Final answer:
Aubrey Fisher outlined four stages in the group decision-making process: Orientation, Conflict, Emergence, and Reinforcement. These stages address the dynamics and difficulties groups face, emphasizing the challenges associated with transaction costs and consensus building.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asked about Aubrey Fisher's stages of group decision making. Aubrey Fisher identified four stages that groups typically go through when making decisions. These stages are:
- Orientation Stage: Group members become acquainted with each other and the problem at hand.
- Conflict Stage: Ideas and solutions are presented and debated, often leading to conflicts.
- Emergence Stage: The group moves towards a consensus as solutions are narrowed down and the group begins to rally around a particular decision.
- Reinforcement Stage: The group solidifies its decision as correct and support is established among the members.
These stages help explain the group dynamics involved in making decisions, and the inherent challenges such as disagreements and transaction costs. Transaction costs refer to the effort required to manage and coordinate a group's decision-making process, which increases with the number of participants. Understanding these stages can provide insight into group behavior and the complexity of collaborative decision-making processes in various settings, from casual social gatherings to formal business meetings.