Question

Explain groupthink theory and how it relates to workplace and what are it advantages at workplace and disadvantages?

Answer 1

‘Group think’ is a process where a certain number of people come together with unanimous decisions that concern the whole group and decide a possible course of action. These groups come to situations where they have to decide between unanimity (agreement by all people involved) and objective solution and they go for unanimity rather than going for other options. At the workplace, a person is supposed to take certain important decisions, he/she alone cannot take a decision which concerns everyone as it may affect the company's future. Therefore it is necessary that a person involves in a group and take the decision together.

Advantages:

• Groupthink impairs creativity and moral judgment.
• Groupthink suppresses good planning.
• It shows that communication breaks down under group and social pressure.
• It shows how communication can act as a bridge to decrease groupthink behavior.
• Groupthink is more in close-knit groups.
• Critical thinking is impaired and bias decisions are made.

Disadvantages:

• Negative outcomes are common by groupthink.
• Leaders get more power due to groupthink.
• Dissatisfaction occurs within groups due to failure.
• It discourages critical evaluation.
• It also does not promote people from taking initiatives.
• Ideas become stale by the same kind of decisions.
• Risks are not thought about.
• Alternatives which can be better is ignored.