Management > Group decision making

Many successful organizations in the United States had moved toward group decision making. It is very hard or I’d say almost impossible in these days for one and only person to make decisions that can later be successfully implemented. Today’s business environment is way too complex for one person to oversee every aspect of it.

Managers very often base their decisions on various groups’ insight. In fact the most important decisions are frequently made in groups. Groups consist of many different people who have various approaches to certain questions. Every member can bring something extra to the table which can later be very important in the final decision making. Also these people are the ones who are eventually will be affected by the decisions, so they might be the most competent in deciding on certain matters.

Group decision making however has its own weaknesses as opposed to individual decision making. All of us who ever tried to work in groups on any kind of projects were quite apparent that it’s not easy to work together with others. It requires tons of patience, the ability to compromise, and to accept decisions that are sometimes simply made for you. Not every group decision pleases all members of the group equally. Also arriving to the final conclusion can be rather time-consuming as opposed to doing it individually. In addition it takes time to put together the group, and to find time when all are available.

Individuals can make their decisions when ever they have the time to sit down, not having to wait for the other 10 people. Important to note here that individual decision making is still the norm in many countries. In India, for example it’s only the top managers who make important decisions without really listening to any group’s opinions; these decisions are always safe and sound. Similar the situation in France, where most business decisions are not risky, and managers tend to be rather autocratic. We can say that decision making practices reflect the cultural norms of the given country. Japanese people put a huge emphasis on conformity and traditions, and put group interest above individual benefit. Before a Japanese top manager makes an important decision, he/she collects a large amount of information which is then used in consensus-forming group decisions called Ringisei (Robbins and Decenzo 123). Managers in Sweden are also trained to accept decisions that were made in groups and seem to be somewhat unsafe.

The advantage of group decision making however surpasses all of its difficulties. Group decisions provide more complex information than do individual ones. As opposed to just one perspective, when in a group, many opinions are being weighed against each other. A group can bring various standpoints to a discussion, and generate more alternatives. Diversity of information is what management tries to achieve in most cases, and it is only possible if group members have different expertise, background, or point of view. People who participate in a decision making later will be more likely to accept those decisions and convince others to accept it as well. Americans value democratic ideas, therefore they perceive group decisions more valid then decisions made by a single person.

Group decisions are key component to the functioning of an organization. In larger and in smaller organizations as well decisions have to be made on a daily basis. Smaller choices not necessarily have to involve groups, but important decisions, I think definitely have to be made in a consensus with other people.

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