Question

Amy's group for her speech class was following the reflective-thinking method for problem-solving small groups. When it came time to choose the best solution, the group decided early on to take a vote, with the majority winning out, rather than drag out the discussion until the group could reach a decision that pleased everyone. According to your textbook, was this the best way for Amy's group to proceed

Answer 1

Answer:

No. A small group should try every method to reach consensus before resorting to a vote.

Explanation:

In problem-solving, the reflective-thinking method involves five steps: identify the problem, analyze it, select the best criteria to find possible solutions, come up with possible solutions, choose the best one, and evaluate the result. This problem-solving method is often recommended and followed because of its simplicity and logical progression. However, while Amy's group picked a good method, them choosing the best solution by a vote wasn't the best decision. According to research conducted on small group problem solving, the decision method is highly important. Picking a decision through a vote can make those who "lost" the decision to feel like their opinion and views were disregarded. It is therefore recommended that small groups should try to reach consensus before resorting to a vote, in order to avoid resentment by a part of the group.