ADVANTAGES OF GROUP DISCUSSION
As per an old proverb “Two heads are better than one‟, companies are relying more on mutual decision making in order to get better outcomes. It is generally believed that two or more people can offer a better solution to a problem in comparison to an individual. Keeping this belief in mind, group discussions are promoted at various levels in our professional life.
The biggest advantage of discussing a problem in a group is that it enables the analysis of the issue from different perspectives. Every individual has his or her own point of view to look at the situation. Therefore, such discussions allow a comprehensive coverage of an issue from diverse angles. Once a group is at a consensus, chances are there that at the time of implementation of decision it will get higher acceptability in the organization. While creating a group for discussing highly volatile issues, representatives of various bodies of the organization could be included. Such a step safeguards the interests of each body at the time of decision making.
Greater knowledge and Information - No matter how much knowledge any one individual brings to the task, the total information possessed by all the members is bound to be greater. The biggest advantage of discussing a problem in a group is that it enables the analysis of the issue from different perspectives. Every individual has his or her own point of view to look at the situation. For example, a design engineer might best be able to develop the blueprint for a new machine, but an assembly line worker would have a better idea of how co-workers might react to it. Therefore, such discussions allow a comprehensive coverage of an issue from diverse angles.
More approaches to a Problem - There is no way of knowing beforehand which approach to a complex problem will best achieve the desired result. The more approaches considered, the better is the chance of finding the best solution. Groups could be formal or informal. As such there is no fixed number for conducting a group discussion but for increasing the effectiveness of a discussion the ideal range is eight to fifteen participants. A number less than eight might result in lack of diverse inputs on the issue while a larger group comprises the participation of each member of the group.
Diversity of Views: A group consists of different personalities having diverse views on the subject matter. Since decisions affect the interests of various sections of an organization/society, it is important to consider different viewpoints in the context of the given problem.
For example, marketing person may feel that the production should be increased because he could sell more than the given produce, production person may inform that he can produce more by employing 3 more persons, but the legal person may view that employing 3 more persons will bring the company under the purview of Factories Act, which he wants to avoid. Now for deciding on the question of additional production, all these views have to be considered in context of their relative pros and cons.
Expert knowledge: Decisions often require specialized knowledge that not all group members may possess. By incorporating experts from various fields or departments into the decision-making group, the organization ensures that decisions are informed by the latest and most accurate technical information. This inclusion of expertise leads to more realistic, efficient, and effective decisions.
Newer Ideas: Group decision-making techniques, such as brainstorming, encourage participants to think creatively and outside traditional patterns. This process helps generate innovative and unconventional ideas that can lead to breakthrough solutions. The collaborative environment fosters a diversity of thoughts and perspectives, which can be invaluable in solving complex problems.
Degree of Involvement: Group members often feel a stronger sense of involvement and commitment when they participate in decision-making processes. This involvement reduces resistance to change and increases the willingness to consider problems and possibilities objectively and without bias. When individuals feel their input is valued, they are more likely to support and implement the group's decisions.
Acceptability of group decisions: The group decisions are more readily accepted by people because they are not imposed upon them. Since members get an opportunity to discuss their views on the subject, they believe that the decision has been taken after deliberating upon all the possible effects of the decision.
Encourage people to take initiative: Through group discussion, individuals can gain confidence in expressing their ideas and opinions and learn to articulate them effectively in front of others. Group process provides a forum to people to present their ideas. Persons who otherwise are not very participative may come out with their views in a group environment. This leads to personal as well as organizational growth.
Increases legitimacy: Our society values democratic methods. This perception stems from the democratic ideal of collective deliberation and consensus-building. Group decisions are thus viewed as fairer and more representative, enhancing the credibility and acceptance of the outcomes.
