*Group decision making* (short note)

Meaning of group decision making

A group decision is one taken by a group of the organisation's members rather than by one person; decisions of a committee or a board of directors are typical examples, and such decisions are usually important ones for the organisation. Individual decisions, by contrast, are taken by one person, mostly in small organisations or where an autocratic style of management prevails.

Techniques of group decision making

• Brainstorming. A problem is put to a number of managers and each offers ideas for solving it; once the session is over, every idea is examined critically and the useful ones are developed into a solution. It often yields original answers to complicated problems.
• Consensus mapping. Ideas produced by several task groups are pooled and sorted into clusters and categories; the facilitators combine the groups' schemes into a draft map, which members revise until the whole group agrees on a single map and a final decision. It suits problems with many interconnected parts.
• Delphi technique. A panel of experts, kept apart and unknown to one another, answers a prepared questionnaire. Where their answers differ, they are given feedback and asked to explain their reasons, and the rounds of feedback go on until their opinions begin to converge.
• Mutual consultation. Meetings are held or committees formed, and the issue is decided on the varied and creative ideas of those present.

Merits

Group decisions promote participation in decision making. Drawing on several people brings specialised knowledge and expert comment to bear on the issue, and techniques such as brainstorming can produce solutions that one person would not reach alone.

Limitations

Group decisions take more time than individual ones, and because many people share in them it is difficult to fix responsibility for the outcome.

An example

Suppose a pharmaceutical company in Hyderabad must decide whether to set up a new plant. Its board refers the question to a committee of the production, finance and marketing heads, who meet, compare their views and recommend a site. The decision is better informed than one made by a single executive, but it takes several weeks, and if the plant later fails, no one person can easily be held answerable.