The Threat and Avoiding of Groupthink

The Threat and Avoiding of Groupthink

The ability into understanding groupthink and the threat it poses on decision-making within a group can better assist project managers (PM) and teams in taking necessary measures in avoiding the pitfalls of groupthink. Decision-making is a normal and unavoidable process within a group. At some point group/teams will be involved in determining a course of action required in completing a task or project. How the decision is reached is vital to the overall success of the group and project. The high cohesiveness within a close-knit group can easily lead to the pitfalls of groupthink. To avoid these pitfalls PM and teams must be able to recognize the symptoms that begin to reflect the poor decision-making within the close-knit group. Symptoms of groupthink cannot be easily assessed by outside observers, as these symptoms tend to represent private feelings or beliefs held by group members or behaviors performed in private (Thompson, 2008, page 172).

A study on group decision-making called Groupthink Theory based human social behavior in which maintaining group cohesiveness and solidarity is felt as more important than considering the facts in a realistic manner. (Janis, 1972, para. 3) Additionally, Janis (1972) identified eight typical symptoms that address groupthink and claimed that these symptoms have led the groups astray when they sought concurrence within the group (Janis, 1972, para. 3). These symptoms can be addressed in the three following categories: (1) overestimation of group power and morality, (2) closed mindedness and (3) pressure towards uniformity. These three key symptoms of groupthink take root and blossom in groups that succumb to pressures of reaching unanimity (Thompson, 2008, page 172)

Overestimation of Group Power and Morality

The first two symptoms of concerns presented by Janis (1972) are those of an illusion of invulnerability and the unquestioned belief in the inherent morality of the...