Encourages the development of Critical Thinking: Because it gives everyone a chance to voice their opinions and have their views questioned, group discussions encourage the development of critical thinking. This interactive process encourages critical thinking as participants must analyze their own beliefs and consider the merits of alternative viewpoints. Engaging in thoughtful dialogue helps individuals refine their ideas and develop stronger arguments, contributing to better decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
The advantages of group discussions and decision-making are manifold, encompassing enhanced expertise, creativity, involvement, acceptability, initiative, legitimacy, and critical thinking. These benefits collectively lead to more informed, innovative, and accepted decisions, fostering a collaborative and dynamic organizational culture.
DISADVANTAGES OF GROUP DISCUSSION
Although discussing in groups has several advantages still it suffers from certain lacunae as it is rightly said that ‘Too many cooks can spoil the soup’ because generating a consensus among group members is the biggest challenge. In certain cases, few dominating members try to overpower others and impose their ideas on the group. Also different viewpoints of the members often result in no decision. Generally, no specific person is assigned as the leader of the group thus making it very difficult to channelize the discussion. Some of the disadvantages of Group Discussion are given below…
Time consuming: Taking decisions on a group forum is a time consuming process. Identifying the appropriate members for the group, coordinating their meetings, defining and explaining targeted problems, and reaching to a conforming solution involves a good deal of time. Thus the benefits of group decision are required to be weighed with the effect of time factor involved in the process.
Expensive: Organizing meetings, especially if members are from different locations, may involve travel expenses, accommodation, and other logistical costs. Time spent in meetings is time away from other productive activities. This can be particularly expensive when the group includes high-level executives or specialists whose time is valuable. There may also be some costs for support services like meeting facilities, refreshments, and administrative support.
Conflict: Members may possess different opinions, beliefs, and priorities, leading to disagreements. Differences in personality and communication styles can cause disagreements among members. Some members may resist ideas that threaten their status quo or challenge their preferred way of doing things. Conflict among members also may occur when an organization is running out of limited resources such as budget allocation, time management and recognition.
Individual domination: A formal (informal) leader may dominate group discussion and strongly influence the outcome, even though his problem solving ability may be poor. Extroverted and socially assertive persons tend to be more active than other participants. Group members with high self-confidence based on past success or favorable relations with management will also tend to dominate the discussion. Domination from any quarter can put a damper on the group's best problem solvers.
Pressures to Conform: The desire by group members to be accepted and considered as an asset to the group can result in their agreeing to any proposal without taking an active initiative. The pressure to conform in group discussions and decision-making processes is a significant challenge that can undermine the quality and effectiveness of the outcomes. This pressure stems from a variety of social and psychological dynamics within the group setting.
Social Loafing: This theory states that as a group gets larger, the individual contribution decreases disproportionate to the group size. This is due to the diffusion of responsibility created as the size of the group increases. As more people are added to the group, you will end up with a small percentage doing a large portion of the work and a large percentage doing a much smaller proportion. This encourages shifting of responsibility.
Groupism: Groupism refers to the phenomenon where members of a group develop a strong sense of belongingness and identity within their group, which can lead to negative sentiments towards other groups or individuals outside their own group. This in-group/out-group dynamic can foster division and conflict within an organization. Groups may develop ‘Silo Mentality’ where they isolate themselves, focusing solely on their own objectives and disregarding the broader organizational goals. This can result in inefficiencies and missed opportunities for synergy.
Waste of time in Unnecessary Discussion: When group meetings take place, it is difficult to utilize the time of meeting to the optimum level. Unnecessary discussions are bound to creep in resulting in gross wastage of time. However, a good leader can effectively control these unnecessary discussions.
To sum up, Group decision making is a time consuming and expensive affair and requires great coordination skills on the part of the leader to achieve the group goal. However, for the complicated and strategic problems or the problems affecting large interest groups, group decision making processes can lead to the best possible solution. Recognizing these potential pitfalls and implementing strategies to mitigate them can enhance the effectiveness of group decision-making processes. By fostering a culture of inclusivity and maintaining disciplined meeting practices, organizations can leverage the benefits of group discussions while minimizing their drawbacks.
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