Reading 3 "Group Decision Making"
Advantages of Group Decision Making
→ Committees, task forces, and ad hoc groups are frequently assigned to identify and recommend decision alternatives or, in some cases, to actually make important decisions. In essence, a group is a tool that can focus the experience and expertise of several people on a particular problem or situation. Thus, a group offers the advantage of greater total knowledge. Groups accumulate more information, knowledge, and facts than individuals and often consider more alternatives. Each person in the group is able to draw on his or her unique education, experience, insights, and other resources and contribute those to the group. The varied backgrounds, training levels, and expertise of group members also help overcome tunnel vision by enabling the group to view the problem in more than one way.
→ Participation in group decision making usually leads to higher member satisfaction. People tend to accept a decision more readily and to be better satisfied with it when they have participated in making that decision. In addition, people will better understand and be more committed to a decision in which they have had a say than to a decision made for them. As a result, such a decision is more likely to be implemented successfully.
Disadvantages of Group Decision Making
→ While groups have many potential benefits, we all know that they can also be frustrating.
One obvious disadvantage of group decision making is the timerequired to make a decision. 
The time needed for group discussion and the associated compromising and selecting of a decision alternative can be considerable. 
Time costs money, so a waste of time becomes a disadvantage if a decision made by a group could have been made just as effectively by an individual working alone. 
Advantages of Group Decision Making
→ Committees, task forces, and ad hoc groups are frequently assigned to identify and recommend decision alternatives or, in some cases, to actually make important decisions. In essence, a group is a tool that can focus the experience and expertise of several people on a particular problem or situation. Thus, a group offers the advantage of greater total knowledge. Groups accumulate more information, knowledge, and facts than individuals and often consider more alternatives. Each person in the group is able to draw on his or her unique education, experience, insights, and other resources and contribute those to the group. The varied backgrounds, training levels, and expertise of group members also help overcome tunnel vision by enabling the group to view the problem in more than one way.
→ Participation in group decision making usually leads to higher member satisfaction. People tend to accept a decision more readily and to be better satisfied with it when they have participated in making that decision. In addition, people will better understand and be more committed to a decision in which they have had a say than to a decision made for them. As a result, such a decision is more likely to be implemented successfully.
Disadvantages of Group Decision Making
→ While groups have many potential benefits, we all know that they can also be frustrating.
One obvious disadvantage of group decision making is the timerequired to make a decision. The time needed for group discussion and the associated compromising and selecting of a decision alternative can be considerable. Time costs money, so a waste of time becomes a disadvantage if a decision made by a group could have been made just as effectively by an individual working alone.
单选题
In paragraph 1, the author states that groups frequently
A. generate more options than individuals
B. agree on the way that the problem should be approached
C. make recommendations instead of decisions
D. are chosen to participate because of their experience
A. generate more options than individuals
B. agree on the way that the problem should be approached
C. make recommendations instead of decisions
D. are chosen to participate because of their experience
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】"Groups accumulate more information, knowledge and facts... and often consider more alternatives." Choice B is not correct because a group tends to view a problem in more than one way. Choice C is not correct because making recommendations instead of decisions is not mentioned or implied in the passage. Choice D is not correct because each person has experience, but the experience of a group is not mentioned as a reason why a group is chosen to participate.
单选题
According to paragraph 2, why do group decisions tend to be more successful?
A. When more people are involved, there are more ideas from which to choose.
B. People are more accepting of decisions when they have been involved in them.
C. Implementing ideas is easier with a large number of people to help.
D. People like to be participants in decisions that are successful.
A. When more people are involved, there are more ideas from which to choose.
B. People are more accepting of decisions when they have been involved in them.
C. Implementing ideas is easier with a large number of people to help.
D. People like to be participants in decisions that are successful.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】"... people will... be more committed to a decision in which they have had a say than to a decision made for them." Choice A is true, but more ideas do not explain why the decisions are successful. Choice C is not correct because the help provided by a large number of people is not mentioned in the passage as an advantage during implementation. Choice D is not correct because implementation is successful in group decisions, but the decisions themselves may or may not be successful.
单选题
The word considerable in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. valuable
B. significant
C. predictable
D. unusual
A. valuable
B. significant
C. predictable
D. unusual
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】In this passage, significant is a synonym for"considerable." Context comes from the reference to the "time required to make a decision" as a "disadvantage./
单选题
The word Consequently in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. About now
B. Without doubt
C. Before long
D. As a result
A. About now
B. Without doubt
C. Before long
D. As a result
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】In this passage, As a result describes "Consequently." Context comes from the conclusion that follows the word "Consequently./
单选题
According to paragraph 3, group discussion can be problematic because
A. individual decisions are always more effective
B. it takes more time for a group to arrive at a decision
C. it costs more to pay all of the group members
D. interaction among group members can be a problem
A. individual decisions are always more effective
B. it takes more time for a group to arrive at a decision
C. it costs more to pay all of the group members
D. interaction among group members can be a problem
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】"One obvious disadvantage of group decision making is the time required to make a decision." Choice A is not correct because the implication is that sometimes a decision could have been made as effectively by an individual. Choice C is not correct because the "cost" refers to the time, not to the pay for group members. Choice D is not correct because groups tend to avoid disagreements.
单选题
What can be inferred about a group leader?
