Cognitive Conflict and Diversity in the Workplace Decision Making Process

Cognitive Conflict and Diversity in the Workplace Decision Making Process

MGMT 591 – Leadership and Organizational Behavior

April 17, 2016

Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………Page Number

1. Introduction of Organization 3

2. Problem Statement 4

3. Literature Review 5

4. Analysis 8

5. Solutions 9

6. Reflection 10

7. References 11

Introduction of Organization

SMG Worldwide is a facility management company. The company was founded in 1977. It provides venue management for over 230 facilities worldwide. The company manages a variety of different venues such as professional sports stadiums, arenas, theatres, performing arts centers, convention centers, and specific-use venues. My role is as the security manager for the SMG Minnesota office, which manages US Bank Stadium. US Bank Stadium is a brand new world class professional stadium that will be the home of the Minnesota Vikings. The facility is a multipurpose facility and will host events such as concerts, trade shows, concerts, baseball games, and private corporate functions to name a few. As the security manager, I am responsible for overseeing the overall safety and security of the facility. I deal with a private security company, all local medical resources, and all law enforcement partners that participate in our stadium.

The organization faces enormous challenges but also has a tremendous opportunity. It is a cross-functional team with diversity in the experience, knowledge, and skills of its employees. It’s demographic make-up also plays a part in the day to day interactions of their employees and respective teams within the organization. The organization is comprised of functional diversity with members having a wide variety of functional backgrounds. This paper will look at the team’s performance and decision making and the effect of diversity on it.

The organization is made up of mid-level management and senior management positions. There are 6 “Director” or...