Team Decision Making Pitfalls and Solutions L Dubin

Team Decision Making Pitfalls and Solutions L. Dubin, Spring 2013

Team Decision Making § Many daily decisions are simple § What to wear, eat, etc. § Some decisions are very complicated § Should I change jobs, move, etc. § Decision making involves: § Assimilating large amounts of information § Exploring many different ideas § Using our own/past experience § On a team, the consequences affect: § The entire team § The Organization (Mind. Tools. com) Dubin 13 2

Team Decision Making-7 Steps Decision Making Steps: Choosing among two or more alternatives. 1. Define the situation 2. Describe and collect needed information 3. Develop alternatives 4. Develop agreement among those involved 5. Decide which alternative is best 6. Do what is indicated 7. Determine if the decision was good and follow up Dubin 13 3

Team Decision Making Why teams need to make good decisions: § Good decision making is an essential skill for career success and effective leadership § Timely and well-considered decisions can lead your team to success § Poor decisions may result in failure AND § Your time as a leader will be short (Mind. Tools. com) Dubin 13 4

Decision Making Pitfalls Group-Think (Irving Janis, 1972) “When a group makes faulty decisions as group pressures lead to a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment. ” Group-think may cause groups to make hasty, irrational decisions, where individual doubts are set aside, for fear of upsetting group balance. Dubin 13 5

Decision Making Pitfalls Group-Think (per Text) § Team places consensus above all other priorities § When the consensus reflects poor judgment or improper or immoral actions § A deterioration of mental efficiency & reality testing § Result of pressure to have conformity of opinion Dubin 13 6

Teams and Group-Think § Teams affected by group-think § Ignore alternatives § May make irrational actions § Tend to dehumanize other groups § Teams are vulnerable when § Members are similar in background § The group is insulated from outside opinions § There are no clear rules for decision making § What is groupthink? http: //psysr. org/about/pubs_resources/groupthink%20 overview. htm Dubin 13 7

How to Avoid Group-Think § Monitor the size of the team § Bigger is not better § Teams with >10 members become impersonal § Remember trust & respect/esteem? § Support a small team § Respect a small team § Invite different perspectives § Appoint a devils advocate § Encourage problem solving § Keep discussions civil and centered Dubin 13 8

Effective Decision Making Depends on § § § The type of decision The amount of time and resources available The type of task being worked on The environment the group wants to create The level of team member involvement or investment Pluses Minuses and Implications Dubin 13 9

Decision Making Model 1 -Orientation Define the problem Set the goal Plan the process 2 -Discussion Gather information Identify alternatives Evaluate alternatives 3 -Decision Making Choose a group solution 4 -Implementation Adhere to the decision Evaluate the decision Seek feedback Dubin 13 10

Problem Solving Techniques SWOT Analysis A powerful technique for understanding your organization’s and team’s Strengths and Weaknesses and for looking at the Opportunities and Threats you may face Dubin 13 11

Strengths: Internal Strengths § What advantages does your team have? § What do you do better than anyone else? § What unique resources do you have? Dubin 13 12

Weaknesses: Internal Weaknesses § What items does your team need to improve? § What skills are missing from your team? § What types of projects should you avoid? Dubin 13 13

Opportunities: External Opportunities § What opportunities are ahead? § What interesting trends are you aware of? Dubin 13 14

Threats: External Threats § What obstacles does your team face? § What should your team be concerned about? § Are the requirements for your team’s job, products or services changing? Dubin 13 15