Group Think
This type of dysfunctional operation of an organization has many ways and opportunities for failure. The basic fundamentals of this process are the beginnings of failure as groups seek conformity and unity they sacrifice everything in order to maintain peace within the group. Many times this will take the individuals creative thoughts and ability to voice the creative edge thinking away. In many organizations this is a process that is continually used. It is perceived that management wants the organizations operation or process to run without any type of question or waves. Below are listed eight of the main symptoms of group think as detailed by Janis, I. L & Manns book “Decision making”
Symptoms of Groupthink are divided
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Decision making is affected by the Group Think because of the lack of openness that should be displayed and offered by everyone involved. The development of the organization is dependent on the ability of the group to make decisions that are thought through and not made solely on pressures and accepted or narrow minded ways that are not thought out.
More specifically, whenever a group making policy displays most of the symptoms of Groupthink then "we can expect to find that the group also displays symptoms of defective decision-making. Seven such examples are as Janis states:
1. Incomplete survey of alternatives.
2. Incomplete survey of objectives.
3. Failure to examine risks of preferred choice.
4. Failure to reappraise initially rejected alternative.
5. Poor information search.
6. Selective bias in processing information at hand.
7. Failure to work out contingency plans.
One of the worst Groupthink decisions ever was the decision to launch the Space shuttle Challenger. "On the morning of January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida
Seventy-three seconds after the countdown clock reached zero the Challenger exploded. Immediately after the explosion President Reagan appointed a commission to find out why the Challenger exploded. "In a five-volume published report, the presidential commission identified the primary cause of
There are eight symptoms of groupthink. The first symptom is when all or most of the group view themselves as invincible which
Despite the concerns raised, the Challenger was launched on January 28, 1986 [4]. Seventy three seconds after takeoff, the shuttle broke apart after the O-ring seal failed causing
On the morning of January 28th, 1986, Americans watched in shock and horror as the space shuttle Challenger exploded only 74 seconds after its launch, killing all seven crew members on board including a high school teacher Christa McAuliffe. Thousands, including families of the crew and schoolchildren
On the morning of Janurary 28th 1986, the world witnessed in shock and horror what was known as the Challenger disaster as the space shuttle exploded only 73 seconds after its launch, killing all seven crew members onboard including one teacher Christa McAuliffe. Approximately 17 percent of Americans watched the live broadcast of this launch, many of them schoolchildren including those from McAuliffe’s school. From this grave moment emerged an exigency that demands immediate action by the president. Later on that same day, President Ronald Reagan delivered his Challenger address to the nation.
15. As the decision to launch a new product to prevent tooth decay was being debated, one of the product development specialists commented, “What a great product! We have created something that will help Americans maintain the enamel on their teeth. I don't know why those health critics are accusing us of putting a potentially harmful product out on the market. After all, our goal is to help people, not to hurt them. We're interested in doing what is in the best interest of the public.” She has demonstrated which of the following symptoms of groupthink?
President Regan ordered an immediate postponement of the Space Shuttle Program. The U.S. Congress then authorized an investigation of the Challenger disaster. It was a cold morning when Challenger was supposed to fly into space. Several NASA officials urged that the launch be postponed for warmer weather conditions. Since the NASA Launch Decision Team had okayed several space shuttles launches at and below that present temperature and had gotten away with it, the order was ignored (Howell). Seventy-three seconds later NASA realized that their luck had finally run out. President Ronald Regan tasked the Disaster Authority Commission with the investigation of the destructive incident. They concluded that there was two causes leading to the Challenger
On January 28th 1986 the space shuttle Challenger was set to be sent into space with teacher Christa McAuliffe from New Hampshire as part of its crew. It was colder than normal on that day and engineers from NASA were concerned about possible failure of the O rings of the shuttle. However, their supervisors ignored them and let the shuttle embark on schedule. As a result the challenger exploded before it even exited the atmosphere
January 28, 1986 was meant to be a day of joy and happiness, but turned into one of the most devastating events in history. The Challenger’s lift off was scheduled for January 22nd at Kennedy Space Center (Cape Canaveral, Florida), but was delayed mainly because of weather conditions. It was delayed for several days until January 28th. The weather conditions were still miserable, but NASA only detained it two additional hours. The crew was patiently waiting for departure. Sharon Christa McAuliffe was going to be the first teacher in space. Ellison S.
The first space shuttle, Enterprise, launched in 1977. NASA couldn’t have been more proud of their accomplishments and looked forward to the years to come with many new ideas, experiments to try and space to explore. While this might have been the case for a few years following, NASA couldn’t have predicted what was to happen on the mornings of January 28, 1986 and February 1, 2003… or could they? Disaster struck for both the Challenger and the Columbus space shuttles. Even though both scenarios were different, they were one in the same when it came to the reasoning behind why it happened. The ideas of cultural change, ethics of organization and decision making were all to blame.
In conclusion, to illustrate what grouthink is known to be the practice of thinking or making decisions as a group in a way that discourages creativity or the responsibility of an individual. As you’ve read some of America’s history of the tragedies that has occurred due to groupthink. It is important when making a decision to explore and evaluate any possible risk and assumptions. By allowing a strong persuasive leader such as Jim Jones who persuaded his members to why it is a good idea to drink the flavor drink or “Kool-Aid”, as a sign of “revolutionary act”, is grouthink. This is why it is important to know how to spot the symptoms to be able to avoid it when needed to make a group decision. Use decision support tool where all risk would
Henry Allotey Challenger worker attitude, ethics, behavior. On January 28, 1986, the NASA the space Shuttle Challenger burst into a ball of flame only 73 seconds after take-off, leading to the death of the entire crew on board. Some months later, a commission was created by the President, Ronald Reagan, to investigate the causes of the disaster. It was determined that the cause of the disaster was the failure of a seal in one of the solid rocket boosters.
Groupthink theory often occurs without the group’s realization. Irving Janis formed 8 different symptoms that indicate groupthink. The first of these symptoms is illusions of vulnerability. This occurs when members of the group are overly optimistic and believe that nothing negative will arise from their decision. Janis describes it as taking great risks and acquiring the attitude of “everything is going to be OK, because we are a special group”. Secondly we have belief in inherent morality. This symptom is characterized as the groups thought that they could do no wrong. They believe that they have high morality, that they are right in all situations and they ignore the ethical consequences that could arise because of their decisions. As the third
The space shuttle challenger disaster took place on January 28, 1986. It was a space launch mission conducted by NASA which failed and exploded in air just 73 seconds after liftoff. The seven member crew in the space died. It is said that they did not die on the initial explosion but later after the Challenger landed. The tragedy and its consequences attracted wide media attention
On January 28, 1986, millions of people from all over the world sat down, and turned on CNN to watch the Challenger go into orbit on live television. Schools held school-wide assemblies in the auditorium to watch it take off, and adults watched the take off from work. It was 11:39 am, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, when The Challenger took off, however seventy-three seconds into the trip, the Challenger broke apart and caught on fire causing the worst accident in space history. The Challenger Space Shuttle is important because of its background, its mechanics and the science behind it, and the lessons it taught NASA and other space programs.
While reading this week’s material, I was familiar with a lot of the concepts due to experience, not academia. It was interesting to read about these topics in an educational manner. One thing I learned about was groupthink. Groupthink is a phenomenon that can occur when groups make decisions that individual members know are poor ones. Groupthink is more likely to occur when there is high group cohesiveness, a strong leader, pressure for conformity, and isolation of the group from outside influences. There is good news though: groupthink can be avoided when group leaders are conscious of it. By group leaders encouraging critical evaluation of all alternatives by every group member and serving as impartial moderators instead of attempting to