Explain how groupthink and groupshift affect group decision-making with reference to contemporary management research

The first 200 words of this essay...

Introduction

A group is defined as two or more individuals, interacting and interdependent, who work together at achieve particular objectives.

Groups have always been important in organizations. The belief that a group decision is superior to an individual decision-making is generally accepted throughout most organizations. When we work together in groups we sometimes suffer illusions of righteousness and invincibility. One aspect of group decision-making that has been extensively examined has been the phenomena of groupthink. This is a by-product of so-called `cohesive groups' that results in a tendency to allow group pressures for conformity to interfere with or deter effective group decision-making. . Irving Janis offered his theory of groupthink in explanation, arguing that groupthink is "a mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group, when the members' strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action."

What is groupthink?

Irving L. Janis' "Victims of Groupthink" first developed the term `groupthink'. Irving critically examined a number of political fiascos in history and found that the decisions that facilitated the disasters were a result of what he termed groupthink.