Team Decision MakingPitfalls and Solutions L. Dubin, Spring 2013

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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

(MindTools.com)

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Team Decision Making-7 Steps Decision Making Steps:

Choosing among two or more alternatives.

1. Define the situation2. Describe and collect needed information3. Develop alternatives4. Develop agreement among those involved5. Decide which alternative is best6. Do what is indicated7. Determine if the decision was good and follow up

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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

(MindTools.com)Dubin 13

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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.  

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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

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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%20overview.htm

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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

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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

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Pluses Minuses and

Implications

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Decision Making Model1-Orientation

Define the problemSet the goalPlan the process

2-Discussion

Gather informationIdentify alternativesEvaluate alternatives

3-Decision Making

Choose a group solution

4-Implementation

Adhere to the decisionEvaluate the decisionSeek feedback

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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

  

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Strengths: Internal

Strengths

What advantages does your team have? What do you do better than anyone else? What unique resources do you have?

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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?

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Opportunities: External

Opportunities

What opportunities are ahead? What interesting trends are you aware of?

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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?

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