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Team Performance Module navigation.
Module Introduction
Lesson Goals
Team Use
Decision Making
Groupthink
Team Types
Development
Goals
Motivation
Performance
CRM
Human Error
Error Management
CRM Effectiveness
Module Summary
Course Conclusion
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Team Performance Module > Decision Making - 3 of 3
 
 


Team Decision-Making - Guards Against Groupthink

Teams need not fall victim to "Groupthink." By being aware of the potential for groupthink and taking precautions against it, better team decision-making can be ensured. Some of the techniques for countering groupthink are:

  • Leadership - Team leaders, facilitators, and mentors need to: refrain from expressing their personal preferences to the team, elicit open discussion, and encourage the free expression of diverse points of view, objections, or concerns. The value of differing opinions should be encouraged to the point of fostering constructive conflict within the team, so that all perspectives can be brought to the fore.
  • Devil's Advocate - One or more members should be assigned to be a devil's advocate to challenge assumptions, alternatives, and decisions.
  • Reversed Roles - A member who opposes a particular alternative can be asked to argue in favor or it and vice versa.
  • Expert Opinion - Experts from outside the group can be called in to express different points of view.
  • Decision Criteria - Objective criteria, including weighting factors where appropriate, should be developed for evaluating alternatives.
  • Structured Rankings - Likewise, an objective form of ranking alternatives to support decision-making needs to be used. Consider individual and anonymous rankings, at least at the beginning of the process, to reduce undue influence or ranking/voting by other members.
  • Second Chance Meeting - A "second chance" meeting can be held after the decision has been made. The purpose of this meeting is to permit each member to reconsider the whole issue and voice any residual concerns before the decision is made final.*

* Daut, Kathryn "Groupthink--The Dark Side of Teaming and How to Counteract It!," U.S. Air Force, Air War College, Leadership, Ethics, & Command Central, Communication Skills, Mediation and Facilitation.

  
 

   

  
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