Question

• Explain the conflict or issue(s) seen in scenarios A,B and C . Indicate what the major problems were for the individuals in the scenario.
• Identify and define the various group decision-making tools.
• Describe which of the decision-making tools would be most and least effective in the situation presented in the scenarios. Justify your rationale.
• Evaluate how an individual might influence processes and outcomes in a work team.

Scenario A

Jamal and Amber have a successful small business with ten employees. Their entire team has been invited to two professional conferences, but they're only able to attend one.

The employees are arguing as some would rather go to the Florida conference while others want to go to the one in California.

The Florida conference is being held at a hall on the property of a major theme park. On site lodging is included, but meals are not. The speakers will be other small business owners and the topics will be centered around customer service. This conference lasts three days and is scheduled to end the day before Christmas.

The California conference has celebrity guest speakers, free meals, and two days of workshops. The conference is midweek in July. The workshop topics would be more beneficial to employees on a management track or already working in management. The lodging is in a less desirable area far from the conference. Attendees will have to find transportation to and from the convention hall.

Scenario B

A new member has joined the team! The other employees are very bonded and have not fully warmed up to her yet. She is excited to hear about the trip and hopes that it will give her a chance to get to know her coworkers better.

The new employee is pregnant and has doctors clearance to fly to Florida but is not allowed to fly the distance to California. With her pregnancy-related blood pressure problems, the added flight time could be dangerous.

Amber and Jamal could step in and decide the team will attend the Florida conference in order to accommodate the new employee. Both Amber and Jamal are experts in their field and are authorities over this group. Should they just make the decision for their team?

Scenario C

After successfully choosing a conference destination, funding fell through and the trip was cancelled! Morale is down and employees are disappointed.

Jamal wants to do something to lift the workers’ spirits. He and Amber have discussed a picnic at the local park, an afternoon at the movies, a paint night, or a catered lunch for the employees.

They hope whatever activity they choose will bring the group together and lessen the sadness of the cancelled trip. The employees have worked very hard this year and Jamal and Amber want to do something nice to show their appreciation for them. They want the group to regain the tightknit connection that they had before.

Answer 1

Conflict in scenario A- some employees want to attend Florida conference and some want to attend California conference. It is difficult for them to agree at same point because both meetings have some advantages and some disadvantages.

Conflict in scenario B- Jamal and Amber understand the problem of the new employee and they agree to go with her to Florida but it is difficult for them to make agree other team members because everyone have some issues with the other un-selected place.

Conflict in scenario C- Everyone is demotivated so it became difficult for Jamal and Amber to make them happy again because now they (team members) don’t want that. There is conflict of thoughts employees are disappointed and leaders want to boost the spirit of the team.

The group decision making tools are as follows-

1. Brainstorming- group of members verbally suggest the ideas. It is unstructured.
2. Dialectical inquiry- focus on full consideration of alternatives. Divide group into two parts they debate about the advantages and disadvantages of the topic.
3. Nominal group technique- structured decision making tool. Members have to write their ideas on paper. Then they publicly tell about their ideas and they discuss and give rating to each idea.
4. Delphi technique- group members are selected in this method according to their specific knowledge or expertise of the problem. Then they provide some solution of the problem.
5. Put it to a vote- in this decision can be taken by saying yes or no and majority answer win.

In the first scenario A- Dialectical inquiry tool of decision making can be most effective because we have two options in the first scenario and we have to choose one. So we can divide into two groups according to their liking for the trip and then they can debate about the advantages and disadvantages of both the options. And brainstorming can be least effective in present scenario because we have to choose only one from two options. If we have more than two options then we take this tool into consideration.

In second scenario B- in this scenario the Amber and Jamal talk to all of the members and discuss with the other employees that what the problem is. And then put it to a vote technique can be used. Delphi method is least required here.

In third scenario C- brainstorming method is most effective and relevant and Delphi method is least relevant. In the scenario everyone is demotivated and Jamal and Amber try to boost their morale again.

  If we see for overall case then brainstorming is relevant because in the last scenario the whole discussion go into vain.

An individual can influence processes and outcomes in a team work. The individual must be the leader or a person whom everyone want to listen then he or she can influence the whole team in a positive way like in this case Jamal and Amber are the leader of the group and they try to boost the morale of the team members again and they can do so because everyone listen to them and they are doing some activities and they know their team very well and when team members learn about these activities they also come and enjoy.