Team and Creative Problem Solving and Decision Making

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Team and Creative Problem Solving and Decision
Making

• Chapter 10

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Learning Objectives

• Explain the importance of teams.
• Describe the major types of groups.
• List the five steps in the problem-solving and
  decision-making model.
• Describe five techniques for generating creative
  alternatives.
• Explain advantages and disadvantages of group
  decision making.
• State when and how to use participation in
  problem solving and decision making.

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Group and Team Differences

• Characteristics Groups Teams
• Size Two or more can be large. Small number
  often 5-12 members.
• Leadership One clear leader making Shared
  leadership and decisions. decisions.
• Jobs Members perform one clear Members share job
  responsibility by independent part of a
  process. performing many interdependent tasks.
• Accountability The leader evaluates
  employees Members evaluate each others
  individual
• and Evaluation individual performance. and the
  groups performance.
• Rewards Based on individual Based on individual
  and group performance. performance.
• Objectives Set by management for
  the Organizational and those set by the
  team. organization.
• Level of Autonomy
• Group Team
• Management-Directed
  Semi-Autonomous Self-Directed

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Types of Groups

• Functional groups are ongoing formal groups
  comprised of mangers and their employees.
• Task group are more commonly called a committee.
  Usually comprised of members from different
  departments and is called a cross-functional
  team.
• Informal groups are spontaneously created when
  members join together voluntarily because of
  similar interests.

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Types of Groups Task Groups

• Ad hoc committees are temporary task forces for a
  specific purpose.
• Standing committees are permanent groups that
  exist to deal with continuing organizational
  issues.
• Boards (a type of standing committee) to oversee
  operations.
• Public policy groups help management deal more
  effectively with external pressures.
• Venture groups are responsible for planning entry
  into new business or service areas.

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The Linking Pin Concept
Each triangle represents a functional group, with
the manger acting as the linking pin between
groups
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Decision-Making StylesPros and Cons

• Style Positive
  Negative
• Reflexive quick decision making
  potential for waste
• 
  and duplication
• Reflective does not rush process
  wastes resources,
• 
  procrastination
• Consistent uses appropriate amount
• of time, most consistent
• record of good decisions

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The Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Model
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Creative Group Problem Solvingand Decision Making

• Creativity the ability to develop unique
  alternatives to solve problems.
• The four stages in the creative process
• Preparation
• Possible solutions
• Incubation
• Evaluation

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Techniques to Generate Creative Alternatives

• Brainstorming the process of suggesting many
  alternatives, without evaluation, to solve a
  problem.
• Synetics the process of generating novel
  alternatives through role playing and
  fantasizing.
• Nominal grouping the process of generating and
  evaluating alternatives through a structured
  voting method.
• Consensus mapping the process of developing a
  group solution to a problem.
• Delphi technique polls a group through a series
  of anonymous questionnaires.

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Advantages and Disadvantages ofGroup Decision
Making

• Advantages
• Better decisions.
• More alternatives.
• Acceptance.
• Morale.

• Disadvantages
• Time increases.
• Domination.
• Conformity and groupthink.
• Responsibility and social loafing.

Devils advocate technique requires the
individual to explain and defend his or her
position before the group.
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Variables Influencing Participation
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Team and Creative Problem Solving and Decision
Making

• Chapter 10
• Questions, Comments???