GROUP DECISION MAKING

GROUP DECISION MAKING

Group decision-making passes through the following four stages:

 Orientation phase (Forming)
 Conflict phase (Storming)
 Emergence phase (Norming)
 Reinforcement phase (Performing)


(1) Orientation phase (Forming)
Group members socialize with other members, establish their roles and agree on the reasons/justifications for the meeting.

(2) Conflict phase (Storming)
Members begin to discuss the problems and issues involved. If groups are chosen carefully to represent different interests, expertise, and viewpoints, disagreements are natural and healthy. At the end of this phase, a considerable agreement is reached regarding the possible solution.

(3) Emergence phase (Performing)
Members who advocated different solutions put aside their objections either because they are convinced of the majority solution or because they recognize that arguing would be futile.

(4) Reinforcement phase (Performing)
A consensus among members emerges and solutions are agreed. Individual members are given a specific assignment for carrying out decisions and arrangements are made for following up on these assignments.

The above four phases almost always occur. If a leader emerges or is appointed early, his background work may help reach the final stage a little faster