Too Many Majors
Chelsea McGuire, who is a chair of Communications department at a university in the southeastern U.S., she has built a successful department, ever since she became chairperson of the department. When Chelsea took over the charge there were 500 communication majors and then over a period of time, they grew to 800 such communication majors. As the majors grew, the department is not at that pace. So, Chelsea has appointed two groups to resolve the issues they are having. Both, the groups identified, analyzed and suggested a solution. So far, Chelsea has engaged the faculty in the decision-making and also respected their input. However, now she believes that this style of decision-making might not work in enrollments management decision. So, she decided on changing her style (Miller, Katherine).
Identifying Issues: The demand for communication majors was growing and so as the department of Communication, where Chelsea is the chair. The department has introduced almost 300 more majors since Chelsea has taken in-charge. Chelsea wanted to regulate and control the enrollment practice in order to reduce uninterested applicants and give an opportunity for the real interested students. The advantages for the department by introducing this process is getting real communications passion students, filters most interesting students, and also maintains demands for the department. I don’t see this as a problem but as a strength and has given some suggestions where the department can take advantage of accepting more enrollments. They are discussed in problem solution.
Alternatives:
Dr. Walter Stainszewski, the chair of Ad Hoc Committee on Enrollment Management, collected data by conducting extensive research into enrollment management system from few other similar departments and took suggestions on how they managed in such situations of over enrollments (Miller, Katherine). The committee after analyzing, the data they have implemented normative model of decision –making and came up with three alternatives and they are:
1. Many departments have implemented additional course requirements for majors. Such as two years of foreign language or a math and computers. This way they can reduce the inflow of applications for that department and only interested applicants, get the opportunity to do major with them.
2. Some departments increased the GPA requirement as part of the enrollment. So this way the inflow of the applications reduces and the department can reduce the unnecessary applications.
3. Some departments introduced “Application Process.” This process may require some additional paperwork. Thus, only interested applicants apply for majoring, so it reduces the number of applications received.
All these alternatives are to reduce the applications input, but I would like to see this in a different perspective. Communications demand can fade in few years and this is the right time to make more out of this department, is to enroll more. I would like to suggest few alternatives, which actually meets the demands of the requirement and the alternatives are:
1. The communication department can hire guest/temporary lecturers to reduce workload with the current faculty and try to accept more applications.
2. Some institutes have a deal with organizations where they go and teach their staff if this department of communications can find organizations, which currently require the communication skilled employees, may use this opportunity. This type of process may not require additional establishment or development of the department and at the same time will also get more application input. Inviting guest/temporary lecturers can satisfy this demand.
3. The department of Communications can introduce online courses, where they may not need more faculty attention, physical classroom setup, and can still keep up with the demand.
Implementing the solutions mentioned above, the department of communications not only get the opportunity of selecting the most desired applicants but also can accept more applications by meeting their demands. The Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, which reviewed the enrollment management issue, said that the department had these “crises” of too many majors or to fewer majors in the past. Dr. Tanaka, who is with the department of communications for 30 years opinion is considered. Dr. Tanaka argued that the fluctuation in applications are part of the natural life cycle of an academic department and in such demanding situation we made few changes to the curriculum and the enrollments remained healthy. Therefore, Professor Jerry Gluesing, the Chair of Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, concluded that we could manage with slight changes if necessary for the next year and no action can be taken at this point, as it can be manageable (Miller, Katherine). The Undergraduate Curriculum Committee were not showing interest in making any changes in enrollment management at this point. The committee is relying on only one member for the decision and recommending his opinion as a decision. This committee is implementing Autocratic group decision- making style (Liphart, Jill). But, this will not resolve the issue, the Communications department having. As part of Curriculum Committee, they can reduce the majors or combine few majors and reduce the majors. Therefore, the number applications will decrease and only interested applicants will apply.
State your recommendations and justify: Based on both the reports Chelsea McGuire have to make the decision to control the issue department of Communications having. Till date, Chelsea has implemented a behavioral/participative style of decision-making; Chelsea has gone along with the interest of faculty in departmental decision-making. However, now in enrollment management plan, Chelsea has to change her style of decision-making to collective group decision-making style (Liphart, Jill). Where Chelsea involves and encourages every member of the department to involve and participate but she will make the final decision. Because one group has given advice on how to limit the admissions by reviewing the other similar departments and one group disagree with the need for a change. There are some challenges that Chelsea will have to deal with it by changing her decision –making style.
1. How would you characterize the decision-making styles of the two committees that considered the enrollment management problem? Would you characterize either of these processes as more effective or appropriate to the decision under consideration?
