Managing Organizational Conflict by Sam Blank

Author:Sam Blank
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Published: 2020-05-03T00:00:00+00:00

Group Thinking

Groupthink in an organization occurs when a team, group or division with a particular agenda makes irrational or problematic decisions because its members value harmony and coherence over accurate analysis and critical evaluation. When people are so committed to the agenda, they fail to engage in conflict over differing ideas when they should. Individual members of the group are strongly discouraged from any disagreement with the consensus and set aside their own thoughts and feelings to unquestioningly follow the word of the leader and other group members.

In a groupthink situation, group members refrain from expressing doubts, judgments or disagreement with the consensus and ignore any ethical or moral consequences of any group decision that furthers their cause. When a team is too cohesive, and members do not speak out, there is no ­risk-taking, creativity or independent thinking. Irving Janis (1972) documented eight symptoms of groupthink.

Illusion of invulnerability—Creates excessive optimism that encourages taking extreme risks.

Collective rationalization—Members discount warnings and do not reconsider their assumptions.

Belief in inherent morality—Members believe in the rightness of their cause and therefore ignore the ethical or moral consequences of their decisions.

Stereotyped views of ­out-groups—Negative views of “enemy” make effective responses to conflict seem unnecessary.

Direct pressure on dissenters—Members are under pressure not to express arguments against any of the group’s views.

­Self-censorship—Doubts and deviations from the perceived group consensus are not expressed.

Illusion of unanimity—The majority view and judgments are assumed to be unanimous.

­Self-appointed “mindguards”—Members protect the group and the leader from information that is problematic or contradictory to the group’s cohesiveness, view, and/or decisions.

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