Intro:
Throughout this essay, I will be demonstrating the similarities and differences from the group performances between The Squad and Group 6 using the Standard Agenda. The Standard Agenda is “a highly effective, structured method for decision making and problem solving in groups.” (pg. 262) I will be using the six steps that are incorporated within the standard agenda, which are: Problem Identification, Problem Analysis, Solution Criteria, Solution Suggestions, Solution Evaluation, and Solution Implementation. (pgs. 262-267) The purpose of this assignment is to understand the correct way to use the Standard Agenda as a group to solve a problem.
Identify and define the problem
Problem Identification can be made out if the question is of
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Also, in this step the group is required to rank the criteria in order of most important. A thing that a group should keep in mind is to not mention possible solutions in this step, because then the group will not come out with an effective solution to the problem. (pg. 2630 While observing Group 6, I noticed that they were showing more of a we-orientation or collectivism setting. This means that all members were being incorporated and given a fair chance to speak anything on their mind. For instance, when one of the members is not communicating as much as everyone else is, then one person in the group will single them out in a way to bring their attention to the ongoing discussion. (pgs. 18-19) However I noticed that The Squad for this step was displaying the Structuration Theory. The Structuration Theory is when a small group establishes some sort of structure to follow through to the end. (pg. 41) For example, The Squad did a great job in generating the criteria, as well as ranking the criteria according to which is the most important to the least important. In this stage both groups did a great job in listing and ranking the criteria, for others to understand what is going on throughout their decision making …show more content…
Once a list of idea have been made the group should clarify any confusing ideas, but to also combine any ideas that overlap each other. (pg. 265) Team Talk was well performed by Group 6 in this step. Team Talk is a strategy to create cohesiveness. (pg. 211) For instance, all the members in the group would realize that when listing the possible solutions they were all on the same page. This made it easier to clean up any solutions that were confusing to others or make the solutions clear. Then when The Squad was performing I noticed they fell into Groupthink. Groupthink is something no group wants to encounter in any situation. Basically groupthink is when a member or members of a group decide to go into extreme detail and think of the perfect solution. With groupthink going on they lost time resulting in rushing the steps after this one. Unfortunately no solution is going to be