Group Techniques in

Decision Making
Reporter:
ROSA DELIMA- SALUDARIO
 Techniques of Group in Decision
1. Brainstorming Making
2. Nominal Group Technique
3. Delphi Technique
4. Devil’s Advocacy
5. Electronic Meetings
6. Fish Bowling Technique
7. Didactic Interaction
1. BRAINSTORMING
 Developed by: Alex Osborn, an American advertisement company manager in
1938 as a result of his inconvenience of traditional business meetings.
 According to him, brainstorming means using the brain to storm the problem.
 Brainstorming means the use of brain to the active problem
solving and the brainstorming session aims to develop
creative solutions to problems.
 Brainstorming is a group technique by which efforts are made to find a
conclusion for a specific problem by gathering a list of ideas spontaneously
contributed by its member.
 This technique is used to encourage creative thinking in groups of around 5-10
members.
BRAINSTORMING
 Brainstorming provides a free and open environment that
encourages everyone to participate.
 Quirky ideas are welcomed and built upon, and all participants are
encouraged to contribute fully, helping them develop a rich array of
creative solutions.
 Is fun, it helps team members bond, as they solve problems in a
positive, rewarding environment.
 Can be effective, its important to approach it with an open mind and
the spirit of non-judgement. If you don’t do this people “clam up”
the number and quality of ideas plummets, and morale can suffers.
 2 Principles underlie Brainstorming
1. Deferred judgement, by which all ideas are encourage without
criticism and evaluation.
2. Quantity breeds quality. As more ideas come forth, it facilitates to
develop the higher-quality ones.
BRAINSTORMING
Advantages of this technique include:
a. Group members would be enthusiastic, involved immensely and emotional.
b. Broader participation of the members.
c. High task orientation and also high relation orientation will be maintained.
d. Members have a sense of belongingness and the final product is the team effort.
Disadvantages of this technique include:
e. Some members may be fear that their ideas may be looked down by others.
f. Criticism of ideas kills creativity.
g. Some people may dominate the process of decision making.
 2. Nominal Group Technique (NGT)
• Developed by Andre Delbecq and Andrew Van de Ven at the University of
Wisconsin.
• Individual silently list their ideas.
• Ideas are written on a chart one at a time until all ideas are listed.
• Discussion is permitted but only to clarify the ideas.
• No criticism allowed.
• A written vote is taken.
• The technique is helpful in identifying problems, exploring solutions and
establishing priorities for the generated solutions.
• Ideal number of participants in a NG session is 10-15 and the facilitator should
be able to conclude the session within 90 minutes.
• Group members have minimal interaction prior to making a decision.
Basic Steps for Using Nominal Technique:
1. Form a group of 10-15 participants. Have the people introduce
themselves to everyone in their group.
2. Each group needs to select a group leader and a recorder.
3. The group leader gives the participants a written statement of the
problem. The problem statement should be open-ended such as-
“ The main purpose of this organization is…”
“The best way to increase jobs in this community is to…”
“We can’t get a new people to join our organization because…”
4. The leader should avoid any detailed clarification of the problem,
such as providing specific examples.
5. Participants silently write down their ideas on index cards without
discussion with others.
Basic Steps for Using Nominal Technique:
6. The recorder writes the idea on newsprint for everyone in the group

