problem
3. Identifying minimal criteria for solution
4. Generating solutions
5. Evaluating solutions and selecting best
one
6. Implementing the solution

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Brainstorming

Helps group generate ideas to improve productivity and creativity

1. State as many alternatives as possible
2. Encourage creative ideas
3. Examines ideas for improvement or
combination
4. Accept all ideas without criticism
5. Evaluate ideas after idea generation is
complete

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Nominal Group Technique

 Independent idea generation phase

1. Members silently write ideas
2. Facilitator records ideas
 Interactive phase to discuss ideas
3. Group discusses each for clarification
4. Vote to narrow number of ideas
5. Discuss ideas that received most votes
6. Repeat steps 4 & 5 until one idea remains

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Consensus

Discussion to achieve agreement to support

the group’s decision
1. One member facilitates the discussion
2. Facilitator uses discussion ideas to
formulate proposals
3. Recorder writes down each proposal
4. Throughout discussion, recorder reads
proposals
5. Recorder reads aloud final decision for
approval or modification

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Voting

Group casts votes in support of or against

a specific proposal
1. Group members discuss to produce clear
proposals
2. Decide how vote will be taken
3. Decide how many votes needed to decide
an issue
4. Restate proposal before voting

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Ranking

Reveal member preferences by assigning numerical value to

each alternative
1. Discuss ideas to produce clear
proposals
2. Each member assigns numerical value
to each alternative
3. Sum individual ranks; total for the
group
4. Read final decision aloud for approval
or modification
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Choosing a Procedure

 Select procedure or combination of

procedures that:
 Meets group’s communication needs
 Satisfies five functions of group decision
making
 Analyze type of task
 All member must agree to using a procedure
for benefits to be achieved
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Paradox of Using Procedures

 Procedures take time

 Members may resist using procedures if they
are unaccustomed to using them
 Practice can help
 Tailor procedures to group’s needs
 Consider an external facilitator to guide your group
the use of a new procedure

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