Murilla, Maneth R.

Groups & Decision Making

A13 Online Activity #4

A. Discuss the following:

1. What is a group?
A group is a number of people that are considered or classed together.
Group is defined as any number of persons who share a consciousness of
membership and interaction. A group is not a mere collection of individuals but
an aggregate of personalities acting and interacting with one another in the
process of living or in achieving a specific goal.
2. What are the types and characteristics of groups?
Types of Groups
1. Primary Group - described by Charles Cooley as those characterized by
intimate face-to-face association and cooperation. They are primary in
several senses, but chiefly in that they are fundamentally in forming the
social nature and ideas of the individual. The result of intimate
association, psychologically, is a certain fusion of individualities in a
common whole, so that one’s very self, for many purposes at least, is
the common life and purpose of the group. Perhaps the simplest way of
describing this wholeness is by saying that it is a “we”; it involves the
sort of sympathy and mutual identification for which “we” is the natural
expression. One lives in the feeling of the whole and finds the chief of
his will in that feeling.
2. Secondary Group - those which do not necessarily involve face-to-face
association or intimate and personal relations. The members are aware
of these relationships and take cognizance of them, but they do not feel
that their lives are bound up in them except in time of social crisis. The
members may be separated from one another by distance or by lack of
personal physical contact. Their contact may be through
correspondences, the press, the radio, the telephone or other means.
Characteristics of Groups
1. Interaction - patterns of mutual influence (physical, verbal, non-verbal,
emotional)
2. Structure - stable patterns of relationships
• Roles - behavior expected of members in a given position
• Norms - rules that identify and describe appropriate behaviors
• Inter-member relations - how they relate (authority, communication)

3. Goals - reasons for existence; an aim or desired result of a group

Murilla, Maneth R. Groups & Decision Making
A13 Online Activity #4

4. Perceived Groupness - extend to which members see themselves as one

(common fate, similarity, proximity)
5. Dynamic Interdependency - extend to which members are active, energized,
vibrant and changing
6. Motivation - Motivation is the reason for people's actions, willingness and
goals. Motivation is derived from the word motive which is defined as a
need that requires satisfaction
3. What is a conflict?
An argument or disagreement between members of the group. It also
refers to some form of friction, or discord arising within a group when the beliefs
or actions of one or more members of the group are either resisted by or
unacceptable to one or more members of another group.

B. Enumerate the following and give your insight on each.

1. Involvement in decisions.
1. The Plop
It is where a member said his/her suggestion but the members didn’t
show any interest to it that the one who made the suggestion loses interest in
the whole decision-making process. Who wouldn’t be hurt if you express your
suggestion enthusiastically and you thought of it with great effort but the
other members will just ignore it like nothing.
2. The One-Person Decision
This usually happens when a dominant individual suggests something
and the whole group agrees to it so fast. Then the one who suggested the
idea finds himself/ herself doing/ implementing it alone. This type of
involvement in decisions usually ends up as an individual work where the
other members barely distribute something on the group work.
3. The Handclasp
It is where someone suggests something out of the blue and it may
seem as a good suggestion and a member expresses approval on it so
enthusiastically that the other members also find themselves agreeing to it
and it’s been decided at that point. The members of this type of involvement
in decisions usually ends up in a problem at some point like having doubts,
resentment and rivalry between the members.
Murilla, Maneth R. Groups & Decision Making
A13 Online Activity #4

4. The Clique
There are always those small groups in a group who think better when
they are by themselves. They plan beforehand, suggests it to the whole
group and the whole group ended up choosing their suggestion. The other
members who also said their suggestions may feel betrayed and instead of
promoting cooperation, it may end up promoting rivalry between the group
members.
5. Minority
It is somewhat similar to “the clique”, but there are powerful individuals
who dominate the group which may end up questioning their selves why do
the other members look apathetic when doing the task.
6. Majority Vote
It is the most commonly used and the most effective way to decide
something in a big group. This is actually the most acceptable way to decide
a specific task. Though the minority who have different views against the
winning decision may feel unimportant and may lose interest.
7. Silent Consensus
Some groups aim at unanimous decisions. These are good, if genuine,
but they are rarely achieved completely on important issues. Unanimous
agreement is sometimes assumed, when some members have not felt free to
disagree and have kept silent.
8. Consensus
This is an agreement after all opinions have been heard, each
suggestions were discussed and even the possibilities of those ideas.
Disagreements and minority viewpoints are discussed fully. It takes time and
care to build a climate in which all feel free to express themselves, but this
method does built unity, cooperation and commitment. It means adapting to
accommodate the concern of all. It may take longer to make a decision this
way, but it will often be carried out more quickly and whole-heartedly.

