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COMPUTER SYSTEM SERVICING NC II - CBLM

Decision by Majority Rule (Voting and Polling)
More familiar decision-making procedures are often taken for granted as
applying to any group situation because they reflect our political system. One simple
version is to poll everyone's opinion following some period of discussion. If the
majority of participants feels the same way, it is often assumed that is the decision.
The other method is the more formal one of stating a clear alternative and asking for
votes in favor of it, votes against it, and abstentions.
On the surface, this method seems completely sound, but surprisingly often it
turns out that decisions made by this method are not well implemented, even by the
group that made the decision. What is wrong? Typically, it turns out that two kinds of
psychological barriers exist:
First, the minority members often feel there was an insufficient period of
discussion for them to really get their point of view across; hence they feel
misunderstood and sometimes resentful.
Second, the minority members often feel that the voting has created two
camps within the group and that these camps are now in a win-lose competition: The
minority feels that their camp lost the first round, but that it is just a matter of time
until it can regroup, pick up some support and win the next time a vote comes up.
In other words, voting creates coalitions, and the preoccupation of the losing
coalition is not how to implement what the majority wants, but how to win the next
battle. If voting is to be used, the group must be sure that it has created a climate in
which members feel they have had their day in court--and where all members feel
obligated to go along with the majority decision.

The Better Way

Because there are time constraints in coming to a group decision and
because there is no perfect system, a decision by consensus is one of the most
effective methods. Unfortunately, it is one of the most time- consuming techniques
for group decision-making. It is also quite important to understand that consensus is
not the same thing as unanimity. Rather, it is a state of affairs where
communications have been sufficiently open (and the group climate has been
sufficiently supportive) to make everyone in the group feel that they have had their
fair chance to influence the decision. Someone then tests for the "sense of the
meeting," carefully avoiding formal procedures like voting. If there is a clear
alternative to which most members subscribe and if those who oppose it feel they
have had their chance to influence, then a consensus exists. Operationally, it would
be defined by the fact that those members who would not take the majority
alternative nevertheless understand it clearly and are prepared to support it in
deference to any others that are probably about as good.

Date Developed:
SECTOR ELECTRONICS Document No.
May 04, 2020
RTC Issued by:
ZAMBOANGA QUALIFI- COMPUTER Developed By: Page 98 of
City CATION SYSTEM Mario Elmer B. Revision #___ 256
SERVICING NC II Tolo