A. A good leader will provide goals for the group to consider and vote on.
B. The purpose of the leader is to facilitate the participation of all of the members.
C. A group leader should be the dominant member of the group.
D. Expectations for group behavior must be presented by the group leader.
A. A good leader will provide goals for the group to consider and vote on.
B. The purpose of the leader is to facilitate the participation of all of the members.
C. A group leader should be the dominant member of the group.
D. Expectations for group behavior must be presented by the group leader.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】"All group members need to be encouraged and permitted to contribute." Choice A is not correct because the group should have goals, and personal goals by one member [the leader] should not dominate the discussion. Choice C is not correct because it is considered a disadvantage when an individual such as the group leader dominates the group. Choice D is not correct because expectations are not mentioned as a responsibility of the group leader.
单选题
The word controversial in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. accepted
B. debatable
C. recent
D. complicated
A. accepted
B. debatable
C. recent
D. complicated
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】In this passage, debatable is a synonym for "controversial." Context comes from the contrast with "social pressure... to conform./
单选题
The phrase the one in the passage refers to
A. solution
B. information
C. hope
D. leader
A. solution
B. information
C. hope
D. leader
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】"It occurs when groups are highly cohesive, have highly directive leaders, are insulated so they have no clear ways to get objective information, and--because they lack outside information— have little hope that a better solution might be found than the one [solution] proposed by the leader or other influential group members." The phrase "The one" does not refer to Choices B, C, or D.
单选题
According to paragraph 5, how does the author explain compromise in a group?
A. The group may try to make a better decision by compromising.
B. A compromise may be the best way to encourage groupthink.
C. Compromising may allow the group members to remain friends.
D. To compromise can help one member to reach a personal goal.
A. The group may try to make a better decision by compromising.
B. A compromise may be the best way to encourage groupthink.
C. Compromising may allow the group members to remain friends.
D. To compromise can help one member to reach a personal goal.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】"... a group may try too hard to compromise... to maintain friendships and avoid disagreements." Choice A is not correct because the group may not make optimal decisions when the members try too hard to compromise. Choice B is not correct because groupthink requires agreement rather than compromise. Choice D is not correct because helping one member to reach a personal goal or win an argument would be the opposite of compromise.
单选题
What does the term "mind guards" refer to?
A. People who conform to the group opinion without thinking
B. Group members who try to force others to agree with the group
C. Members of the group who are the most ethical and influential
D. Those people who disagree without offering an alternative view
A. People who conform to the group opinion without thinking
B. Group members who try to force others to agree with the group
C. Members of the group who are the most ethical and influential
D. Those people who disagree without offering an alternative view
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】"... self-appointed 'mind guards'... bring pressure on dissenters." Choice A is not correct because people who conform will not necessarily pressure others. Choice C is not correct because "mind guards" use force to exert influence and may not be the most ethical members. Choice D is not correct because "mind guards" do not disagree with the group.
单选题
According to paragraph 6, why are alternative solutions often rejected in groupthink?
A. Dissenters exert pressure on the group.
B. Group leaders are not very creative.
C. Information is not made available.
D. The group is usually right.
A. Dissenters exert pressure on the group.
B. Group leaders are not very creative.
C. Information is not made available.
D. The group is usually right.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】"... decisions... are made without consideration of... alternative options." Choice A is not correct because the group exerts pressure on dissenters, but dissenters do not exert pressure on the group. Choice B is not correct because it is neither mentioned nor implied in the passage. Choice D is not correct because when groupthink takes place, poor decision making and wrong decisions occur.
单选题
Look at the four squares [■] that show where the following sentence could be inserted in the passage.
In fact, the traditional group is prone to a variety of difficulties.
Where could the sentence best be added?
Click on a square [■] to insert the sentence in the passage.
A. Square Ａ.
B. Square Ｂ.
C. Square Ｃ.
D. Square Ｄ.
In fact, the traditional group is prone to a variety of difficulties.
Where could the sentence best be added?
Click on a square [■] to insert the sentence in the passage.
A. Square Ａ.
B. Square Ｂ.
C. Square Ｃ.
D. Square Ｄ.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】Generalization and example is a transitional device that connects the insert sentence with following sentences. "In fact, the traditional group is prone to a variety of difficulties" provides a general statement that introduces the disadvantages developed in the following sentences. Choices B, C, and D would interrupt the examples by inserting the generalization.
填空题
Directions: Complete the table by matching the phrases on the left with the headings on the right. Select the appropriate answer choices and drag them to the advantages or disadvantages of group decision making. TWO of the answer choices will NOT be used. This question is worth 4 points.
To delete an answer choice, click on it. To see the passage, click on View Text.
Answer Choices
A. Sometimes a strong leader will dominate the group.
B. Sometimes personal objectives dictate the outcome.
C. Most of the time people are happier with the decision.
D. It is usually possible to gather more data.
E. It will probably take much longer to arrive at a decision.
F. The group may tend to make decisions based on friendship.
G. Discussion is required before a decision is made.
H. Implementation is often much easier after the decision.
I. A group member may disagree with the majority opinion.
Advantages
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Disadvantages
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To delete an answer choice, click on it. To see the passage, click on View Text.
Answer Choices
A. Sometimes a strong leader will dominate the group.
B. Sometimes personal objectives dictate the outcome.
C. Most of the time people are happier with the decision.
D. It is usually possible to gather more data.
E. It will probably take much longer to arrive at a decision.
F. The group may tend to make decisions based on friendship.
G. Discussion is required before a decision is made.
H. Implementation is often much easier after the decision.
I. A group member may disagree with the majority opinion.
Advantages
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Disadvantages
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