Groupthink can lead collective rationalization, lack of personal accountability and pressure to acquiesce. Groupthink is a common factor in bad decision-making and serious ethical breaches.

Here, the desire for group cohesion effectively drives out good decision-making and problem solving. Two well-known examples of Groupthink in action are the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster and the Bay of Pigs invasion.

Groupthink leads to bad decisions because it encourages members of the group to ignore possible problems with the group’s decisions and discount the opinions of outsiders. It influences decisions most when there are no clear rules for decision making.

Groupthink is essentially a psychological phenomenon wherein a group of people is looking for common harmony and desire. If the purpose is positive and the end result is positive, it is called a positive groupthink while if the outcome is negative, it becomes negative groupthink.

Better Decision Making: 5 Ways to Avoid Groupthink

1. Build a diverse team. Avoiding groupthink starts with hiring and promotions.
2. Intentionally structure meetings. The structure of a meeting – in terms of both its consistent schedule and format – can help to avoid groupthink.
3. Engage outsiders.
4. Get unfiltered input.
5. Expect – even encourage – conflict.

There are several main causes of groupthink. These include group cohesiveness, overall group isolation, group leadership, and decision-making stress. Another cause of groupthink is isolation. Often in group situations, it is important that the decisions being made or the actions being carried remain secret.

In a business setting, groupthink can cause employees and supervisors to overlook potential problems in the pursuit of consensus thinking. Because individual critical thinking is de-emphasized or frowned upon, employees may self-censor and not suggest alternatives for fear of upsetting the status quo.

Here are some steps on how to eliminate groupthink and avoid it altogether.

1. Step 1: Require everyone in the group to evaluate ideas critically:
2. Step 2: If you’re leading the group, keep your opinions to yourself:
3. Step 3: If you’re the group leader, consider being a no-show:
4. Step 4: Consider a team approach:

Tips for Avoiding Groupthink

1. Initially, the leader of the group should avoid stating their opinions or preferences when assigning tasks.
2. Assign at least one individual to take the role of the “devil’s advocate.”
3. Discuss the group’s ideas with an outside member in order to get impartial opinions.

Here are six research-based strategies for encouraging constructive discussion and avoiding the pitfalls of groupthink.

1. Recruit a diverse team.
2. Remain an impartial leader.
3. Encourage conflict and debate.
4. Assign the role of devil’s advocate.
5. Gather outside opinions.
6. Allow for independent evaluation.

Question: Which Of The Following Is Not A Symptom Of Groupthink? Collective Rationalizations Illusion Of Vulnerability Direct Pressure Illusions Of Unanimity.

Groupthink—the tendency of groups to make decisions that preserve the status quo rather than take dissenting opinions into account—can be toxic to teams and organizations. It can stifle innovation and make employees feel pressured to conform.

7 decision-making process steps

1. Identify the decision. To make a decision, you must first identify the problem you need to solve or the question you need to answer.
2. Gather relevant information.
3. Identify the alternatives.
4. Weigh the evidence.
5. Choose among alternatives.
6. Take action.
7. Review your decision.

6 Ways Managers Can Improve Team Creativity and Decision Making

1. Be mindful. What is the desired outcome?
2. Don’t act bureaucratically. Avoid “My way or the highway.”
3. Don’t drag decision making out too long. Avoid “analysis paralysis.”
4. Trust yourself. Trust your team.
5. Add resources. Remove obstacles.
6. Read the Group. Develop each member.

Consensus or Voting on a course of action would be much more appropriate. Use the Consult method as a way to make efficient, informed decisions and gain ideas and support without delaying decision making. Use Vote if efficiency is the most important factor and when everyone agrees to support the outcome of the vote.

One of the weaknesses of group decision making is groupthink. This is a process where the judgment, mental alacrity and effectiveness of the group’s decision making is hampered by pressures from the group. Group polarization is the second weakness regarding group decision making.

The highest decision-making body is the governing board. For strategic management there is a management council under the Vice-Chancellor , a council in which students and representatives for various management functions take part.

The Board of Directors (BOD) is the decision-making body for corporate strategy and management. The BOD guides and oversees the overall business operations and makes decisions on significant strategic issues.

Limitations of Controlling:

• Difficulty in Setting Quantitative Standards: ADVERTISEMENTS:
• No Control on External Factors: An organization fails to have control on external factors like technological changes, competition, government policies, changes in taste of consumers etc.
• Resistance from Employees:
• Costly Affair:

Federal Parliament

How the U.S. Government Is Organized

• Legislative—Makes laws (Congress, comprised of the House of Representatives and Senate)
• Executive—Carries out laws (president, vice president, Cabinet, most federal agencies)
• Judicial—Evaluates laws (Supreme Court and other courts)

The type of government a nation has can be classified as one of three main types:

• Democracy.
• Monarchy.
• Dictatorship.

Almost everywhere you live in Australia you will have three elected governments – Federal, State (or Territory) and Local. Each of these levels of government has its own powers, responsibilities and services and each of them is elected by the people they provide government for.

State or Territory Government Major State responsibilities include schools, hospitals, conservation and environment, roads, railways and public transport, public works, agriculture and fishing, industrial relations, community services, sport and recreation, consumer affairs, police, prisons and emergency services.

State and Local Government

• The Legislative Branch.
• The Executive Branch.
• The Judicial Branch.
• Elections and Voting.
• State and Local Government.
• The Constitution.

The leader of the federal government is called the prime minister, whereas premier is the title given to the leader of each provincial and territorial government.