Techniques of Decision Making in Groups

• Brainstorming: In brainstorming, about 6 to 8 people sit and discuss the

problem. The group leader states the problem in a clear manner and all
the alternatives are recorded for later discussion.

• Nominal Group Techniques (NGT): The NGT restricts discussions or

interpersonal communication during the decision making process, hence
the term ‘nominal’. Group members are all present physically, but
operates independently.

• Delphi Technique: In Delphi Technique, experts at remote locations

respond to the questionnaire. A coordinator summarizes the
questionnaire, and the summary is sent back to the experts. The experts
then rate the various alternatives generated, and the coordinator
tabulates the results.
• Electronic meetings: In this, issues are presented to the participants and they
type their responses onto their computer screens. Individual comments, as
well as aggregate votes, are displayed on a projected screen.

• Devil’s Advocacy: In this method, an individual or a group is given the role of

critic. This person (called Devil’s Advocate) has the task of coming up with the
potential problem related to a proposed decision.

• Quality Circles: Quality circles are small groups that voluntarily meet to
provide input for solving quality or production problems. Quality circles are
often generated from the bottom up.

• Self-managed Teams: Self-managed Teams make many of the decisions that

were once reserved for managers, such as work scheduling, job assignments
and staffing.
 Understanding Work Teams
A team is a relatively permanent work group whose members
must coordinate their activities to achieve one or more common
objectives. The objectives might include advising others in the
organization, producing goods and services, and carrying out a project.

Advantages:
• Teams typically outperform individuals.
• Teams use employee talents better.
• Teams are more flexible and responsive to change in environment.
• Teams facilitate employee involvement.
 Types of Teams
• Problem-solving Teams: Problem-solving teams consist of 5-10 employees
from the same department, who meet for a few hours each week to
discuss the ways of improving quality, efficiency and the work environment.

• Self-managed Work Teams: A self-managed team includes collective control

over the pace of work, determination of work assignments, organization of
breaks, and collective choice of inspection procedures. Fully self-managed
work teams even select their own members.

• Cross-functional Teams: Cross-functional teams are made up of employees

from about the same hierarchical level, but from different work areas, who
come together to accomplish a task. These teams are not easy to manage.