Problem-solving strategies: a comparison by problem-solving phases
Article Abstract:
The results of a laboratory experiment are presented in which subjects worked on two case problems using one of five strategies. The first required them to come up with ideas to solve a problem, the idea-generation phase, in which they were presented with a standardized set of alternatives with which to solve the second case and asked to choose the best alternative, the idea evaluation phase. It is suggested by the results that the problem-solving strategies that most involved individuals working alone resulted in the most 'good' ideas generated, and that the results of the interactive strategies in idea evaluation were the same in terms of the quality of the decisions. The best individual working alone provided a higher level of performance than groups, and the average individual working alone provided the same level of performance as the group; a discussion of the reasons for the process losses is included.
Publication Name: Group & Organization Studies
Subject: Psychology and mental health
ISSN: 0364-1082
Year: 1985
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An analysis of strategies for announcing organization-wide change
Article Abstract:
A model for announcing change throughout an organization which is based on speech act theory represents how communication strategy is influenced by the nature of change and organizational dynamics. The nature of change can be understood by analyzing the way in which change affects the status quo, the emotional aspects of the change, and the controversy involved in the change. Organizational dynamics involved in the communication of change include employee differences and corporate culture. A study using 184 interviews in 43 organizations revealed that the factors that differentiated between effective and ineffective communication strategies included a large number of false rumors about the change, and the communication of information by a source other than management.
Publication Name: Group & Organization Studies
Subject: Psychology and mental health
ISSN: 0364-1082
Year: 1991
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Process and outcome expectations for the dialectical inquiry, devil's advocacy, and consensus techniques of strategic decision making
Article Abstract:
Process and outcome expectations for the decision-making techniques of dialectical inquiry (DI), devil's advocacy (DA), and consensus (C) were examined. Data were collected by surveying 55 graduate and 117 undergraduate business students at a large university. The results indicated that the participants had varying expectations about the processes and outcomes that could occur when certain decision-making techniques were used in strategic decision making. The participants expected higher levels of social harmony to occur when the C technique was used, moderate levels when DI was used, and lower levels when DA was used.
Publication Name: Group & Organization Studies
Subject: Psychology and mental health
ISSN: 0364-1082
Year: 1991
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- Abstracts: Whole words and decoding for short-term learning: comparisons on a "talking-computer" system. Indexing individual objects in infant working memory
- Abstracts: The effects of timing of leaders' opinions on problem-solving groups: a field experiment. Leader communication style: a test of average versus vertical dyad linkage models