I am looking for information on (groupthink/devil's advocate).
Why I need it.
The CEO has been extremely frustrated with what has been occurring within the organization lately. In a recent manager meeting he exclaimed, "Everyone around this place just follows the status quo. No one ever has any unique ideas on how we can make this organization better. You just sit here and wait for me to give you directions on what to do. Then you follow those directions word for word without asking any questions or making any improvements. We need to change this attitude and change it quickly." He then pointed out each of your group members and said, "You are in charge of fixing this and I want a strategy to fix this on my desk in one week!"
Your group knows that this happens often in organizations:
Can this type of behavior best be explained using groupthink, social comparison theory, conformity, group polarization, or a combination of explanations?
As a group you need to attempt to arrive at a consensus decision regarding which theory best frames or explains why this is occurring in the organization. Following the group deliberation, your group needs to develop the strategic plan for the CEO. This strategic plan should address the following:
What social psychological theory or theories best explains what is occurring within the organization and why?
What can people do to avoid a group or mob mentality (such as deindividuation or groupthink)?
An explanation of at least three changes that can be made within the organization to improve the current conditions that the CEO is concerned about.
Thank you for any help.
Thank you for using the Jiskha Homework Help Forum. It seems the group will need to get together without the CEO, Perhaps he has been too dictatorial and has prevented open communication. If the leader is too strong each member may be too intimidated to voice an opinion.
The group will need a "leader" or devil's advocate, if you will, but not the same person for each meeting. A dialectical method would allow a free-exchange of ideas and stimulate inventive thinking.
This group would have to identify the problems, have time for research outside the company, brainstorm solutions (quantity not quality at this time), list ALL the possible solutions and with discussion then eliminate the unworkable plans and/or condense similar ideas.
P.S. You might find some of the following helpful:
1. http://www.managementhelp.org/prsn_prd/decision.htm
2. http://www.mindtools.com/pages/main/newMN_TED.htm
3. http://home.ubalt.edu/ntsbarsh/opre640/partXIII.htm
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