Chapter 20 functional perspective on group decision making
theory by Dennis Gouran & Randy Hirokawa
This theory deals with the functional perspective of group decision making.
With this perspective the authors want to make a case that group
discussions are important and that they lead to better decision making.
Dennis and Hirokawa argue that, assuming that the group members care
about the issue, group interaction can draw higher quality decisions
compared to individuals. However, both do have slight different visions:
Gouran focuses on decisions that are appropriate and Hirokawa talks
about quality decisions.
Four functions for effective decision making (high quality
decision)
Functional perspective is a prescriptive approach. It predicts task group
performance when four functions are fulfilled:
1. Problem analysis
2. goal setting
3. identification of alternatives
4. evaluation of positive and negative characteristics of alternatives
Problem analysis
determining nature, extent and the cause of a problem
Goal setting
defining what you want and setting basic criteria to judge if a
solution meets the minimum requirements
Identification of alternatives
The group should force itself to come up with more than one idea, in
order to avoid tunnel vision
Evaluation of positive and negative characteristics of alternatives
testing the relative merits of each option against the criteria
selected, the focus on negative alternatives is especially
important
Not only applying these four functions is important, it is also suggested
that they be used in a certain order. But they do realize that this functional
order of decision making is only generalization, there is no single blue
,print for how a group should work together. Groups often move back and
fourth between issues and possible solutions.
The role of communication in fulfilling the functions
Hirokawa beliefs communication plays a very important role in coming to
quality decisions/group productivity (in line with the statistic of Elan
Steiner):
when you see high quality decisions as a form of group productivity, you
get the best productivity when high quality information. This means a
team that:
collects all of their knowledge
catch and remedy errors
influence each other
At the same time this is also a team that tries to minimalise all sorts of
process losses, such as:
ignorance of issues
misinformation
misusing of power
off-topic communication is minimalised
So, try to increase the potential productivity as much as possible, and
at the same time try to decrease process loss as much as possible. This
will lead to the highest group productivity.
Gouran and Hirokawa see the communication process as a journey, or a
walk through the forest.
Promotive communication
interaction that moves the group along the goal path
Disruptive communication
interaction that diverts, hinders or frustrates
Counteractive communication
interaction that gets the group back on track
, Gouran and Hirokawa state that counteractive communication is really
important as most comments from group members disrupt, rather than
promote productivity
In the eyes of Gouran and Hirokawa, effective group decision making is
best understood as a consequence of succesfull counter active
influence. In other words, someone has to say something that will get the
group back on track.
Critique on the model
All groups are treated as if they have no history, as if they are self-
contained
So the functional perspective should also include a requisite
historical function.
Stohl and Holmes suggest to use a bona-fide group approach:
these are real life groups in real life settings who get tested in
groups. These people are most likely to already have history with
each other.
Gouran suggests functional perspective is less relevant in dealing with:
questions of facts
questions of conjecture
questions of value
Chapter 22 Cultural approach to organizations
Theory by Clifford Geertz
Scientist Clifford Geertz is most famous for his saying “Man is an animal
suspended in webs of significance that he himself has spun”. He ment by
this that in order to understand people, you have to understand the webs
(cultures) around him. He saw a culture as a web of shared meaning,
understanding and sense making. Geertz is a strong believer in social
construction.
Social construction
The notion that ideas and meanings are constructed by the people
involved
One of Geertz’s most famous work is his essay about an Indonesian
tradition called “cock fighting”. In this essay he deals with the importance
theory by Dennis Gouran & Randy Hirokawa
This theory deals with the functional perspective of group decision making.
With this perspective the authors want to make a case that group
discussions are important and that they lead to better decision making.
Dennis and Hirokawa argue that, assuming that the group members care
about the issue, group interaction can draw higher quality decisions
compared to individuals. However, both do have slight different visions:
Gouran focuses on decisions that are appropriate and Hirokawa talks
about quality decisions.
Four functions for effective decision making (high quality
decision)
Functional perspective is a prescriptive approach. It predicts task group
performance when four functions are fulfilled:
1. Problem analysis
2. goal setting
3. identification of alternatives
4. evaluation of positive and negative characteristics of alternatives
Problem analysis
determining nature, extent and the cause of a problem
Goal setting
defining what you want and setting basic criteria to judge if a
solution meets the minimum requirements
Identification of alternatives
The group should force itself to come up with more than one idea, in
order to avoid tunnel vision
Evaluation of positive and negative characteristics of alternatives
testing the relative merits of each option against the criteria
selected, the focus on negative alternatives is especially
important
Not only applying these four functions is important, it is also suggested
that they be used in a certain order. But they do realize that this functional
order of decision making is only generalization, there is no single blue
,print for how a group should work together. Groups often move back and
fourth between issues and possible solutions.
The role of communication in fulfilling the functions
Hirokawa beliefs communication plays a very important role in coming to
quality decisions/group productivity (in line with the statistic of Elan
Steiner):
when you see high quality decisions as a form of group productivity, you
get the best productivity when high quality information. This means a
team that:
collects all of their knowledge
catch and remedy errors
influence each other
At the same time this is also a team that tries to minimalise all sorts of
process losses, such as:
ignorance of issues
misinformation
misusing of power
off-topic communication is minimalised
So, try to increase the potential productivity as much as possible, and
at the same time try to decrease process loss as much as possible. This
will lead to the highest group productivity.
Gouran and Hirokawa see the communication process as a journey, or a
walk through the forest.
Promotive communication
interaction that moves the group along the goal path
Disruptive communication
interaction that diverts, hinders or frustrates
Counteractive communication
interaction that gets the group back on track
, Gouran and Hirokawa state that counteractive communication is really
important as most comments from group members disrupt, rather than
promote productivity
In the eyes of Gouran and Hirokawa, effective group decision making is
best understood as a consequence of succesfull counter active
influence. In other words, someone has to say something that will get the
group back on track.
Critique on the model
All groups are treated as if they have no history, as if they are self-
contained
So the functional perspective should also include a requisite
historical function.
Stohl and Holmes suggest to use a bona-fide group approach:
these are real life groups in real life settings who get tested in
groups. These people are most likely to already have history with
each other.
Gouran suggests functional perspective is less relevant in dealing with:
questions of facts
questions of conjecture
questions of value
Chapter 22 Cultural approach to organizations
Theory by Clifford Geertz
Scientist Clifford Geertz is most famous for his saying “Man is an animal
suspended in webs of significance that he himself has spun”. He ment by
this that in order to understand people, you have to understand the webs
(cultures) around him. He saw a culture as a web of shared meaning,
understanding and sense making. Geertz is a strong believer in social
construction.
Social construction
The notion that ideas and meanings are constructed by the people
involved
One of Geertz’s most famous work is his essay about an Indonesian
tradition called “cock fighting”. In this essay he deals with the importance
