MGHB02H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11.6-11.7: Crowdsourcing, Big Data
11.6 Summarize the pros and cons of using groups to make decisions, with attention to the groupthink
phenomenon and risk assessment
Pros of using groups for decisions
Decision quality: groups are more vigilant, can generate more ideas, and can evaluate ideas
better
oRelevant to problem identification, information seeking, generating and evaluating
alternatives
Decision acceptance and commitment (final decision will be more accepted if made by the
group): group decisions let’s people be involved in choices that affect them, they have a better
understanding if they participate, and will be more committed when they personally invest in
the decision
oRelevant to decision implementation
Diffusion of responsibility: no one person holds the blame for a bad decision
Cons of group decision making
Time: process losses due to coordination of a group, takes more time to agree on a solution
Conflict: participants have individual agendas that can lead to conflict
Domination: advantages of group decision making cancelled out by individuals dominating the
discussion (harms acceptance and commitment to decision)
Groupthink: group pressure and conformity damages effective group decision making;
agreement is stressed over decision quality
oIllusions of invulnerability: members are overconfident and ignore danger signals
oRationalization: problems or counter-arguments are rationalized away
oIllusion of morality: group decision appears to be morally correct
oStereotypes of outsiders: outsiders are given unfavourable stereotypes
oPressure for conformity: group pressure to conform with group views
oSelf-censorship: members pressure themselves to avoid voicing opposing opinions
oIllusion of unanimity: members believe the group decision is unanimous
oMindguards: members protect the group from contrary information
Stimulating and managing controversy
Balance between conflict (too much controversy) and groupthink (too little controversy)
Devil’s advocate: stimulate controversy by challenging weaknesses in a decision
Risk and group decision making; are groups riskier or more conservative
Risky/Conservative shift: tendency for groups to make decisions that are riskier/conservative
than the group’s average risk level
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