• group discussion promotes higher quality decision making when the following are present.
1. the validity of inferences is carefully examined
2. inferences are grounded in valid information and there are a suff

• mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive ingroup
• pressure to present a united front outside of the group
• excessive cohesiveness
• can be very negatuve
• military mission, family renunion

• arrogance,closed mindedness and uniformity of the group

1. recognize the problems when they begin
2. group needs to minimize status issues among members
3. seek info that challenges emerging concurrences develop a nirm that legimitzes disagreement during discussion

• group move in three activity tasks
• task
• relational
• topic
• when reaching a decision groups pick one of the following three
• unitary-step by step
• complex cyclic- repeat pattern of problem-solution
• solution oriented-cut to the chase

• systematic procedures in group discusssion tend to be more productive (guidelines only)
• key determinants
• conduct during discussion
• how well things are executed

• must be open ended question
• fact, value, or policy
• must define terms
• evaluation of causes and effects
• analysis paralysis
• overanalyzing things

• criteria are the standards we use for decision making
• ordered by priority
• brainstorming without stopping for evaluation
• clarifying ambiguity

Program evaluation review technique

(PERT)

1. determine what the final step looks like
2. specify any event that need to occur before the goal is realized
3. put the events in chronilogical order
4. construct a diagram
5. generate a list of activities, resources and materials needed
6. develop a time line
7. consider time lines and deadlines
8. specify which group member has what respnsibility

• alienates minorty and quality of the decision may be jeopardized

• designating experts, designating authority, forceful faction, and executive committee

• making commitment, quality decisions
• however it is time consuming
• consensus-commitment, agreement, and satisfaction

• not expressing the value of a minorities input may be the cause of their poor particapation
• varies by culture

• encourage participation, make issues and problems relevant, gives low participators responsibilities, establish a cooperativegroup climate, and encourage devils avdocacy and dialectual inquiry