Page 207 - Essentials of Human Communication

186 Chapter 9 Small Group Communication

● Authority: In decision making by authority, group members voice their
feelings and opinions, but the leader or boss makes the final decision.
This method has the advantages of being efficient and of giving greater
importance to the suggestions of more experienced members. The disad-
vantage is that members may feel that their contributions have too little
influence and therefore may not participate with real enthusiasm.
● Majority rule: The group agrees to abide by the majority decision and may
vote on various issues as the group searches to solve its problem. Like de-
cision by authority, this method is efficient. A disadvantage is that it may
lead the group to limit discussion by calling for a vote once a majority
has agreed. Also, members not voting with the majority may feel disen-
franchised and left out.
● Consensus: In small group decision making, consensus means reaching
agreement. The agreement does not have to be unanimous; it is, rather,
something that the group members can live with; they agree that they
can do whatever the group’s solution requires (Kelly, 1994). It does not
ViewpOInTS imply that each individual group member agrees with the solution, but
Developing Criteria only that members agree that at this time (for this situation, for this
What type of criteria would an advertising agency use group) this solution should be adopted and followed:
in evaluating a campaign to sell soap? A university, in
evaluating a new multicultural curriculum? Parents, in Consensus is the most time-consuming of the decision-making
evaluating a preschool for their children? A group of methods. However, it is also the method that best secures the coop-
people creating a sign for protest? eration and participation of all members in implementing the
group’s decisions. If you want members of the group to be satisfied
with and committed to the decision, consensus seems to be the best
Communication way to arrive at a solution (Beebe & Masterson, 2012).
Choice point
Group pressure Step 6: Test Selected Solutions After putting solutions into operation, test
All of your colleagues at your their effectiveness. The group might, for example, poll the students or college employ-
new job pad their expense accounts. You ees about the new website. Or the group might analyze the number of visits to the
don’t want to go along with this, but if you website to see if the number of visits increases by the desired 10 percent. If the selected
don’t, everyone else will be found out. You solutions prove ineffective, the group will need to return to a previous stage and repeat
don’t want to make waves, yet you don’t that part of the process. This often involves selecting other solutions to test. But it also
want to do something unethical. What are may mean going even farther back in the process—to a reanalysis of the problem, an
some of the options you have for dealing with identification of other solutions, or a restatement of criteria, for example.
this issue?

prObleM-SOlVInG GrOupS aT wOrk
The problem-solving sequence discussed here is used widely in a variety of different types of
business groups. Let’s examine three popular approaches that rely largely on the problem-
solving techniques just discussed: (1) the nominal group technique, (2) the Delphi method,
and (3) quality circles.
As you read these discussions, realize that the available technology will dictate some of
the ways in which these groups operate. If the members only have a whiteboard, then much
will be recorded on the board. If all members have computers
connected to the company website, then much of the record keeping will go onto the website
and at the same time into each laptop or tablet.

The nominal Group Technique The nominal group technique is a method of prob-
lem solving that uses limited discussion and confidential voting to obtain a group decision.
For an interesting article on the It’s especially helpful when some members may be reluctant to voice their opinions in a regu-
importance of communication, see lar problem-solving group or when the issue is controversial or sensitive. The nominal group
“The Importance of Communica- technique can be divided into eight steps (Kelly, 1994):
tion in the Workplace” at tcbdevito 1. The problem is defined and clarified for all members.
.blogspot.com. How will commu-
nication figure into your own an- 2. Each member writes down (without discussion or consultation with others) his or her
ticipated or current workplace? ideas on or possible solutions to the problem.