week 7 post 2 dq

class and professor,

Groupthink happens in a decision making groups which often lead to defective results or outcomes. Some of the factors that go into groupthink are lack of information, high stress, low self esteem, participants operate under directive leadership, the group has a "stick tightly together" attitude, and "protect" themselves against the experts. These can impact the decision making process, in my opinion, by not wanting to go against the group, so someone keeps their opinion to themselves, or doesnt consider the consequences of a decision being made. Something to 'combat' the idea of groupthink is voicing concerns or opinions while taking into consideration those who would be directly impacted by the decision being made.

An example of this that I can think of is something that actually happened at work today: Our building had mold remediation done today, so it was closed until 6pm. No residents or staff were allowed in the building until that time. That meant that leadership (the ones who make the decision to close the building who also work during the day) did not have to come into work today, technically. I work the overnight shift with 2 men. One security, and another care support specialist. When we got to the building to let the residents in and do our job, the fumes were too much. Instead of initially closing the building for the night, we had to return to the building. Myself, a few residents and another staff member got really sick. Eventually, I contacted the shelter manager and said it was definitely not safe for anyone to be in the building. Eventually, we were able to get everyone here to the baptist church (Im here doing homework while the residents sleep) so the building can finish airing out. Groupthink, in my opinion, happened because the daytime staff werent the ones who had to work overnight, so they didnt have to return to the building to see what shape it was in. They didnt know how the chemicals were going to impact others, nor did they ask the workers about it.

We are all good now, though. Ashley

Hello Everyone,

Swissair remains one of the most oft-cited examples of corporate groupthink today. Swissair is a Swiss airline company that became so powerful and financially stable that it earned the nickname “the Flying Bank.” Over time, the board of directors came to believe themselves not only invulnerable to bad decisions, but also morally superior to other companies. The company subsequently restructured its board in an effort to achieve a more ideologically and strategically aligned group. But in the process, it lost most of the board's industrial expertise, along with its alternative, opposing voices. The resulting groupthink eventually grounded the company and prompted such a pronounced financial collapse that it prompted academic study. Groupthink occurs under conditions such as high cohesiveness, lack of information, directive leadership, high stress, and low hope. Symptoms of groupthink are self-censorship, deception of immunity, direct pressure on rebels, and stereotyping out groups (Gilovich et al., 2016). Diminishing groupthink can be avoided or increased through open and welcomed discussions, this means by abstaining from opinions or favorites known at the beginning of establishing a group. Avoiding a vison of single focus, or the sense of unanimity by making sure the group is not cut off from the outside for input. Have a person do the role of devil’s advocate.

Renay Justus