3For this assignment, first thoroughly review the background readings and pay close attention to three group decision-making processes—the Delphi technique, brainstorming, and the Nominal Group Technique. Pay close attention to the discussion of these methods in the assigned readings, particularly Braintools
(Brainstorming), CDC (Nominal Group Technique) and Haughey (Delphi).
Below are three different scenarios. For each scenario, explain which group decision-making technique you would choose out of brainstorming, nominal group, or Delphi. Justify your answer with references from the required background materials. Your paper should be 4–5 pages in length:
1. The company you work for is in crisis. Several new competitors have been rapidly growing and taking away your customers. Your company’s sales are steadily dropping. You and the rest of the top management team know that creative new strategies are needed in order to keep up with the new competitors. Nobody is sure what needs to be done, but it is clear something drastic and original needs to happen in order to keep the company afloat. The top management team members are all extroverts who are not afraid to speak up at meetings, but they are often prone to conventional thinking. Which group decision-making technique do you recommend? Explain your reasoning, using the background readings to support your answer.
2. Your company is facing cost overruns and needs solutions on how best to cut costs. The top management team includes both introverts and extroverts, with the extroverts usually dominating the conversation at meetings. Furthermore, meetings with this group often go off the agenda and drift into tangential subjects. A quick decision needs be made with input from all members of the team. Which group decision-making technique do you recommend? Explain your reasoning, using the background readings to support your answer.
3. Your company needs to purchase a new software system as the old one is out of date. Your team consists of IT managers from all of the company’s overseas divisions. These managers are highly skilled and very knowledgeable about the different software options, but it is difficult to arrange a meeting with them due to the time differences and their very busy schedules. The decision is not urgent, but you need to make a decision within the next three months. Which group decision-making technique do you recommend? Explain your reasoning, using the background readings to support your answer.
4. Conclude your paper with a discussion about which of the three group decision-making processes (nominal group, brainstorming, or Delphi) is the most useful to you, considering the types of decision situations in which you are typically involved. Explain your reasoning, and use references from the background materials to support your answer.
Resources
Anderson, D. R. (1990). Increased productivity via group decisionmaking. SuperVision, 51(9), 6. [ProQuest]
Braintools (2017). Brainstorming: Generating many radical, creative ideas. Retrieved on 18 March 2017 from www.mindtools.com/brainstm.html
CDC (2017). Gaining consensus among stakeholders through the nominal group technique. Retrieved on 18 March 2018 from www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/evaluation/pdf/brief7.pdf
Haughey, D. (2017). Delphi technique: A step-by-step guide. Retrieved on 18 March 2017 from www.projectsmart.co.uk/delphi-technique-a-step-by-step-guide.php
Sims, R. R. (2002). Chapter 8: Decision making. Managing Organizational Behavior. Westport, CT, USA: Greenwood Press, pp. 205-210. [eBook Academic Collection. Note – you don’t have to read the whole chapter, just the section on group decision-making]
