During step three, the facilitator should note that group members can now ask for clarification on ideas on the master list. The main problems facing a group giving a presentation are (1) dividing responsibilities, (2) coordinating schedules and time management, and (3) working out the logistics of the presentation delivery. In terms of situational influences on group problem solving, task difficulty, number of possible solutions, group interest in problem, group familiarity with problem, and need for solution acceptance are five key variables discussed in this chapter. Also consider the size and layout of the presentation space. They know that their actions depend on the situation, and they make better decisions by … Since women have primarily performed secretarial work since the 1900s, it may also be expected that women will play the role of recorder. Napier, R. W., and Matti K. Gershenfeld, Groups: Theory and Experience, 7th ed. Interestingly, group interactions are still masculinist in that male and female group members prefer a more masculine communication style for task leaders and that both males and females in this role are more likely to adapt to a more masculine communication style. A problem occurs when something is not behaving as it should, something is deviating from the norm or something goes wrong. Decision making is the process of decision making through decision making. The origin and urgency of a problem are also situational factors that influence decision making. Step : Characteristics : 1. Despite its age, this model remains a valuable approach to problem solving. Problem solving and decision making belong together. Lawrence R. Frey (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1999), 133. Taking the time to complete one part of the presentation together can help set those standards for later individual work. Group members may also want to begin setting out an agenda or timeline for the group’s problem-solving process, looking forward to the other steps. The shared understanding may also be more complex and deep than what an individual would develop, because the group members are exposed to a variety of viewpoints that can broaden their own perspectives. Evaluate the solutions based on their credibility, completeness, and worth. Hunches, instinct and pure intuition may be inspiring, but they can lead to unforeseen problems and erroneous decisions that can lead to the project's death. Chapter 1: Introduction to Communication Studies, 4.1 Principles and Functions of Nonverbal Communication, 5.4 Listenable Messages and Effective Feedback, Chapter 6: Interpersonal Communication Processes, 6.1 Principles of Interpersonal Communication, 6.2 Conflict and Interpersonal Communication, 6.3 Emotions and Interpersonal Communication, 6.4 Self-Disclosure and Interpersonal Communication, Chapter 7: Communication in Relationships, 8.2 Exploring Specific Cultural Identities, 8.4 Intercultural Communication Competence, 9.2 Researching and Supporting Your Speech, 10.2 Delivery Methods and Practice Sessions, Chapter 11: Informative and Persuasive Speaking, Chapter 12: Public Speaking in Various Contexts, 12.1 Speaking in Personal and Civic Contexts, Chapter 14: Leadership, Roles, and Problem Solving in Groups, 14.1 Leadership and Small Group Communication, 14.3 Problem Solving and Decision Making in Groups, Chapter 15: Media, Technology, and Communication, 15.1 Technological Advances: From the Printing Press to the iPhone, 15.2 Functions and Theories of Mass Communication, 16.3 New Media, the Self, and Relationships. This could manifest in behaviors such as dividing up tasks into individual projects before collaboration begins and then openly debating ideas during discussion and decision making. Sometimes these new combinations appear to break rules about complementary tastes or break boundaries between cuisines from different parts of the world. Close decisions (5–4) may reduce internal and external “buy-in”, Doesn’t take advantage of group synergy to develop alternatives that more members can support, Decision quality is better than what less knowledgeable people could produce, Experts are typically objective and less easy to influence, Experts can be difficult to find / pay for, Buy-in could be high if authority is respected, Authority may not be seen as legitimate, leading to less buy-in, Group members may try to sway the authority or compete for his or her attention, Unethical authorities could make decisions that benefit them and harm group members, High-quality decisions due to time invested, Higher level of commitment because of participation in decision, Satisfaction with decision because of shared agreement, Difficult to manage idea and personal conflict that can emerge as ideas are debated. Table 14.1 Pros and Cons of Agreement-Based Decision-Making Techniques. It is a course of action, which is consciously chosen for achieving a desired result. Some small groups are more homogenous, meaning the members are more similar, and some are more heterogeneous, meaning the members are more different. The kitchen may need a redesign and new equipment. Problem-Solving . For example, the stereotype that women are more nurturing than men may lead group members (both male and female) to expect that women will play the role of supporters or harmonizers within the group. Decision making is required in response to the question: "Which computer shall I buy?" OD expert, Edgar Schein along with other OD experts suggested that a process that helps in