Collaborative Decision-making
What are the goals of the module?
The goals of this module are to equip faculty with an understanding of the benefits and pitfalls of collaborative decision-making, along with skills to guide the process in an effective and transparent way to achieve positive results. This module will introduce techniques in formal group decision-making processes, decision support systems, and issues to watch for in group discussion.
Who is the audience for the module?
Mid-career faculty, aspiring faculty leaders and faculty administrators.
Why is the topic important?
As a result of a strong consensus-based culture present in the University, faculty frequently find themselves participating in situations that require a group of peers to collectively make choices from alternatives put before them. This has potential to be problematic and result in sub-optimal decisions. Understanding effective approaches that faculty can employ and factors that impact group decision making is important to achieve successful collaborative outcomes throughout a faculty member’s career.
Suggested options for module delivery
- In-person workshop with discussion, group role playing, and feedback, including opportunities for faculty to discuss current experiences
- Online session with reading and case examples
Resources for developing the module
- http://open.lib.umn.edu/principlesmanagement/chapter/11-5-decision-making-in-groups/
- https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-management/chapter/managing-group-decision-making/
- Moscovici, S.; M. Zavalloni (1969). "The group as a polarizer of attitudes". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 12 (2): 125–135. DOI:10.1037/h0027568
- Janis, I. L. (1972). Victims of groupthink. Boston, MA: Houghton-Mifflin.