Question

Raymond has been appointed team leader of a group that will develop his company's five-year strategic plan. He wants to ensure that his team avoids groupthink. What should he do?

a. Choose team members with similar backgrounds.
b. Develop systematic procedures for the team to follow.
c. Demand that his team make decisions quickly.
d. Make sure his team knows what outcomes he favors.

Answer 1

Raymond should encourage diversity in his team, implement systematic decision-making procedures, promote open communication, withhold his own opinions initially, and seek external feedback to prevent groupthink.

Step-by-step explanation:

To protect his team from groupthink, Raymond must cultivate an environment that encourages diverse viewpoints and critical analysis. This can be achieved by:

• Inviting team members from diverse backgrounds to ensure a range of perspectives and reduce the likelihood of uniform thinking.
• Encouraging open communication, with systematic procedures to ensure that all viewpoints are considered before making decisions.
• Creating a culture where debate and dissent are valued, perhaps by assigning a 'devil's advocate' to question assumptions.
• Waiting to share his own opinions until after the team has discussed the issues, allowing an unbiased evaluation of all options.
• Incorporating strategies that involve seeking external feedback, private voting, and weighing the pros and cons of each alternative.

These strategies help mitigate the risks of group polarization and promote a democratic leadership style that can lead to more effective and innovative solutions.