GROUP DISCUSSION EFFECTIVE DECISION MAKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING

GROUP DISCUSSION: EFFECTIVE DECISION MAKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING Chapter Eight

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION: WHAT’S THE QUESTION Define and give examples of: 1. A question of fact 2. A question of value 3. A question of policy

PROBLEM ANALYSIS: CAUSES AND EFFECTS What is problem analysis when determining cause and effect? �The group researches and gathers information on the problem defined, tries to determine how serious the problem is, what harm or effect the problem produces, and what causes the problem.

SOLUTION CRITERIA What is Solution Criteria? �Criteria are standards by which decisions and solutions to problems can be evaluated. �Criteria help us determine whether our decisions make sense and are likely to be effective. �The group should establish criteria for evaluating solutions before solutions are suggested.

SOLUTION SUGGESTIONS �The group should brainstorm possible solutions without evaluating any suggestions until the best alternatives are likely to have emerged. �Once a list is generated, the group should clarify any ambiguous or confusing ideas. Ideas that overlap should be consolidated.

SOLUTION EVALUATION AND SELECTION �Explore both the merits and demerits of suggested solutions. �Consider each solution in terms of the criteria established earlier. �There are three decision-making methods that are to make solution choices: majority rule, minority rule and consensus.

MURPHY’S LAW What is Murphy’s Law? �Anything that can go wrong likely will go wrong somewhere, sometime �While discussing solutions, plan for mishaps or mistakes and how to overcome them.

GROUP DECISION-MAKING RULES: MAJORITY, MINORITY, UNANIMITY The three primary decision-making rules are: 1. Majority Rule 2. Minority 3. Unanimity Explain what each is all about? What are some pros and cons of each?

CONSENSUS What is consensus? �A state of mutual agreement among members of a group where all legitimate concerns of individuals have been addressed to the satisfaction of the group. �True consensus requires agreement, commitment, and satisfaction. �Groups that use a consensus approach tend to produce better decisions that groups using other decision rules.

GUIDELINES TO HELP ACHIEVE A CONSENSUS 1. Follow the standard agenda. 2. Establish a cooperative group climate. 3. Identify the pluses and minuses of potential decisions under consideration. 4. Discuss all concerns and attempt to resolve every one. 5. Avoid adversarial, win-lose arguments. 6. Request a “stand aside. ” 7. Avoid conflict-suppressing techniques such as coin flipping and swapping.

CONDUCTING EFFECTIVE MEETINGS What are the advantages and disadvantages of meetings? What is the role of the “Chair” in conducting a meeting?

WAYS THAT THE CHAIR CAN STRUCTURE MEETINGS TO MAKE THEM EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE DECISION-MAKING ARENAS 1. Don’t call a meeting unless there is no good alternative. 2. Contact every participant. 3. Prepare a clear agenda and distribute it to all participants three or more days in advance of the meeting. 4. Move the agenda forward. 5. Designate a specific time allotment for every discussion item. 6. Reserve a few minutes at the end of the meeting to determine whether the objectives of the meeting were accomplished. 7. Distribute the minutes of the meting as soon as possible.

CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING Here are some things you should know about creative problem solving: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. You really have to work hard to find creative solutions to problems. Creativity is spurred by challenges. Creativity flourishes in cooperative, not competitive environments. Creativity requires sound ideas, not just imaginative ones. Creativity requires many ideas. Creativity requires breaking mindsets and thinking outside the box.

SPECIFIC CREATIVE TECHNIQUES What is brainstorming? �A creative problem-solving technique that promotes plentiful, even zany ideas in an atmosphere free from criticism and with enthusiastic participation from all group members. What is the value of brainstorming?

SOME GUIDELINES FOR BRAINSTORMING Encourage wild ideas. Don’t evaluate ideas while brainstorming. Don’t clarify or seek clarification of an idea. Do not engage in task-irrelevant discussion. Stay focused on the topic. Expand on the ideas of other group members. Record all ideas without reference to who contributed the idea. 8. Encourage participation from all group members. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

VIDEO CASE STUDY: Apollo 13