Lecture Notes: Group Think in the Professional Environment

Definition of Group Think

• Group Think: A way of thinking that inhibits appropriate decision-making.
  • Desire for group harmony overrides logical decision-making.
  • Primary objective: Maintain group consensus/uniform thinking.
  • Suppression of dissenting views leads to belief in infallibility.

Effects of Group Think

• Group Harmony: Pressure to conform can lead to poor decision-making and problem-solving.
• Social Interaction Influence: Personal opinions can change to align with group views.
• Group Polarization: Beliefs grow stronger when in like-minded groups.
  • Leads to US vs. Them mentality.
  • Increases extremeness of views and biased thinking.

Factors Leading to Group Think

• Overconfidence in group's best knowledge.
• Conformity to larger group's opinions.
• Justification of actions by group norms.
• Effect of Group Polarization increases.

Preventing Group Think

Organizational Level

• Leadership:
  • Welcome various opinions.
  • Invite expert critiques on plans.
  • Assign individuals to identify problems.
• Open Debate: Encourages good decision-making.

Individual Level

• Openness:
  • Be open-minded to new ideas and practices.
  • Challenge assumptions.
  • Evaluate evidence critically.
• Encouraging Diversity: Face conflict with respect, and speak out.
• Pro-social Behavior: Act to benefit others, not just self-interest.
• Positive Influence: Be a positive force in group dynamics.

These notes summarize the key aspects of group think and provide actionable methods to prevent its occurrence in professional settings. The focus is on fostering an environment that values diverse opinions and critical thinking.