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Group Decision-Making Methods

The quote “two heads are better than one” has promoted group decision-making amongst private and public agencies. It encompasses various individuals who discuss policies and decide on the best. Organizations and government agencies gather experts from multiple fields to decide on strategies that benefit the organization or the country. There are various group-decision making techniques that firms and experts adopt. In some cases, the agencies discuss the methods with the participants to ensure they are comfortable. These organizations also inform the participants ahead so they can learn about the chosen technique and prepare for the decision-making process.


Group Decision-making


The Delphi Technique

The Delphi technique is an example of those methods. It involves using iterative questionnaires to gather information from a group of individuals who could be policymakers or experts in a particular field. The individuals involved in this process anonymously fill out the surveys. As it is a repetitive process, the panelists get to see the answers others gave and then reconsider them. The process continues till the panelists achieve a consensus. This method is preferable when the decision-makers live in different locations. Firms and government agencies also use this technique when they need to ask a large number of questions or receive an equally higher amount of information from panelists. Most experts also prefer this method due to its approach.




The Nominal Group Technique and Brainstorming Method

The nominal-group decision method has three stages; where the first stage involves presenting views in writing via email or paper. The second step is the discussion stage, where they analyze the written opinions and pick the ones they should analyze further and discard. They conclude the set with a vote. In most cases, the participants vote anonymously. The decision with the highest vote wins.

The brainstorming technique enables its participants to swiftly create a batch of ideas or proffer a creative answer to a problem. It allows all the participants to contribute, as the final goal is not to reach a single decision but to generate various ideas. 


Similarities between the Nominal Group Technique and Brainstorming Method

Both project managers and analysts use these methods to identify problems and solutions. Each participant generates ideas and shares them with the group. In both techniques, the experts write their ideas down. However, idea writing is only sometimes compulsory under brainstorming. 


Differences between the Nominal Group Technique and Brainstorming Method

In brainstorming, the panelists need to judge an answer as right or wrong or reach a final decision. They generate as many ideas as possible. However, in the nominal method, they vote to choose the last and most appropriate decision.

Some authors refer to the second process as an improvement to brainstorming as it includes discussions and idea ranking.



References

Claxton, J.D., Ritchie, B.J.R. and Zaichkowsky, J. (1980) ‘The nominal group technique: its potentials for consumer research,’ Journal of Consumer Research, 7(3), 308–313.

Kolb, J.A. (1999) ‘A project in small-group decision making,’ Journal of Management Education, 23 (1), 71–79.

Kramer, M.W., Kuo, C.L. and Dailey, J.C. (1997) ‘The impact of brainstorming techniques on subsequent group processes beyond generating ideas’, Small Group Research, 28 (2), 218–242.




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