Strive for a climate of openness and trust. Measure
performance results rather than personalities. Encourage top management to
refrain from political behaviors. Strive to integrate individual and organizational
goals through meaningful work and career planning. Practice job rotation to
encourage broader perspectives and understanding of the problems of others.
Conformity and Groupthink
Conformity is complying with the role expectations
and norms perceived by the majority to be appropriate in a particular
situation.Conformity enhances predictability, which is generally thought to be
good for rational planning and productive enterprise.
Research on Conformity
The Hot Seat (Asch)
Following the Immoral Majority: Individuals tend to
go along with the group (blind conformity) when faced with overwhelming
opposition by the group.
Groupthink (Irving Janis)
Groupthink is a mode of thinking (blind conformity)
that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group,
when the members’ strivings for unanimity override their motivation to
realistically appraise alternative courses of action.
The Asch Line Experiment
Symptoms of Groupthink
Excessive optimism
An assumption of
inherent morality
Suppression of dissent
A desperate quest for
unanimity
Preventing Groupthink
Avoid using groups as rubberstamps. Urge each group
member to think independently. Bring in outside experts for fresh perspectives.
Assign someone the role of devil’s advocate. Take time to consider possible
effects and consequences of alternative courses of action.
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