Decision-making techniques for groups

The importance of group decision making

Working in a group is a great way to take advantage of the collective knowledge, expertise, and experience of your coworkers. It fosters collaboration and encourages brainstorming, which leads to creative solutions that you may have previously overlooked. In addition, groups help foster a shared sense of responsibility, as each group member helps shape the final product. Use one or more of these methods with your group the next time you need to make a decision.

Brainstorming techniques

Brainstorming is a well-loved decision-making technique that involves coming together to generate ideas as a group. No idea is too far-fetched during this phase, as the objective of brainstorming is to create a comprehensive list of potential solutions to your problem.

The nominal group technique (NGT)

NGT is a structured form of brainstorming that encourages different perspectives. Using this method, group members silently write down their ideas before they’re shared with everyone. This ensures that every participant has an equal opportunity to voice their opinions and prevents anyone from dominating the discussion.

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SWOT analysis

SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis is a structured decision-making technique that’s popular in business settings. The goal of SWOT analysis is to help groups identify their strengths and weaknesses along with external opportunities and threats. Try it out by drawing a matrix with four sections: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and creating a list under each section.

The multi-voting technique

If your group is overwhelmed with ideas from a SWOT analysis or brainstorming session, try the multi-voting method to choose which options to prioritize. Using this technique, each member is given a set number of votes which they can allocate to their favorite ideas to determine which ones will be prioritized. The options with the most votes become the focus, while the others may be considered for future discussion.

Consensus building techniques

Consensus building is about reaching an agreement that satisfies most group members by ensuring that everyone’s ideas are considered before making a final decision. The key to successful consensus building is effective communication and compromise.

The Delphi method

The Delphi method is a decision-making method that helps build consensus, typically in a situation where experts are involved. Group members provide input anonymously, and a third-party or facilitator compiles and summarizes the responses. This process is repeated until a consensus is reached, allowing individuals to adjust their opinions based on the group’s feedback.

Decision trees

Decision trees are a helpful visual tool for analyzing larger, multi-step decisions. Make a decision tree by breaking down one major decision into a series of smaller choices and their potential outcomes.

The next time you need to decide on something as a group, remember these techniques to empower your peers and make your next project a collective success.