speaking up when it's unpopular: 7 ways to prevent groupthink in business
DESCRIPTION
Overview of methods to prevent GroupThink in small group decision making proposed by Irving JanisTRANSCRIPT
Speaking up when it’s unpopular:7 ways to prevent GroupThink in business
FairForAll.org
Picture: Dana Ellyn
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC_JfCWYnTQ
GroupThink is preventable in organisations
HOW?
• 1. Empower group members to critically evaluate the matter at hand
– Say so explicitly
– Don’t undermine this by your actions
• 2. Higher-ups should not express an opinion when assigning a task to a group
• 3. Have several groups work on the same problem independently
• 4. Examine *all* effective alternatives
(don’t stop after an arbitrary number)
• 5. Discuss the group’s ideas with trusted people outside the group (individually)
• 6. Invite outside experts and allow group members to discuss with and ask questions of the experts
• 7. Designate a “Devil’s Advocate”. Make this a different person each time.
Happy decision making!
Michael Walkerfairforall.orgSource: Janis, Irving ‘Victims of GroupThink’ 1972