Group-Aided Decision Making: A Contingency Perspective

Collaborative Computing: Teaming up to make decisions via a computer network programmed with groupware.

Group Involvement in Decisions

—  Analyzing the problem

—  Identifying components of the situation

—  Estimating components of the situation

—  Designing alternatives

—  Choosing an alternative

The Problem of Dispersed Accountability

Group-aided decision making: The group does everything except make the decision.

Group decision making: The group actually makes the final decision collectively. Results in loss of personal/individual accountability.

Individual accountability is required when: The decision will have significant organizational impact. The decision has legal ramifications. A competitive reward is tied to the decision.

Advantages-Disadvantages of Group-Aided Decision Making and Problem Solving

A Contingency Approach Is Necessary

Individuals Versus Groups

Groups do better quantitatively and qualitatively than the average individual. Exceptional individuals tend to outperform the group. Group decision-making performance does not always exceed individual performance, making a contingency approach to decision making advisable.

The Problem-Solving Process