Comments to: crs@uvm.eduReviewed as of 4/20/98
THIS DOCUMENT WAS PRODUCED BY THE NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL LEADERSHIP
PROGRAM. IT IS POSTED BY THE CENTER FOR RURAL STUDIES FOR PUBLIC
USE. THE CENTER FOR RURAL STUDIES ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THE CONTENTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, REFER TO THE USERS GUIDE.
DECISIONMAKING METHODS: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
DECISIONMAKING METHODS
> Individual: The designated leader makes all the decisions without
consulting the group in any way.
> Authority: Select the most expert member of the group and abide
by his/her decision.
> Average of members' opinions: Poll members of the group, then
average the results.
> Majority control: Discuss an issue, then vote when 51% or more
accept the course of action.
> Minority control: Two or more members serve as an executive with
committee authority to make decisions.
> Consensus: Discuss until the group arrives at a collective
opinion acceptable to all members of the group.
DISADVANTAGES
> Individual: One person is not a good resource for every decision;
advantages of group interaction are lost; no commitment to
implementing the decision is developed among other group members;
resentment and disagreement may result in sabotage and dete-
rioration of group effectiveness; resources of other members are
not used.
> Authority: It is difficult to determine who the expert is; no
commitment to implement the decision is built; advantages of group
interaction are lost; resentment and disagreement may result in
sabotage and deterioratiaon of group effectiveness; resources of
other members are not used.
> Average of members' opinions: There is not enough interaction
among group members for them to gain from each other's resources
and from the benefits of group discussion; no commitment to imple-
ment the decision is built; unresolved conflict and controversy may
damage group effectiveness in the future.
> Majority control: Usually leaves an alienated minority, which
damages future group effectiveness; relevant resources of many
group members may be lost; full commitment to implement the
decision is absent; full benefit of group interaction
is not obtained.
> Minority control: Does not use the resources of many group
members; does not establish widespread commitment to implement the
decision; unresolved conflict and controversy may damage future
group effectiveness; not much benefit from group interaction.
> Consensus: Takes a great deal of time and psychological energy
and a high level of member skill; time pressure must be minimal;
there must be no emergency in progress.
ADVANTAGES
> Individual: Applies more to administrative needs, useful for sim-
ple, routine decisions; should be used when very little time is
available to make the decision, when group members lack the skills
and information to make the decision any other way.
> Authority: Useful when the expertise of one person is so far
superior to that of all other group members that little is to be
gained by discussion, should be used when the need for membership
action in implementing the decision is slight.
> Average of members' opinions: Useful when it is difficult to get
group members together to talk when the decision is so urgent that
there is no time for group discussion, when member commitment is
not necessary for implementing the decision, and when group members
lack the skills and information to make the decision any other way;
applicable to simple routine decisions.
> Majority control: Can be used when sufficient time is lacking for
decision by consensus or when the decision is not so important that
consensus needs to be used, and when complete mem- ber commitment
is not necessary for implementing the decision; closes discussion
on issues that are not highly important for the group.
> Minority control: Can be used when everyone cannot meet to make
a decision, when the group is under such time pressure that it must
delegate responsibility to a committee, when only a few members
have any relevant resources, and when broad member commitment is
not needed to implement the decision; useful for simple, routine
decisions.
> Consensus: Produces an innovative, creative, and high-quality
decision; elicits commitment by all members to implement the
decision, uses the resources of all members; the future deci-
sionmaking ability of the group is enhanced; useful in making
serious, important, and complex decisions to which all members are
to be committed.
Comments to: crs@uvm.edu
Reviewed as of 4/20/98