Various Ways to Prevent Group-think

* Foster open climate for discussion

① Seating Arrangement Seating arrangement is important in creating an open atmosphere for discussion. Most organizations are hierarchical so that it is usually hard for subordinates to express their ideas directly to their heads. If members of an organization seat in orderly manner by their positions, there should be an invisible wall, which prevents from expressing their ideas. Thus, the climate is rather formal. All people would become careful on what they are saying. As a solution, a round table would be appropriate for making an open climate. It will also help reduce the distance between the heads and subordinates.

② So-called ‘Dosirak Meeting’ It means that members of a group freely speak with each other while they are having launch. In this situation, the talk will begin with small talk. Naturally, the less formal climate will lead to a brisk discussion.

③ Small group meeting A group is further divided into smaller groups. In a small group meeting, people might feel less pressure. People might freely talk in a smaller group. However, one thing should be kept that members should be rotated regularly because the same smaller groups will also lead to group-think.

④ Using Intranet, SNS(Social Networking Service) By using an intranet, members can freely share their opinions on a bulletin board. Sometimes anonymity is allowed if needed. I think it may accelerate more participation as far as people are guaranteed to be anonymous. Information Technology also changed the way we communicate with people. SNS such as Facebook and Twitter is becoming prevalent even in a business field. There are a growing number of people who use SNS. This means of communication makes people easily communicate with each other regardless of place and time. However, when dealing with confidential issues, be careful!

⑤ Tolerance When I was reading a book 『나는 빠리의 택시운전사』, I was very impressed by tolerance of the French. If I were a leader, I would educate tolerance using educational materials and set tolerance as an organizational culture. Any ideas can be useful. Different is not wrong!

* Avoid pressure from a leader

① A Leader should not dependent on one person. A leader should be always neutral when it comes to standing in front of followers. What if a leader is too dependent on one person and shows good attitude toward a certain person. It will lead to a favorable stance on a certain person or person’s ideas. The rest of members are likely to change their original ideas and stances on a certain issue. A leader never shows his or her taste or perspective in front of followers. If it happens, they are going to make an effort to just satisfy a leader.

② Everyone has a chance to speak up In a bureaucratic organization, positions are really important in expressing ideas. Thus, regardless of positions, everyone is assigned at least one chance to voice any ideas. Everyone has a right to speak.

③ Empowerment The power is transferred to followers. Followers also have some degree of power to make decisions by themselves. If people were given empowerment, they would be likely to be more participative. It leads to increasing the level of commitment to an organization.

* Avoid insulating group from outside criticism

① Guest speaker invitation A group can be trapped by wide-spread ideas. It can be depicted like stagnant water. Everyone just jumps on the same bandwagon. To resolve this problem, a group had better invite a guest speaker or an educator. A group should be willing to accept any ideas from people outside. They are being evaluated, and right after the lecture, they need to discuss what they heard today, then they will know themselves better.

② Diversity The world is globalized. People in a different region have a different culture and view. Thus, a group had better hire people from the completely different society or field. I know it might be challenging, but a group can take away the homogeneous ideas. Then, a group became heterogeneous by meeting people from different backgrounds, it will prevent from group-think.

③ Keep your eyes and ears open Send one of the members to another group or country like Japan’s the Meiji Restoration. The person can compare what he or she belongs to with another organization. A group can get different views, and it will prevent insulation.

④ See a variety of TV programs and newspaper. Even though a situation is the same, interpretation are very different from each other. Each newspaper has a different view on each issue. A group can broaden perspectives from different interpretations. * Assign everyone the role of critical evaluators

① Groupwide Campaign I highly recommend implementing so-called ‘Finding a Broken Window’ project or campaign within an organization. The campaign is that every member of an organization will be assigned a role that has a critical attitude toward an organization. Each member has to find out a broken window (negative sides) before it causes bigger problems. By implementing this campaign, all members are being reminded of problems that they don’t used to see them as problems. Then, they see the problems from a neutral perspective so that they can criticize a group and prevent group-think. Incentives can be given if needed. It will boost participation.

② Whistle blowing Group-think can lead to a disastrous decision as we saw the case Challenger. Whistle blowing will prevent from making a wrong decision. If a person find out there is something wrong ethically, morally and whatever, he or she can prevent it beforehand through a whistle- blowing system. Those below are required
Anonymity must be guaranteed, and a whistle blower must be protected.

③ Stay with a person who has a completely different idea. As an example, in the Korea’s political situation, the President usually appoints people who are close to him or her. Those appointed people may share a lot of things. Thus, it must lead to group-think. As a solution, a leader should assign a role that constantly criticizes his or her ideas.