Spoke - decision making
Decision making is an integral part of group work that is closely associated with collaborative problem solving. There are a variety of methods of decision making that can be used to move a group forward in achieving its goals. Some of the more common methods of decision making include a decision made in isolation by the formal leader of the group, a majority vote by all group members, a vote by a sub group of members who have been empowered to investigate an issue and a full group agreement by all members known as ‘consensus’.
The type of decision making process that is used in a group can vary depending on situational variables in the group including the time and resources that are available, the specific context, the nature of the task and the groups operating structures. The various methods of decision making have advantages and disadvantages and the choice of method is depended on the context variables mentioned above.
Consensus decision making is often used in groups that are working collaboratively. It involves the group working in a committed way to collectively generate the best outcome that is fully supported by all of the group members. This process can be time consuming and energy demanding for the group as individuals engage in intense communication as they discuss ideas, question and work through concerns associated with the issue. This method generates various group outcomes including the production of quality decisions that the group is committed to implementing and the strengthening of group relationships through refined communication skills.
Effective groups clarify the decision making method/s that will be used in the specific context and group members are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the various methods.
The wheel model helps us visualise the impact of a faulty spokes/planning on wheel function/group effectiveness. A wheel with short spokes does not travel as far per revolution as a wheel with long spokes.
Key points to remember are:
- Groups that establish a clear understanding of the nature of the decision making process before commencing on group tasks are more likely to operate more efficiently.
- When individuals have a voice in the decision making process and when consensus methods are implemented there is likely to be a stronger ownership and commitment by the group to implementing the agreed upon decision.
- Groups need to be allocated appropriate time (relative to the context) to effectively implement quality consensus decision making in groups.