The decision-making process is crucial in a group project. Bouyssou and Pirlot (2013) elaborate that it is the techniques and steps that are used to decide on the scope of work, division of tasks and the settling of disputes. The leadership style is also significant in the decision making. A great decision-making process is one that involves the members, considers rationality and has a participative leadership approach (Kaner, 2014). This paper examines the decision-making process of a group by analyzing the decision-making process of the annotated bibliography group assignment.
The first and most important decision in the group assignment was deciding on the resource to be used. This included the books, journals, and articles. In the case of the resources to be used, the group needed to decide the books and articles that are relevant to the assignment we were doing on decision making in uncertainty and annotated bibliographies. We also needed to determine where to acquire that resource and what was fit. This was to be carried out immediately after examining the assignment requirement and the articles that we were to conduct annotated bibliographies. The selection of the resource was to be done through following steps: planning for the search, narrowing the search to only relevant resources and then examining what has been found. The whole group was to be involved in selecting the books and the journal to be used in the assignment. This task was essential to support the claims that we were going to indicate in the annotated bibliographies. The group leader was the one to decide on assigning the roles of selecting the resources. The group was to work together where each member contributes in choosing the books and journal so that the actual assignment can commence immediately. Any dispute in concerning the resource and who to do it was to be settled with a consensus where the majority opinion ruled.
Based on the rational decision-making model, the group decision making process of selecting the references to use in conducting the assignment is effective. Shepherd and Rudd (2014) explain that the model indicates that in rationality, the decision is made based on facts, practicality and, the pros and cons of every choice. This ensures timely decision making and the best options. Similarly, the group intended to search and pick the resources, after planning, dividing them based on relevance and evaluating them. Nevertheless, the group leadership skill was poor. The leader decided on assigning roles solely. Tannenbaum and Massarik (2013) suggest that a good leader is one that involves member in the decision and distributes power. As for the operation of the group it good has it collaborative. However, the method of resolving disputes is irrational. It is not all time that the majority opinion is right.
The decision-making process of selecting the resource taught me multiple things. The first is that the decision-making process should be by done all the members of the group. Therefore, the act of letting the leader make all decision is something I will not adopt in any group work. Kaner (2013) agrees that members are not supportive of the decision made without their consultation and thus they may work to see it fail. Furthermore, the members of the group will not be motivated to do the task effectively. I have also learned about the importance of having a plan in the decision making. This is something the group used, and I would utilize again. This is because it eases the process of making choices and it saves time since people know precisely what to do.
I believe that the group would have been more efficient if it adopted effective communication where all member’ information is shared among the members and the leader and feedback provided. Hopfe and Hensen (2013) assert that this would promote more cooperation and encourage the leader to consider the members’ suggestions in decision making. I also recommend a participative leadership style where the team is involved in making all decision. This is to eliminate the weakness of the group of being leader-centered. I would as well recommend the adoption of the win-win technique in addressing conflict. Serrat (2017) illustrates that it focuses on both the majority and minority opinion and consequently, promotes fairness and good choices.
The other decision the group had to make is how to conduct the annotated bibliography. In this matter, the group needs to decide on the purpose of the journals, the type of journals, the method used in the journal, the approaches of the paper; research or not research paper. The group also needed to examine the relationship between the two journals, the strengths, and weaknesses. Finally, the members had to decide on the key points of the article to indicate their findings. The tasks mentioned above needed to be done after examine the articles provided and reading the resources selected. The members that selected related resources conducted the annotated bibliography section that related to the books or journals they picked. For instance, if two members chose resources that examined the strengths and weaknesses of the articles, they covered that part. However, the final compilation was to be done by whole the group. Examining the purpose, method, approach, strengths weaknesses and the relationship between the articles were necessary tasks to show if the article were valid and relevant resources to be used to examine a particular topic. They also demonstrated that we understood the articles. The decision on the roles of members was made by the leader. The group leader also settled any dispute in the group. The group worked in collaboration where each sub-group consulted the other in various issues. They also worked together on the problems that affected all the members.
The group has effectively decided on the scope of work. It has decided on the work based on the requirement of the assignment. It has also been based on the general objectives and goals of conducting an annotated bibliography. Annotated bibliography objectives are to show the reliability and relevance of the book or journal about the topic it is covering. In addition to the assignment requirement, the group considered the resources available when deciding the work to be done. Similarly, in an effective scope of work of the project, the manager determines the objectives, goals, resources, tasks, and schedule of the project (Aranda-Jan & Loukanova, 2014). Distribution of roles has likewise been done effectively, they have been divided based on specialization. The individual who selected a source is more conversant with the subject matter than a new person. Shepherd and Rudd (2014) point out that in decision making, roles should be made based on the specialization of the field.
However, the leadership style used in the decision making of settling disputes and assigning roles is ineffective. The leader makes all the critical decision. This is something I would not do in any group decision-making process. Members opinion is significant since they are the individual who will execute the tasks and therefore, involve them promote efficiency due to understanding. Additionally, I would not settle disagreement without consulting the team. Snyder and Diesing (2013) agree that this is because the members will not feel the conflict was resolved and instead, it may escalate the conflict. However, I would use the specialization technique in the division of the task since it promotes efficiency. Experts in particular area work faster and appropriately
I recommend a decision-making process that includes all the participant of the group. In deciding an important matter that affects everybody, the member should contribute their opinion which is then evaluated rationally and adopted. I also recommend the negotiation technique of settling the dispute where the disagreeing parties are engaged in relationship building exercises to resolve their disputes. It also involves the adoption of the compromising technique where the team does not agree on a particular thing. My final recommendation is changes in the leadership style to one that engages and concentrates on the members.
Conclusion
A collaborative decision-making process is the best. The group adopted a leader focused decision-making process, and it caused problems in the completion of the assignment. However, the cooperation of the members proved to ease the work and promote efficiency. Also, the approach of assigning roles and decided on the scope of work was effective. In the first scenario, the scope of work was determined rationally as planning and evolution were involved. Situation two also applied rationality; it considered the objectives of the assignment, the requirements and the resources available. Additionally, the roles were divided based on specialization.
References
Aranda-Jan, C. B., Mohutsiwa-Dibe, N., & Loukanova, S. (2014). Systematic review on what works, what does not work and why of implementation of mobile health (mHealth) projects in Africa. BMC public health, 14(1), 188.
Bouyssou, D., Dubois, D., Prade, H., & Pirlot, M. (Eds.). (2013). Decision making process: Concepts and methods. John Wiley & Sons.
Hopfe, C. J., Augenbroe, G. L., & Hensen, J. L. (2013). Multi-criteria decision making under uncertainty in building performance assessment. Building and environment, 69, 81-90.
Kaner, S. (2014). Facilitator’s guide to participatory decision-making. John Wiley & Sons.
Serrat, O. (2017). Understanding and developing emotional intelligence. In Knowledge Solutions (pp. 329-339). Springer, Singapore.
Shepherd, N. G., & Rudd, J. M. (2014). The influence of context on the strategic decision?making process: A review of the literature. International Journal of Management Reviews, 16(3), 340-364.
Snyder, G. H., & Diesing, P. (2015). Conflict among nations: Bargaining, decision making, and system structure in international crises. Princeton University Press.
Tannenbaum, R., Weschler, I., & Massarik, F. (2013). Leadership and Organization (RLE: Organizations): A Behavioural Science Approach. Routledge.
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