Is Group Decision Making Right for Your Company?

As a manager or business owner, understanding the importance of both individual and group decision making is essential for effectively leading and growing your business. It is undeniable that group decision making can bring a number of substantial benefits to an organization, but its drawbacks and potential dangers must also be considered.

Managers and business owners who utilize group decision making are well aware of the benefits it brings. First and foremost, bringing a problem or question to a group of individuals will almost always result in a much more complete and thorough generation of information and ideas than if the decision was made alone. Incorporating diverse perspectives and interests in the matter at hand, a team amalgamates their different views to produce an objective, detailed look at the problem. A brainstorming session of one can often result in little more than a slight drizzle. With multiple minds dedicated to achieving a common solution, though, the true potential of the group can be unlocked.

Additionally, when group decision making is implemented, it frequently leads to a more uniform, agreeable acceptance of the solution. If a decision is made by one functional team within the company (be it management, sales, accounting, or more), it is likely that individuals within the firm who see the problem from a different perspective will be reluctant to jump on board. For instance, it may make financial sense on paper to ship Item A and Item B using the different trucks, so the accounting department may think this is the best solution. In the warehouse, however, dock workers can see that shipping the items separately is wasteful and creates hours of unnecessary loading and unloading. When cross-functional groups are utilized to produce decisions in these situations, each party can better understand the benefits and methodology behind the decision and will be more likely to adopt it without complaint.

While group decision making certainly offers benefits to an organization, the process can become ineffective and dangerous and should be monitored closely. The two most prominent perils to the success of a group are peer pressure and unfair dominance. When peer pressure affects a group, its member feel uncomfortable speaking out or sharing ideas for fear of ridicule or future exclusion. This problem can quickly become an epidemic and stifle the creative power that group decision making unlocks. When left unmanaged, peer pressure often leads to groupthink, with the desire toreach an agreement overpowering a true assessment of the situation.

Groups also face a potential obstacle in the form of one or more individuals dominating the discussion. In organizations where staff members may not feel comfortable around each other or haven't spent much time in collaborative environments, it may be easy for the most vocal member of the group to steer the conversation and coerce the group to follow their opinions only. Management needs to monitor group decision making and ensure that no individuals become unfairly powerful within the team. Implementing procedures like turn-based interaction or written idea submission can combat these problems.

When monitored and managed correctly, group decision making can help an organization unlock a wealth of creative potential and generate ideas that would never be reached otherwise. Managers must be aware of group interaction, however, and guarantee that the symptoms of peer pressure or unruly domination don't inhibit the group decision making process.