Group decision making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Group decision making - Essay Example For example, at one time or another one might probably exclaim, "One can't accomplish anything in a meeting as everyone has his or her own agenda. The more people are the more impossible it becomes." So, where at one point groups might be consider effective in decision making yet the synergy in the group’s outcome depends on the group’s characteristics. This paper would consider the effectiveness of group decision making considering the several factors that might influence it. Essential Components The Positive Interdependence The first and the important element in the structuring cooperation learning in group is the Positive Interdependence. â€Å"Positive interdependence is one that links students together so they cannot succeed unless all the group members succeed. Group members so therefore have to realize that they sink or swim together.† (Johnson, Johnson, & Holubec, 1998, p. 4:7). The group task must have to be designed so that the participation from every member is necessary to complete that task. Every group member must have clearly designated role. Moreover, the tasks of every member must address the differentiation of group so that each member is then utilizing their talents and skills. Resources necessary for completion of the project might be distributed to different members in group. This will ensure that all must work together to accomplish the goal. A group task would usually be setup in which every group member must be able to explain result of the project at the end. Roles or jobs can be assigned to each group member For instance the project roles include, Leader or organizer, recorder, researcher, designer, present. And the discussion roles woul cover Facilitator, Reflector, Summarizer Time Keeper, Summarizer, The effectiveness of the group thereby depends on positive interdependence. Group Processing Group Processing generally examines how groups of students can work together effectively and efficiently, it focuses on pos itive behaviors and actions rather than on negative ones and involves the members thinking about how they learn. An example of such would be when the teacher chooses to spend time specifically focusing on the developing a skill such as listening. The class-teacher can then monitor the different groups during this learning activity and provide positive feedback on how well they are doing. It helps determine how groups are doing. Individual verses Group decision making Potential Group Productivity The group of individual gathered together makes decisions which are better. Members of a group are different in approaching any decision. This would be considered as an advantage that can help the group make well rounded, thoughtful decisions. People have varying skill sets, experiences, and personality strengths, and such can lead to greater number of suggestions or options than that which can be developed by a single person, meaning a group in such case would be likely to come to a better solution. This would help the group make better decision provided a consensus of opinion is reached. Social facilitation It is the tendency for people to do much better on simple tasks when one is in the presence of other several people. This implies that when so ever people are being watched by others, they will naturally do well on things that they had already good at doing. 6. (Strauss, B. (2001). Social facilitat

It has been observed that, in comparison to audiences elsewhere in the Essay - 1

It has been observed that, in comparison to audiences elsewhere in the world, audiences in Britain and America have very little access to texts created beyond their own cultures (Squires, 2007, p. 408) - Essay Example He postulates further that, the number of English speakers outnumbers the native speakers by the ratio of 3:1. All the above figures show that English is a language that cannot be ignored on the world stage. The following are the number of English language speakers in the top five countries, the figures are in millions: United States of America-215 which represents 95.81 percent, United Kingdom-61, which represents 97.74 percent, Canada, 18.2, Australia, 15 and Nigeria 4. All these, indicate that English has a global image (English dominance in The World, 2014). It is a fact that cannot be contested that the English language, dominates the world in almost all spheres. It is spoken and written in almost every part of the world where business and education are taking place. A number of factors have attributed this. Firstly, Great Britain, which has 97 percent of its population speaking English, colonized most of the countries in the world, especially in Africa and Asia when compared to other colonial powers. This means that, it exported its people and culture to different parts of the world. As the master, the subjects had to learn English in order to get education that it offered. English was also one of the qualifications for one to get employment; therefore, people went to school, learned English purposely to get employment and also to be able to communicate. The missionaries also taught people how to write and speak English. This successfully made English the language of communication and education (English Dominance in The World, 2014). Secondly, America being a superpower and Britain doing economically well means that people will tend to migrate from other parts of the world either to get employment or to get an education. One of the conditions before one is allowed to immigrate to America or Britain, is being proficient in English. Therefore, one has to make sure that he/she has learned English before going to these countries or learn