The Ad Hoc Committee on Enrollment Management has utilized the normative model of decision-making (Baron, Jonarthan). The committee gathered information on how other departments dealing with such problems and suggested Communications department the same to implement to reduce the number of enrollments. This committee did not make any decision based on their personal opinion or conclusions. The committee suggested, which is implemented and successful before by different department. This way the risk of failing the proposal is quite less because we can see an example.
The Undergraduate Curriculum Committee implemented intuitive decision-making process, where the committee did not address the problem but gave the decision of maintaining the same process. The committee made this decision based on the opinion of Dr. Tanaka, who had 30 years of experience with the department and who also had experience with such situations before (King, Jeffrey).
I would agree with the Ad Hoc committee suggestions because they have analyzed the problem and streamlined the right solution. They not only got supporting evidence of implementing this solution but also regulating the process. Whereas, the Curriculum Committee did not take any effort to analyze the problem and also did not see how big the problem is before making a decision of keeping it the same.
2. What advice would you give to Chelsea McGuire for the upcoming faculty meeting? Should she retain her typically participative decision-making style? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this kind of style in this type of decision-making situation?
I would suggest Chelsea remain participative decision-making style because she needs the faculty support to make any changes. Chelsea has to involve every member and convince them on agreeing with her, this may take some time but as one group agreed on the plan of actions it is just the Curriculum committee, which has to be convinced. Without the faculty support, Chelsea may have to deal with many challenges, if she takes any decision against them. The group may not accept changing style when it comes suddenly; Chelsea has to gradually work towards those changes. There are few advantages and disadvantages of Participative decision-making and they are:
No. Advantages Disadvantages
1. Every member gets an opportunity to give his or her input. Which build confidence or satisfaction This type of approach may slow down the decision -making process because there will be too many people to convince.
2. This approach could increase the productivity because the employee believes in this action of the plan and take responsibilities and control over the situation. Well not in this case, but in some situations security issues may arise. One gaining too much information, which may transform into critical information in later stages, is a threat for the organizations.
3. Every member gets job satisfaction because they are motivated by the work they are doing. Besides, the quality of productivity also increases. In participative decision-making style, not necessary every member should have management knowledge. Thus, there may not be any contribution from such employees and also, can be dissatisfied because they are lacking the knowledge to understand.
4. This kind of approach will also reduce cost because there is a lesser need of supervision and self-management takes place. No employee comes forward to take lead/ responsibility, when things slow down or not working.
Source Adopted from Participative Management
3. Are there specific decision-making strategies that would be helpful in making an effective decision regarding enrollment management? What communication behaviors would you watch for in the upcoming meeting to assess whether an effective decision-making process is being used?
System approach and critical thinking approach are the best strategies where it can fit with the enrollment management committee. The enrollment management committee perfectly followed all the necessary steps to make a conclusion. They are on the more realistic side and given multiple options in their report to make the decision. They cannot specify one clear solution to the problem.
This is a situation where the entire faculty member’s contribution is necessary. Being honest, open minded, and statistical thinking may be required to advice Chelsea, the chair of the department of communications in controlling the enrollment process. Most importantly, Chelsea has to make sure that every member is pleased with the decision they made at the end because without the faculty support the chair itself cannot make a successful move (Macramos).
4. How might a “symbolic convergence” perspective on social and emotional communication in the group influence your assessment of the situation? How might a “bona fide group” perspective on the way the group is embedded in organizational structures (e.g., the department, the university, professional institutions) influence your assessment of the situation?
Symbolic convergence may influence the assessment of the situation because Chelsea always went with the will of the faculty and now if she makes decisions, faculty may emotionally feel. She has to make the members more comfortable and make them feel as the part of the group. Organizing such meetings through office communicators or phone may reduce the emotional effects on the group meetings. Whereas, bona fida group of perspective suggesting to shift the member’s roles and analyze the situation from their role perspective. This type of perspective is essential in groups (Theories of Small).

Work Cited
Baron, Jonarthan. "Judgment and Decision Making." Blackwell Handbook of Judgment and Decision Making (2011): 1-25.Sas.upenn.edu. Web. 13 Apr. 2016.
King, Jeffrey. "Too Many Majors." - Research Papers. Termpaperwarehouse, 25 Sept. 2015. Web. 15 Apr. 2016.
Liphart, Jill. "Decision Making Styles: How Do You Decide?"Udemy Blog. Udemy, 9 May 2014. Web. 15 Apr. 2016.
Macramos. "Too Many Majors." Emaze Presentations. Emaze, n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2016.
Miller, Katherine. “Decision-Making Processes.” Organizational Communication. Sixth ed. Boston: Wadsworth, 2012. 142-158. Print.
“Participative Management”. Advantages and Disadvantages of Participative Management. Management Study Guide, n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2016.
"Theories of Small Group Communication." Chapter 13: Theories of Small Group Communication Flashcards. Quizlet, n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2016.