Benefits of the Group Decision-Making Process
There are times when decision-making requires input from a group of people. Unless you live in a vacuum, most decisions you make are going to have implications for others.
While group decision-making can be a complex process, it is often more productive than individual decision making.
Here are some of the benefits of group participation in decision-making:
- There are no winners or losers —this creates greater unity among work-group members.
- Individual interests are reflected in the group decision.
- Participation improves understanding of the decision-making process.
- Each contributor’s opinion is acknowledged.
- Provides a forum of reconciling contrary viewpoints.
- Improves buy-in and support for the decision.
- Sharing individual ideas leads to new and different ideas.
- Work-group members are persuaded, not pressured.
- Increases transparency and reduces manipulation.
- Fosters a better understanding of change.
Methods of Group Decision Making
There are several methods of group decision-making. Here are some common methods employed in the process:
Authoritarian
While many people may be involved in the process, this is not truly a group function. The decision ultimately rests in the hands of one person. This style of decision-making is applicable in the presence of a powerful person who dictates the process and has final authority on the outcome. This style has more disadvantages than advantages. People whose opinions are disregarded will likely have negative feelings about the process.
A variation of this method is minority control where the group discusses the issues but making the decision rests in the hands of a small group of people in the group.
This method is best when decision-making is started from scratch. This means creating options and weighing them. This is an excellent method for group decisions and is popular due to the creative freedom it offers to participants.
There can be a facilitator to guide the discussion ensuring people don’t digress. The facilitator can help start the conversation, provide hints and nudges when the participants get stuck and help the group make effective decisions. This method values the opinion of every member and the final decision is reached by consensus.
Consensus
What is consensus? The input and ideas of all participants are gathered and synthesized to arrive at a final decision acceptable to all. Through consensus, they not only work to achieve better solutions, but also promote the growth of community and trust.
Consensus vs. voting: By voting a group chooses one alternative from several. Consensus synthesizes diverse elements together.
Voting is a “win or lose” model, in which people are more often concerned with the numbers it takes to “win” than with the issue itself. Voting does not take into account individual feelings or needs. It is quantitative, rather than qualitative.
With consensus people work through differences and reach a mutually satisfactory position. It is possible for one person’s insights or strongly held beliefs to sway the whole group. No ideas are lost, each member’s input is valued as part of the solution.
Disadvantages of Group Decisions:
- One of the major disadvantages of group decision making is that it is more time consuming than the process of individual decision making.
- Group decisions take longer to be finalized since there are many opinions to be considered and valued.
- In case of authoritarian or minority group decision making, the people whose opinions are not considered tend to be left out from the decision making process and hence the team spirit ceases to grow.
- Responsibility and accountability for the decisions are not equally shared, which leads to a split in the group and can hamper the efficiency of the group.
When involved in a group decision-making it is always better to study the advantages and disadvantages the processes and formulate a decision-making process that suits your group and gives you the best results.
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making decisions in groups is good because it helps you get influence from outside your limited thoughts.