Individual Paper On Team Dynamics

Individual Paper on Team Dynamics

Strategies for Team Decision Making

University of Phoenix

GEN300

Strategies for Team Decision Making

The topic I have chosen to place my emphasis for this paper is strategies for team decision making. The reason I selected this topic is because it is something that could actually benefit me in the work place in my current position as an inside sales manager for iTera, Inc., a software company in Salt Lake City. My hope is to research ideas that can help my sales group make decisions more effectively as a team, include my team in the decision making process, and grow closer together as a group. I feel like if we are in accord from a decision making standpoint we will avoid a lot of unnecessary conflict due to either lack of communication or lack of being on the same page with each other in our work environment.

After selecting this topic, I wondered if there was a list or a guide on how to make decisions as a team. As a manager of a group of eight people, I have found that communication is a key element to making wise decisions in the work place. I have found that if I just take the time to communicate with other associates, especially listening to their ideas, concerns, and experiences; that I am far more apt to make a wise decision that will be for the betterment of the company as well as my division within our company.

Communication/Interruption

Part of communication, I feel, involves being a good listener, and allowing interruption when we are in discussion. Communication is also a key element to effective group brainstorming. Brainstorming allows others to intervene and even interrupt when they have ideas and opinions. Each idea should be carefully evaluated and considered, and never looked down upon. I have found that if opinions are mocked or taken lightly in the slightest, that team members are not as willing to share their opinions later on.

Leadership/Idea Formation-Brainstorming

I have also found that good leadership plays a big role in making wise decisions. Part of being a good leader goes back to being a good listener. "People want to know how much you care before they care how much you know." (James Hind, 1989) Everyone wants to feel a part, and everyone wants to feel important. That is why it is imperative that a good leader make each person feel that way. We will discuss how a leader can make the group feel that way later on in the roles section (Copeland& Wood, 1998).

A leader should be one to direct and plan efficient meetings that will allow for ideas to form in the minds of his team. I have found in my work that if I give my team two-three days notice, before the meeting to think about the decision options, that I get far better results; rather than trying to bring the situation up at the time of the meeting and expect results. I have found that by having team members come with an idea in mind that the whole group can feed off of that idea and we are able to brainstorm in a far more effective manner.

Decision Making Methods

There are four methods that teams can use to make decisions: Autocratic, democratic, consultative, and consensus. By taking an autocratic approach, a single person makes the decision based on his position in the company or organization; democracy focuses on taking a poll or a vote where majority rules the decision; consultative deals with a single person making a decision after he has evaluated the teams opinions and concerns; and a consensus is a decision made where all the team members have committed to or can "live" with the decision made (UC Davis Faculty, 2004).

There are definitely benefits to all four methods. Obviously if you want to make a quick decision, you would want to take an autocratic approach.

I think to get the best results, that having all group members involved in the decision making process. Therefore, the method that I would like to implement in my specific position would be consensus.

Recommendations to Enhance Performance

There are a lot of ways to look at consensus decision making; one style I found to be interesting was to set up specific roles for each person in the group. That way each has a responsibility and each can feel like they are involved.

According to Marvin R. Weisbord a team "is a group of people with a high degree of interdependency organized to achieve a task" (1991, p122). Listed below are eight roles specific employees should carry out to come to help a group come to a consensus:

1. Warden: Explains the issue or choice to be made and gathers data and information that relate to the issue.

2. Problem Analyst: Analyzes the issue to recognize potential causes and recognizes