Decision Making Methods 

Research group decision-making methods. Start with the Delphi technique.

            There are many tools available to help groups with decision-making. These include brainstorming ideas, nominal group technique, voting, ranking, and the Delphi technique (Derrick, 2018). Group dynamics are complex, and idea generation often becomes something personal to the idea generator. The value group-decision making methods help leaders navigate those complexities and aids the team in generating ideas.

            

The Delphi technique was developed in the 1950s at the Rand corporation by Balkey and Helmer to help achieve consensus when opinions vary, and convergence eludes the team (Hsu & Sandford, 2007). In this technique, the team lead gathers the various ideas and narrows the list of possibilities for the team's further consideration. While this is a great way to break deadlocks, a single person's opinion becomes the direction setter. The solutions discarded by the leader may lead to poor decision-making or stifle original thought.

 

Choose at least 2 methods to discuss and compare and contrast in your main post. Focus on the similarities and the differences between the various methods.

            An excellent tool for idea generation is brainstorming. In this process, the team members agree upon a problem that requires resolution and a set of rules by which all participants agree to abide by. The session is moderated by an individual who does not participate in the idea generation but ensures all rules are followed and ideas documented (Paulus & Kenworthy, 2019). During this process, the appropriateness of an idea does not require consideration.

            

An interesting phenomenon of brainstorming is the generation of original ideas. An idea may seem ridiculous during the session, but the group processes that information, leading to a working concept. In brainstorming, all opinions have merit, and criticism provides no benefit. Encouraging all team members' involvement is crucial for the method's success (Paulus & Kenworthy, 2019).

            

Complementing brainstorming is voting and consensus. In the voting model, the team reviews the ideas and votes for the most appealing idea. A decision is reached when the majority vote for the adoption of this idea. If a majority decision is not reached, the item with the lowest count is discarded, and the voting recommences with the remaining items (Derrick, 2018). On the other hand, consensus requires the "adoption of an idea by the committee. A member of the team representing an idea presents the merits of the concept to the entire team, and the group chooses to adopt or discard the idea. This process continues until all merits are discussed and the committee agrees to adopt a final idea (Derrick, 2018).

            

The end result of group sessions is generating original ideas and vetting the concepts as an appropriate solution to the problem.

References

Derrick, L. (2018). 6 Group Decision Making Techniques YOur Team Needs Now. toggl plan. https://toggl.com/blog/6-group-decision-making-techniques-your-team-needs-now

 

Hsu, C.-C., & Sandford, B. A. (2007). The Delphi technique: making sense of consensus. Practical Assessment, Research, and Evaluation, 12(1), 10.

 

Paulus, P. B., & Kenworthy, J. B. (2019). Effective brainstorming. In The oxford handbook of group creativity and innovation (pp. 287-306).