| It might be supposed that greater
efficiency could be achieved if several people worked together to solve a
problem than if only one individual works on it. Although groups often may increase the motivation of their members to deal with problems, there are conflicts arising among members of a group. Problem solving needs the presence of an effective leader who not only provides direction, but also permits the orderly, constructive expression of different opinions; much of the leader's effort may be devoted to resolving differences. Success in problem solving also depends on the distribution of ability within a group. Although groups may reach a greater number of correct solutions, or may require less time to discover an answer, their efficiency is typically lower than that achieved by skilled individuals working alone. In brainstorming, a problem is presented to a group of people who then proceed to offer whatever they can think of. Theoretically these unrestricted suggestions increase the probability that at least some better solutions will appear. Nevertheless, studies show that when individuals work alone under similar conditions, performance tends to proceed more efficiently than it does in groups. Under special circumstances, however, a group may solve problems more effectively than a competent individual does. Group members may contribute different resources to a solutionthat no individual can achieve alone. Sometimes social demands may require group agreement on a single issue, as in making national economic or military policies under the governments. When only one among several solutions is correct, even if a group requires more time, it has a higher probability of identifying the right one than does an individual alone. |