problem-solving, steers groups to successful outcomes. Two extreme approaches restrain a creative and constructive change: • Rigid resistance to change • Rapid and disruptive change Both approaches may prevent individuals from seeing all the essential details of the conflict or problem situation, and how they interface and form a whole. Why? To fully analyze the problem, the group can discuss the five common problem variables discussed before. Discuss the various influences on decision making. Group communication scholars suggest that groups (1) do a warm-up brainstorming session; (2) do an actual brainstorming session in which ideas are not evaluated, wild ideas are encouraged, quantity not quality of ideas is the goal, and new combinations of ideas are encouraged; (3) eliminate duplicate ideas; and (4) clarify, organize, and evaluate ideas. A decision is a process that takes place prior to the actual performance of a course of action that has been chosen. Which would be the most challenging? This decision-making method has been praised because it allows group members to “switch gears” in their thinking and allows for role playing, which lets people express ideas more freely. Once the hard work of defining the problem and determining its causes has … Jocko Benoit – Prodigal Light – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. 1. The originator of the term brainstorming said the following four rules must be followed for the technique to be effective (Osborn, 1959): To make brainstorming more of a decision-making method rather than an idea-generating method, group communication scholars have suggested additional steps that precede and follow brainstorming (Cragan & Wright, 1991). When we make decisions in groups, we face some challenges that we do not face in our personal decision making, but we also stand to benefit from some advantages of group decision making (Napier & Gershenfeld, 2004). Whoever is facilitating the discussion should remind group members to use brainstorming techniques, which means they shouldn’t evaluate ideas as they are generated. Test - What is Your Personal Decision-Making Style?Guidelines to Rational Problem Solving and Decision Making Rational Versus Organic Approach to Problem Solving and Decision MakingGeneral Guidelines to Problem Solving and Decision Making Various Methods and Tools for Problem Solving and Decision Making General Resources for Problem Solving and Decision Making Also consider Related Library Topics(Also see the closely related topics Decision Makin… Reviewing Chapter 8 “Culture and Communication” will give you useful knowledge to help you navigate both international and domestic diversity and increase your communication competence in small groups and elsewhere. While it may be easier for a group to assign each member to create a five-minute segment and then transition from one person to the next, this is definitely not the most engaging method. The more group members there are in any extreme of these categories, the more likely that the group climate will also shift to resemble those characteristics. Discuss a group situation you have been in where diversity enhanced your and/or the group’s experience. Although the steps of problem solving and decision making that we will discuss next may seem obvious, we often don’t think to or choose not to use them. Managerial decision making and problem solving are complex processes with opportunity to self-handicap aplenty. Stopping the solution-generating process prematurely can lead to groupthink. IntroductionTo solve seemingly impossible problems, you can't always make a "best guess" and hope for the best. Overview. In general, group members have an easier time communicating when they are more similar than different in terms of race and age. It is a cognitive process involving modeling the problem and combining various skills in dealing with a certain situation. But situational context, as we discussed before, can also influence our decision making. (Long Grove, IL: Waveland, 2011), 5. To help avoid an unnecessarily long discussion, it may be useful to go from one person to the next to ask which ideas need clarifying and then go to the originator(s) of the idea in question for clarification. As the idea is shared, the facilitator records it on a master list that everyone can see. Even though we know that the relational elements of a group are crucial for success, even in high-performance teams, that work is not as valued in our society as the task-related work. Majority rule is a simple method of decision making based on voting. Yet, while many organizations desire a more effective decision-making process, few achieve one that works consistently. Without strategy, change is merely substitution, not evolution. The leadership skills they possess can significantly affect the quality of the innovative outcome. Spending more time searching for alternatives and weighing their consequences can really pay off. problem solving and decision making are treated separately using more linear rational approaches (Bazerman & Moore, 2008; Kahneman, 2003). Many decision-making bodies, including the US House of Representatives, Senate, and Supreme Court, use majority rule to make decisions, which shows that it is often associated with democratic decision making, since each person gets one vote and each vote counts equally. A fundamental skill of management and leadership in addition to decision making ’ and ‘ problem solving decision! 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