CASE 18 ANAYLYSIS:

GROUPTHINK
 ABSTRACT
• The case seeks to discuss the impact of various group
structures on group think.
• Illustrates how group think can affect the groups ability to
appraise alternatives objectively.
• Analyze the impact of group norms, size, cohesiveness and
status of the group members on groupthink.
• Reducing groupthink results in better decisions.
 INTRODUCTION

• Case describes four independent situations:

1. Improvement of mail processing system at a large Air Force
base.
2. Virginia Turezyn’s relationship with I-drive (dot-com
company) and its eventual bankruptcy.
3. Steve Blank’s loss of money invested in a start up due to
group think.
4. Michael Useem’s emphasis on the lack of conflict and the
effect of ‘Devil’s Advocate’ on group think.
 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

• Groupthink
• Factors that lead to groupthink
• Rationalizing resistance to assumptions
• Direct pressure on members who express doubts.
• False aspiration for group consensus
• Illusion of Unanimity
• Lack of conflict
• Group Structures:
• Group norms
• Size
• Status
• Cohesiveness
 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

• Factors that reduce groupthink

• Reduce group size.
• Group leaders should play impartial role.
• Leaders should seek the input of members first and then express their
own view.
• Appoint a Devil’s Advocate.
• Exercise that stimulate active discussion of alternatives.
• First focus on the negatives of a decision.
 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

INDEPENDENT INTERVENING MODERATING DEPENDENT

VARIABLES VARIABLE VARIABLES VARIABLE

• Factors that lead • Hawthorne Studies: • Factors that Groupthink

to groupthink • Affects Individual reduce
behavior towards groupthink
false group • Norms
• Group consensus / • Conformity
Structures: cohesiveness • Group
• Norms Interaction
• Size
• Status
• Cohesivene
ss
FACTORS THAT LEAD TO GROUPTHINK &
WAYS TO REDUCE GROUPTHINK
Independent
Variable Dependent Variable

Factors that lead to

groupthink
• Rationalizing GROUPTHINK
Assumptions
• Direct pressure on
Moderating Variable
members who
express doubts.
• False aspiration for
group consensus Factors that reduce groupthink
• Reduce group size.
• Illusion of
• Impartial role of group leaders.
Unanimity • Leaders should seek the input of members first
• Lack of conflict and then express their own view.
• Devil’s Advocate.
• Stimulate active discussion of alternatives
• Focus on the negatives of a decision.
 FACTORS THAT LEAD TO GROUPTHINK

Absence of process & task

conflict
False sense of group
cohesiveness

Factors that
Factors that reduce
Groupthink BP
lead to RGP groupthink
groupthink
 STATUS AND GROUPTHINK

Independent
Variable Dependent Variable

Status of group
members GROUPTHINK

Moderating Variable

Norms
Conformity
Group Interaction
 Degree of RDP Absence of Diversity
Assertiveness of of views expressed
Higher status by High status
members members

Diversity of views of
High status members
relative to diversity of
views of low status
members

Degree of RDP Decrease in

assertiveness of diversity of views
lower status expressed by
members lower status
members
 STATUS AND GROUPTHINK

• Lower status members are less likely to be dissenters.

• Higher status members are more effective dissenters.
 GROUP NORMS & GROUP THINK

Intervening Dependent
Variable Variable
Independent
Variable

Hawthorne Studies:
• Affects Individual Groupthink
Group Norms behavior towards false
(Influences) group consensus
 GROUP NORMS & GROUP THINK

• Performance Norms and Social Arrangement Norms can reduce

groupthink.

• Managers should incorporate factors that reduce groupthink as

norms in order to prevent groupthink:
• Reduce group size.
• Group leaders should play impartial role.
• Leaders should seek the input of members first and then express their own
view.
• Appoint a Devil’s Advocate.
• Exercise that stimulate active discussion of alternatives.
• First focus on the negatives of a decision.
 GROUP SIZE AND GROUPTHINK

• Size and groupthink share a positive linear relationship.

SIZE GROUPTHINK
SIZE GROUPTHINK

• Cohesiveness and groupthink also share a positive linear

relationship.
• COHESIVENESS GROUPTHINK
• COHESIVENESS GROUPTHINK

• Moderate levels of cohesiveness with process and task conflicts is

desirable for groups.
 SIZE, COHESIVENESS & GROUPTHINK

Absence of process & task

conflict
False sense of group
cohesiveness

Size and Groupthink BP Size and

Cohesiveness RGP Cohesiveness
 CONCLUSION

• Factors that lead to groupthink can be moderated by the

adopting proven strategies that reduce group think.

• Status differences inhibit diversity of ideas and creativity of

groups reducing the groups overall performance.

• Performance and Social Arrangement Norms can reduce

groupthink. These norms should be adopted by managers.
 CONCLUSION

• Size and Cohesiveness share a positive linear relationship with

groupthink.

• Moderate levels of cohesiveness and group size along with

the presence of process and task conflict qualities among
group members will considerably reduce groupthink.