Group Input
Some of the types of leadership discussed in the previous sections rely on group input. Many decisions in the workplace are made in groupscommittees, taskforces, panels, and teams, for example.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Members of the Scheduling Committee
FROM: Kevin Fischman
SUBJECT: Committee Meetings
We will meet Tuesday at 9:00 A.M. in the large conference room
for a brainstorming session. The goal of the session will be to
generate ideas for resolving the scheduling problems and minimize
the need for overtime. All ideas are encouraged. No criticisms
of ideas will be permitted at this meeting. The ideas will
be recorded for later discussion and evaluation.
On Wednesday at 9:00 A.M. we will meet again in the large
conference room. The goals for Wednesday's meeting are (a) to
evaluate the ideas from the previous day, and (b) to try to
reach consensus about the best way to solve the scheduling problems.
During this consensus-building meeting, we encourage all
evaluative comments. Please do not keep silent if you do not
agree with what is being said. We need your input, and this type
of groupthink is an obstacle to putting everyone's experience
and knowledge to work on the issue.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
Circle T or F to indicate whether each of the following statements is true or false. Use the context clues in the preceding memo to help you decide.| Q1 |
T |
F |
1. Brainstorming is a form of mental confusion. |
|
A1:
| False. Brainstorming is a technique for generating as many ideas as possible from a group. |
| Q2 |
T |
F |
2. Consensus refers to counting votes. |
|
A2:
| False. Consensus refers to agreement. Remember from your work on prefixes that con- means "together." The root -sent- means "thinking." Consensus means "thinking together", or, more accurately, "thinking alike." |
| Q3 |
T |
F |
3. Groupthink is a form of group decision making. |
|
A3:
| False. Groupthink is a term that describes an individual's reluctance to speak out against the ideas of a group. The individual goes along with the group's thinking, even though he or she does not agree. Groupthink is an obstacle to effective idea generation and consensus building. |
| Q4 |
T |
F |
4. Consensus building refers to attempting to formulate a solution or decision that is acceptable to most of the group. |
|
A4:
| True. Building consensus means "building agreement among the members of a group." |
|
TERMS RELATED TO GROUP INPUT
brainstorming
a technique sometimes used to build consensus that involves generation of suggestions and alternatives without criticism; the alternatives are recorded for discussion and analysis, at which time evaluation and criticism of the ideas are permittedconsensus
agreement on an issue or point by everyone in a groupconsensus building
attempting to develop a decision or solution that is acceptable to everyone or almost everyone in a group; working to find acceptable compromisesgroupthink
a tendency to hold back unpopular views; groupthink gives the appearance of agreement or conformity |
|
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