Problem-Solving and Decision-Making in Groups
Read this section to learn about common components/characteristics of problems and the five steps in group problem-solving. This article also describes the brainstorming and discussion that should occur before group decision-making, compares and contrasts decision-making techniques, and discusses various influences on decision-making.
Problem Solving and Decision Making in Groups
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the common components and characteristics of problems.
- Explain the five steps of the group problem-solving process.
- Describe the brainstorming and discussion that should take place before the group makes a decision.
- Compare and contrast the different decision-making techniques.
- Discuss the various influences on decision making.
Although
the steps of problem solving and decision making that we will discuss
next may seem obvious, we often don't think to or choose not to use
them. Instead, we start working on a problem and later realize we are
lost and have to backtrack. I'm sure we've all reached a point in a
project or task and had the "OK, now what?” moment. I've recently taken
up some carpentry projects as a functional hobby, and I have developed a
great respect for the importance of advanced planning. It's frustrating
to get to a crucial point in building or fixing something only to
realize that you have to unscrew a support board that you already
screwed in, have to drive back to the hardware store to get something
that you didn't think to get earlier, or have to completely start over.
In this section, we will discuss the group problem-solving process,
methods of decision making, and influences on these processes.
Group Problem Solving
The
problem-solving process involves thoughts, discussions, actions, and
decisions that occur from the first consideration of a problematic
situation to the goal. The problems that groups face are varied, but
some common problems include budgeting funds, raising funds, planning
events, addressing customer or citizen complaints, creating or adapting
products or services to fit needs, supporting members, and raising
awareness about issues or causes.
Problems of all sorts have
three common components:
- An undesirable situation. When conditions are desirable, there isn't a problem.
- A desired situation. Even though it may only be a vague idea, there is a drive to better the undesirable situation. The vague idea may develop into a more precise goal that can be achieved, although solutions are not yet generated.
- Obstacles between undesirable
and desirable situation. These are things that stand in the way between
the current situation and the group's goal of addressing it. This
component of a problem requires the most work, and it is the part where
decision making occurs. Some examples of obstacles include limited
funding, resources, personnel, time, or information. Obstacles can also
take the form of people who are working against the group, including
people resistant to change or people who disagree.
Discussion of
these three elements of a problem helps the group tailor its
problem-solving process, as each problem will vary. While these three
general elements are present in each problem, the group should also
address specific characteristics of the problem. Five common and
important characteristics to consider are task difficulty, number of
possible solutions, group member interest in problem, group member
familiarity with problem, and the need for solution acceptance.
- Task difficulty. Difficult tasks are also typically more complex. Groups should be prepared to spend time researching and discussing a difficult and complex task in order to develop a shared foundational knowledge. This typically requires individual work outside of the group and frequent group meetings to share information.
- Number of possible solutions. There are usually multiple ways to solve a problem or complete a task, but some problems have more potential solutions than others. Figuring out how to prepare a beach house for an approaching hurricane is fairly complex and difficult, but there are still a limited number of things to do - for example, taping and boarding up windows; turning off water, electricity, and gas; trimming trees; and securing loose outside objects. Other problems may be more creatively based. For example, designing a new restaurant may entail using some standard solutions but could also entail many different types of innovation with layout and design.
- Group member interest in problem. When group members are interested in the problem, they will be more engaged with the problem-solving process and invested in finding a quality solution. Groups with high interest in and knowledge about the problem may want more freedom to develop and implement solutions, while groups with low interest may prefer a leader who provides structure and direction.
- Group familiarity with problem. Some groups encounter a problem regularly, while other problems are more unique or unexpected. A family who has lived in hurricane alley for decades probably has a better idea of how to prepare its house for a hurricane than does a family that just recently moved from the Midwest. Many groups that rely on funding have to revisit a budget every year, and in recent years, groups have had to get more creative with budgets as funding has been cut in nearly every sector. When group members aren't familiar with a problem, they will need to do background research on what similar groups have done and may also need to bring in outside experts.
- Need for solution acceptance. In this step, groups must consider how many people the decision will affect and how much "buy-in” from others the group needs in order for their solution to be successfully implemented. Some small groups have many stakeholders on whom the success of a solution depends. Other groups are answerable only to themselves. When a small group is planning on building a new park in a crowded neighborhood or implementing a new policy in a large business, it can be very difficult to develop solutions that will be accepted by all. In such cases, groups will want to poll those who will be affected by the solution and may want to do a pilot implementation to see how people react. Imposing an excellent solution that doesn't have buy-in from stakeholders can still lead to failure.
This text was adapted by Saylor Academy under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License without attribution as requested by the work's original creator or licensor.