List three advantages and three disadvantages of using groups in the problem-solving or decision-making process

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The advantages of using groups in the problem-solving or decision-making process include:

1 . More information and knowledge are available to make decisions
2 . More options are likely to be produced from which to choose
3 . More acceptance of a final decision by members of a group
4 . More effective communication of the decision is likely
5 . Better decisions are ultimately made when more than one person is involved in the decision

The disadvantages of using groups in the problem-solving or decision-making process include:

1 . Involving groups in the process requires more time.
2 . It is more costly to involve a group in the decision-making process.
3 . Conflicts may arise among group members.
4 . Keeping people working cooperatively on a given task requires great skill.
5 . People may feel less responsibility for the solution or decision when many people are involved in the process.
6 . One person, or a small portion of the group, may dominate the process, thus causing the solution and decision to be less democratic.
7 . Compromise, rather than the best decision, may occur because of group member indecisiveness.
8 . Groupthink may occur. The desire to be accepted by the group may cause individual members to conform to group decisions rather than thinking critically or questioning objectionable and dubious solutions or decisions.