FYI: [groupthink]

From Google's top hit on [groupthink],
http://www.abacon.com/commstudies/gr...roupthink.html
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Groupthink

Groupthink is a concept that...refers to faulty decision-making in a
group. Groups experiencing groupthink do not consider all alternatives
and they desire unanimity at the expense of quality decisions. ...

Conditions

Groupthink occurs when groups are highly cohesive and when they are
under considerable pressure to make a quality decision.

Negative outcomes

Some negative outcomes of groupthink include:
o Examining few alternatives
o Not being critical of each other's ideas
o Not examining early alternatives
o Not seeking expert opinion
o Being highly selective in gathering information
o Not having contingency plans

Symptoms

Some symptoms of groupthink a
o Having an illusion of invulnerability
o Rationalizing poor decisions
o Believing in the group's morality
o Sharing stereotypes which guide the decision
o Exercising direct pressure on others
o Not expressing your true feelings
o Maintaining an illusion of unanimity
o Using mindguards to protect the group from negative information


Solutions

Some solutions include:
o Using a policy-forming group which reports to the larger group
o Having leaders remain impartial
o Using different policy groups for different tasks
o Dividing into groups and then discuss differences
o Discussing within sub-groups and then report back
o Using outside experts
o Using a Devil's advocate to question all the group's ideas
o Holding a "second-chance meeting" to offer one last opportunity
to choose another course of action

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Stuf4 wrote:



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Reformed Aerospace Engineer
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