GROUP DECISION MAKING

Rakesh Shrestha EM-09-11, HIST

Why Groups can make higher quality decisions?

Groups are move vigilant than

individuals Groups can generate more ideas & develop more alternative solutions than individuals Groups can evaluate ideas better than individuals When to use a Group? Two criteria Quality of the decision Acceptability of the decision
Rakesh Shrestha, EM-09-11

 Advantages of group decision making Groups members may have different specialties Implementation of decision may be more effective Eliminates bias Builds up foundations as a training ground Democratic in nature Disadvantages of Group Decision Making Time consuming Social pressure Own interests to protect May not be in accord with the goals and objectives of the organization Groupthink
Rakesh Shrestha, EM-09-11

Methods of Group decision making

Decision by lack of response: Members are working for one after another idea without any follow up discussion. Once the group members accept any of the ideas, all other ideas will be closed without any response. Decision by authority rule: The decision taken by a person in authority will be taken as accepted. Decision by minority rule: Just two or three group members will dominate the decision making process. Decision by majority rule: Members are free to present their ideas and, if needed, voting may take place, for making a decision. Decision by consensus: When one alternative is chosen and most of the members agree. Decision by unanimity: All members will unanimously agree with the selection of a course of action.

Rakesh Shrestha, EM-09-11

Techniques of Group Decision-Making

Brainstorming Delphi Technique Nominal technique Fish bowling

Rakesh Shrestha, EM-09-11

Brainstorming

Brainstorming technique involves a group of people, usually between five and ten, sitting around a table in classroom setting, generating ideas in the form of free association.

The primary focus is on generation of ideas, rather than on evaluation of ideas, the idea being that if a large number of ideas can be generated, then it is likely that there will be unique and creative solution among them.
The rules to be followed in the process of brainstorming are explained by leader and include the following: No judgments are to be made on these ideas when they are generated. No idea is to be criticized or evaluated in any way until all ideas have been considered. Welcome wild ideas, no matter how absurd they might seem. The ideas that are too wild and unfeasible can always be discarded later. Strive for quantity and not quality. Each participant is encouraged to improve or modify other participants suggestions.
Rakesh Shrestha, EM-09-11

Rakesh Shrestha, EM-09-11

Rakesh Shrestha, EM-09-11

Fish-bowling

This is a variation of the brainstorming, but is more structured and is to the point. The decision making group of experts is seated around in a circle with a single chair in the centre if the circle. One member of the group is invited to sit in the centre chair and gives his views about the problem and his proposition of solution in discussion. The other group members can ask him questions but no cross talk is allowed. Once the member finished and his viewpoint is fully understood, he leaves the center and joins the group in the circle. Exchange between the center chair and the group members continues until the chair is vacated. All exchanges must be between the center and the group and no two group members are allowed to talk directly. This technique results in each member favoring a particular course of action, since all members are acting upon the same database and also since each idea offered by the central members is thoroughly questioned and examined. After all the experts have expressed their views, the entire group discusses the various alternatives suggested and pick the one with consensus.

Rakesh Shrestha, EM-09-11

Thank you!

Rakesh Shrestha, EM-09-11