Working In Groups

Working in Groups
Difference between decision making and problem solving in a team The difference between decision making and problem solving in a team is that decision making forces a judgment to be made whether it's the one thought of by pone member of the team or an alternative while the problem solving is a process that allows the team to think the problem through in order to access the best possible way of dealing with it with little or no repercussions.
Decision making is broken down into brainstorming (as many ideas are thought of as possible in a short time frame), (DOT) Decreasing Options Technique (the revision of such ideas into a summary or manageable amount), (NGT) Nominal Group Technique (allows the inclusion of silent ideas
or ideas which were not voiced but indicated) and (PERT) Program Evaluation and Review Technique (is a tool used to aid in the planning and directing of each step which needs to be done in order to reach the desired result). The problem solving method is broken down into creative process and creative methods.
Problem solving is broken down into the creative process (the development and communication of new and unusual possibilities through investigation, imagination, incubation and insight) and creative methods (produces and/or encourages a control judgment, innovation, scenarios of "what if's?" and the use of metaphors to compare situations or problems to other things to portray an understanding which is understood by all).
Effects on group decision making The influences of politics on the group process are: (1) the existence of hidden agendas and political interest at meetings etc, (2) the true reasons for opposing a proposal are not voiced, (3) the withholding of pertinent information which would obviously influence the result of a debate or discussion as a way of controlling the progress or outcome. To minimize the affects of politics, there should be clear procedures set in place.
The influence of preexisting preferences on the group process is that decisions are already made before entering the discussion or meeting. We can go as far as having ideas of who we want in charge and how each assignment is to be done along with deadlines. To minimize the affects of preexisting preferences, the existence of procedures will ensure that each step is at least considered or touched upon before the final decision is made by the
group.
The influences of power on the group process are: (1) how and whether the participation of others is needed, (2) whose ideas and suggestions are given serious consideration, and (3) which solutions are going to be used (4) convincing the group to accept false facts and reach untrue assumptions, (5) introduce ideas and suggestions which do not hold water, (6) lead the group to misinterpret information that is brought to them. To minimize the affects of power, the existence of procedures will provide a safety net that such occurrences will not happen and if they do, they can be opposed.
Argumentativeness in a virtual environment
Argumentativeness is the way members of a group recommend their own positions, examine competing ideas, and influence each other.
The advantages of argumentativeness in a team are: (1) the promotion of understanding because not all members think or reason in the same way, (2) the promotion of critical thinking because the evaluation of arguments in a group encourages the group to think more critically and be flexible in that thinking., (3) enhances persuasion because those members which are better experienced or skilled with this can influence the rest or the group by persuading them, (4) avoidance of groupthink because flawed decisions can be made due to conflict and (5) improvement of group decision making because not only is the decision just made but the consequences are also
considered.

The factors affecting arguing in a virtual environment are: (1) technology; the quality of technologies can hinder or improve arguments in this environment because the nature of these technologies will have to be accessed to determine which is best suited for which environment/situation and (2) delays in responses because members have more time to think about their answers, therefore, making should it is respectful and well supported with evidence.