2. Difficulties in decision-making.
1. Fear of Consequences
We all worry about the consequences of our decisions and actions. In a
group activity, members may feel terrified to finalize a decision because
Murilla, Maneth R. Groups & Decision Making
A13 Online Activity #4

others may feel offended by it that will lead to disagreements and division of
the group.
2. Conflicting Loyalties
When you are a member of a group, you are expected to give your best
ideas that will contribute to the outcome of the task. If you are a member of
different groups, the members in a specific group may question your loyalty
to them. You may also question yourself regarding this which leads to the
division of loyalty about decisions.
3. Interpersonal Conflict
Personal differences occur which provokes feelings of affection or
dislike among members and which interfere with the decision making
process. Often another member who is not involved in the interpersonal
conflict can bring the real problem into the open.
4. Hidden Agenda
One member may force his/her idea to the group without sharing the
reason why he/she wanted to come up with such decision for the group. This
may lead to a conflict between that specific member and the others.
5. Blundering Methods
A group may be so bound by rigid procedures that there is little chance
for a free expression of differences or a group may allow itself to substitute
personal opinions for adequate information. A group may approach the
decision making process without testing for consensus.
6. Inadequate Leadership
A leader may hinder good decision making if he/she restricts the
expression of opinion or discussion on issues too soon. Leaders also may fail
to provide assistance in selecting appropriate methods for decision making or
be insensitive to the factors causing difficulty in the group. In most cases, a
leader may also have his/her own ideas which is hard for him/her to accept
other ideas. If his/her idea was rejected, he/she may feel rejected and will not
have an effective leadership for the group.
7. Clash of Interest
It is given that group with a lot of members will certainly have opposing
ideas. Sometimes different groups or individuals within an organization do
have opposing interest because they have different way of thinking. It may be
Murilla, Maneth R. Groups & Decision Making
A13 Online Activity #4

good for others while others may think of it as a bad one. This mostly occurs
on groups that do not talk or evaluate the possibilities of a certain idea.
3. Conflict resolution and styles and problem solving.
1. “Win - Lose” Style
One party in a contradictory situation seeks to meet individual goals at
all cost without concerning for the needs of their opponent or their
relationship between the other groups. These are those type of groups who
are competitive and do not usually give up to their beliefs. They also believe
that a win is a win and a loss is a loss, it is based on the outcome and not on
the process of achieving it.
2. “Yield - Lose” Style
One party view the relationship with the other party as the most
important consideration and not the attainment of one’s goals. The party
using this style yields and loses their position. It is like their goal is to build a
good relationship and widen their friendship to other groups. They just enjoy
the process, even though it is technically considered as a loss, it’s still a win
for them.
3. “Lose - Leave” Style
One party has low concern for both the goals and the relationship with
the opponent. They loses by default through withdrawing from the situation.
These are those who join just because they are force to or just to attend
without any goals in mind, those who are just for attendance and may
withdraw anytime without thinking of the outcome of their actions.
4. “Compromise” Style
One party has a moderate degree of concern for both the goals and the
relationship with the opponent. The party will try to reach a “compromise”, or
what is known as the “win some - lose some” effect. These are those who
came to win but definitely not to start a war instead a friendship between
others. Their goal is to win, if they did won then it’s good, but if they didn’t
win, it’s still not a loss for them.
5. “Integrative” Style
This is also known as “win – win” style. One party has a high concern
for both the goal and the relationship with the opponent. The conflict is
resolved by working collaboratively with all concerned parties so that
everyone will end up a winner. In modern setting, this style is definitely hard
Murilla, Maneth R. Groups & Decision Making
A13 Online Activity #4

to find. You can barely witness such wonderful acts between opposing
groups. It is like the group’s opponent is not the other groups, instead, the
rules for “winning or losing” is their opponent. In other words, they are making
their own rules.
C. Give an example of conflict and provide a solution using any of the conflict resolution
and styles. (200 words)

You decided to have a business in a short period of time, where you sell
things in a garage sale. You will be moving in a different house in abroad in just 2
weeks. You can’t bring all the items you have there so instead of throwing them
away you thought that you can still benefit from them by selling them in a
reasonable but affordable prices. You set everything up and you already finalize
the prizes of your items. After a while, a customer came and asked you to give the
blender to her at a cost of a hundred and fifty pesos but you originally decided to
sell it at three hundred pesos. You refuse to her request but she insisted to the
point that you became irritated to her because she is not also open for talk. Giving
the item at that price is not reasonable, the blender was only used twice and no
visible scratches is present, it is still on its original packaging and even the manual
is still there that’s why you refused, it’s a “win-lose” situation to you, she will get
what she want but you will not have yours. Another customer came, she also
asked if you can give her the blender at the price of a hundred and fifty pesos but
of course you refuse. Compared to the previous customer, she is open for
negotiation regarding the selling price. After a talk, both of you agreed on two
hundred pesos as the selling price. She get what she want and you get what you
want, it’s a “win-win” situation for the both of you and the important thing is you
became “magkumare” after that.