Group Problem Solving Decision Making

Group Problem Solving & Decision Making Group Decision Making Two effectiveness dimensions: – Attaining organizational and/or group goals – Satisfying needs of group members Decision-making groups are only one of many types of groups Spectrum of roles for decision-making groups Group Decision Approaches Leader-Centered Democratic Consensus Fastest decisions-------------------------Slowest decisions Lowest decision quality--------------------Highest quality Lowest member commitment------Highest commitment Group Decision Making Advantages: – Greater pool of knowledge – Different perspectives – Greater comprehension – Increased acceptance – Training ground Disadvantages: – Social pressure – Domination by a vocal few – Logrolling – Goal displacement – ―Groupthink‖ Groupthink Illusion of invulnerability Dismiss opposing ideas Moralize Stereotype the opposition Pressure members to conform Self-censor deviations Share illusion of unanimity, without testing Self-appointed mind-guards Group Effectiveness Commitment via involvement Conflict & how it’s handled Creativity Consensus—producing willingness to support the group decision Effective Groups Participative leadership, sharing of responsibility Flexible, effective patterns of communication Surface and deal with important issues Collaborative rather than competitive No hidden agendas Trust Group Problem Supplies Assignment Identify as many ways as you can think of in 5 minutes to get the ball out of the pipe without damaging the ball, the tube, or the floor. Some Consensus Guidelines Goal is for group to make a high quality decision Prepare Balance advocacy and inquiry Avoid majority voting, horse-trading, compromising, etc. Manage differences productively Varying Degrees of Consensus Can you live with this? Is this OK with you? Can you support this? Does this please you (even excite you)? Earthquake Exercise Follow handout: – Things most important to do during & immediately after a major earthquake – First, individually – Then, consensus in groups Process the way your group worked – What was helpful – What could be improved next time Ethical Considerations Ethics What do we mean by ―ethics‖ or ―unethical‖? Motivations to behave unethically: – Personal gain, especially power – Competition – Restoration of justice or fairness What is ―fairness?‖ Some Ways to Behave Unethically Selective disclosure &/or misrepresentation to others Deception False threats or false promises Provide false information (lie) Inflict intentional harm on the other party Selective disclosure or misrepresentation to constituencies Ethical Decisions Have Complexity Multiple alternatives Broad & long-range consequences Uncertain consequences Mixture of economic, legal, ethical, social, and personal benefits and costs Some Ethical Systems Eternal law: "capital-T truth" Ethical Egoism: seek self-interests & promote greatest balance of good over bad for self, with ethical constraints Utilitarianism: greatest good for the greatest number, or maximize the social benefit function Universalism (Categorical imperative): would I be willing to make the basis for my action a general law binding everyone, given similar circumstances? Enlightened self-interest: self-interest rightly understood, with long-term perspective or judging from my deathbed Some Ethical Introspections Is it right? Is it fair? How does it smell? Who benefits and who gets hurt? What if details were made public? What would you tell your child to do? What if everyone did this? Some Moral Dilemmas Individually, review your thoughts & notes re the three scenarios you read (Heinz) – Focus especially on your reasoning In groups, share & discuss your thinking re the assigned scenario Representative from each group gives summary report to class Class joins in discussion Kohlberg Stages of Moral Development Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment (e.g., I won't hit him because he may hit me back.) Stage 2: Individual Instrumental Purpose and Exchange (I will help her so she will help me in exchange.) Stage 3: "Good Boy/Girl" (I will go along with you because I want you/people to like me.) Stage 4: Law and Order (I will follow the rule/order because it is wrong not to.) Stage 5: Valuing Rights of Others plus Social Rights and Responsibilities (Although I disagree with his views, I support his right to have them.) Stage 6: Individual Principles of Conscience Grounded in Universal Ethical Principles (There is no external force that can compel me to do an act that I consider morally wrong.) Consider Learning from your mistakes Look in the mirror & see how you like what you see Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and see how they see you However, don’t be naive Case: A Tragic Choice Review silently the questions at end of the case We discuss Q.1 Each group takes one of questions 2-5 plus the general question: If you were Jim, what would you do and why? - reports back All join in discussion of each The Insufficiency of Honesty Honesty: refusal to steal, lie, or deceive in any way Integrity: trustworthiness & incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a trust or responsibility Integrity Honesty is necessary, but not sufficient The most important thing in acting is honesty; once you learn to fake that, you’re in. - Sam Goldwyn Integrity Honesty Discerning – Examining beliefs & assumptions – Searching for "truth," avoiding error – Allowing others the same Acting on what you have discerned – Even at personal cost Saying openly that you are acting re the above Fulfilling moral obligations – Do no harm to others – Not just the minimum Star Trek Case ―Measure of a Man‖ Star Trek Characters Capt. Jean-Luc Picard (of Starship Enterprise) Capt. Phillipa Louvois (Chief JAG officer for the sector) Cmdr. Bruce Maddox (Starfleet Professor of Robotics) Lt. Cmdr. Data (android science officer on Enterprise) Guinan (bartender, wise old soul) Cmdr. William Riker (2nd to Picard) Star Trek Case Refer to the posted case material you were asked to bring At two times in the video, you will need to respond to several questions in the case, writing individually & then discussing Pay particular attention to how the characters, you, and others in the class think Questions at First Stop 1. Define the issue (or dilemma) faced by Captain Picard and Lt. Commander Data at this point in time. 2. Which of the six ethical frameworks* would each of the following characters (a) claim to be using in justifying his position? ...and (b) is actually using, in your opinion? – Lt. Commander Data – Commander Maddox – Captain Picard Questions at End 3. How was the issue in the case finally defined in the hearing for the purpose of making a ruling? 4. What was Guinan's contribution to Picard's thinking & approach to the hearing? Be specific in explaining how she contributed to clarifying the issue for him. What advantage did she have over the other characters in advising him? 5. What are the pros and cons of using an adversarial process in examining an ethical issue? 6. What was Commander Data's position on the decision of his "disassembly?" Did it change during the course of the story? If you think his position did change, why do you think he changed it? 7. When Captain Picard said that the mission of the Starfleet was ―to seek out new life,‖ how did this relate to the issue in the hearing? How do mission and values differ? How do values and ethics differ? 8. Is there a BEST framework for deciding ethical issues? What lessons does this case have that can be applied to your work or life situation? Layoff Decisions at RDX Note assignment and grading dimensions at end of case Work through the full decision making process Describe your logic and reasoning at each stage. Err on the side of more detail, rather than less. Make this useful for you Identify from the course at least two of the suggestions and/or blocks to effective problem solving and decision making – that you want to work on For each, write down at least two specific things you can do to apply the suggestion or reduce the block in your work and life Act