to see.
7. Discussion and clarification. After all the ideas have been recorded,
encourage each group to discuss the ideas comparing, clarifying,
and defending their statements.
Agreement or disagreement with an idea may be encouraged, but
the discussion should be controlled by the leader to insure that a
heated debate does not develop.
8. Each group needs to choose 3-5 top priority ideas.
9. Tally the votes. This should bring a sense of closure to the Nominal
Group process.
Advantages of Nominal Group Technique (NGT)
1. All members get equal opportunity for participation.
2. No member can dominate the discussion.
3. Decision can be taken in the right time due to control of
time.
4. Expertise of each member is used independently.
5. Ego problems and interpersonal problems are solved.
 Disadvantages of Nominal Group Technique
(NGT)
1. The procedure is too rigid.
2. Members maybe frustrated.
3. Members cannot have interpersonal relations.
4. Group cohesiveness cannot be ensured and
5. Ideas cannot be cross-fertilized.
Delphi Technique
3. Delphi Technique
 Originated at the Rand Corporation to gather judgements
of experts for use in decision making.
 Developed by Norman Dalkey and Olaf Helmer.
 Used for forecasting future events.
 Fifteen to twenty experts are involved.
 Structured questionnaire is sent to these experts.
 There is no interaction between them.
 A summary is prepared by taking the opinions of the
experts.
3. Delphi Technique
• Similar to nominal technique but physical presence is not
required.
• Members do not meet face to face.
• Written process.
STEPS:
1. Problem is defined by leaders and sample of experts are selected.
2. Questionnaire is developed & send to participants.
3. Responses are compiled & summarized.
4. Revaluation of responses.
5. Steps are repeated until the solution is achieved.
Basic Steps for Using Delphi Technique:
1. Identify the problem and design a questionnaire thereon.
2. Circulate this questionnaire to the different members of the group.
3. Collect the completed questionnaire.
4. Compile its results at a central location.
5. Send a copy of results to every member, and ask them to rethink and give their
views on results.
6. Collect these views and again process them and come out with a new result.
Again send these results to every member and repeat the same process until
consensus is reached.
3. Delphi Technique
Advantages
• Physical presence is not required.
• Members are not influenced by other members.
Disadvantages
• Very time consuming
• Expensive
Devil’s Advocate
4. Devil’s Advocacy
 The devil’s advocacy decision- making technique is where
an individual is allowed to become the critic in the
proposed decision.
 This technique helps prevent groupthink and increases the
chance of a high-quality decision.
Strengths
• The biggest strength in using the devil’s advocate technique
is the ability to prevent groupthink, which is where
members try to eliminate discord and agree on a decision
even though it might not be the best alternative.
Devil’s Advocate
Funtown amusement Park’s plan is to open a brand new roller coaster this
summer at the park. The design team has been given the task to develop an
incredible coaster that will set a record across the country in speed, height or
thrills. Every new coaster begins with a specific process. The design team develops
the basic ideas for the coaster and then presents the final idea to the CEO. One
member of the team (Felix) does an excellent job at being the group critic and
pointing out potential issues. In this manner, Felix is always given the devil’s
advocacy role in final group decision making.

Felix’s role is to ensure that the company does not make expensive mistake and
uncover any potential flaws with the options.
Electronic Meeting
5. Electronic Meeting

 The members of the group interact with the help of

computers through connected computer terminals.
 Projector screen is used to show the individual comments
and votes on an issue.
 This method reduces group think and the time wasted in
socializing the meeting.
Advantages of Electronic Meetings are:
1. Speedy decision making.
2. Confidential as names are not disclosed.
3. Low social pressure.
4. Interpersonal conflict is very low.

Disadvantages of Electronic Meetings are:

1. Expensive
2. Eliminates sense of unity.
Fish Bowling Technique
 6. Fish Bowling Technique
• Similar to brainstorming but more structured & to the point.
• The technique is named after the seating arrangement, which looks like a
goldfish bowl.
• The participants sit in two circles.
• There is an inner and outer circle, where the inner circle participants are
engage in a high-level discussion, while participants in the outer circle able to
listen to the discussion and critique content, and group interactions.
• Is a useful way for ventilating hot topics or for sharing ideas or information
from a variety of perspectives.
According to Brookfield and Preskill (2005)
This technique serves 2 purposes
1. To provide structure for in depth discussions.
2. To provide opportunities for students to model or observe group processes in a
discussion setting.
 6. Fish Bowling Technique
STEPS involved in Fish Bowling Technique
1. Experts sit around a circle with chair in centre.
2. One by one each group member is invited to centre chair for his
views on problem.
3. Other members can ask the questions without irrelevant
discussions.
4. After having the views of all, discussion is done on various
alternatives.
5. Best alternative is selected.
6. Fish Bowling
Advantages of the FBT, according to Brookfield & Preskill (2005)
1. Fishbowl is especially beneficial when using multicultural
literature.
It also creates a safe forum for students to observe a discussion of

cultural issues that might become heated.

2. Fishbowl technique allows students to practice group discussion
skills.
3. FBT provide students with the opportunity to identify small group
discussion.
4. FBT help students to become better listener.
5. FBT offers the class an opportunity to closely observe and learn
Didactic Interaction
7. Didactic Interaction
• This is used only where there is YES-NO application.
• Two groups:
• One favoring YES
• Other favoring NO
• Both groups discuss their view points and find out weaknesses in
their sides.
• Finally it results in mutual acceptance of facts.
• This technique is applicable only in certain situation.
• But when such a situation arises, it is an excellent method.
7. Didactic Interaction
• The type of problem in such a situation should be such that it results
in a YES-NO solution.
• For example to buy or not to buy, to sell or not to sell.
• Such a situation requires an extensive and exhaustive discussion and
investigation since a wrong decision can have very serious
repercussions.
7. Didactic Interaction
Steps In Didactic Interaction
1. The whole group required to make the decision is split into two
subgroups, one favoring the “YES” decision and the other favoring
the “NO”.
2. The first group will list all the “pros” of the problem solution and
the second group will list all the “cons”.
3. Both the groups meet and discuss their findings and the reasons.
4. After the exhaustive discussion, the groups with sides and try to find
weaknesses in their own original viewpoints.