Group Decision Making

Different techniques are used to make decisions apart from authoritative (single-person) decisions, generally referred to as group decisions. In this post, the Delphi method from a previous post is discussed again, emphasizing decision-making by consensus. This approach is compared and contrasted with decisions by majority vote, another common decision-making approach.

Before comparing these two methods, it is worthwhile to consider a few risks that accompany making group decisions (MasterClass, 2022). The first is that groups typically take more time to make decisions. An authoritative decision can quickly be made once data for making the decision is available. In contrast, groups take time to organize. Invitations and scheduling are initial organization time drains. The group must also consume time reviewing and understanding the decision-making process chosen. Depending on the process, multiple group sessions may also be needed. A second issue with group decisions is known as “group think.” This condition occurs when a single opinion dominates the discussion and decision. It is characteristically biased, either through a lack of diversity in the group or by one personality overshadowing other members. The third risk in group decision-making is a lack of responsibility. There is a tendency for individuals who participate in the group to deflect ownership and accountability when the group renders a bad decision. It is important for any group decision-making process to take steps to mitigate these risks.

Review of the Delphi Method

As mentioned previously, the Delphi method is an iterative approach where the participants are expected to be experts on the topic. For decision-making, the central point is that the participants using the Delphi method work towards consensus (Khodyakov et al., 2023). There are a minimum of two iterations in the process. Participants hold group discussions and respond in writing. All responses are anonymous. For decision-making, the discussion might focus on any topic where a decision is sought. However, the Delphi method consumes time from experts, so the topic should pose a challenge worthwhile to the commitment of time (and cost). 

Decision by Majority Vote

Another way groups might reach a decision is by voting on possible outcomes. This method is commonplace in many aspects of life where organizations are governed by equal representation. The majority vote processes appear where rules exist. Examples include homeowner associations (HOAs), city councils, and the United States Congress. In these processes, different steps eventually lead to group members casting votes according to preferences. This method is also negatively characterized by winners and losers, a notable disadvantage of this approach. This problem can create an “us versus them” mindset, which is readily apparent in governments worldwide.

Conclusion

Table 1 compares characteristics of the Delphi method and decisions by a majority vote. 

 

Table 1

Comparison of Decision-Making Methods

Characteristic	Delphi Method	Majority Vote
Decision	By Consensus	By Most Votes
Membership	Topic Experts	Any Identified Members w/o Respect to Expertise (Often Nominated Equals)
Process	Iterative and Documented by Definition	Single Vote, Written or Verbal
Discussion	Preference for Face-to-Face	Open to Method
Individual Opinion	Always Anonymous	Individual Position Often Documented (e.g., Government Bodies)
Unique Complexity	Requires Experts to Commit Time to the Process	Winners-Losers Mindset Develops

 

Making group decisions democratizes the process and makes resultant decisions easier for impacted individuals to accept and adopt. The advantages are so obvious that the approach has moved from human groups to machine learning (ML). In an interesting large language model (LLM) approach, researchers are improving machine decisions by using multiple artificial intelligence (AI) agents to debate decisions and reduce hallucinations (Du et al., 2023).

Making decisions by consensus is preferred over a majority vote because it represents a more holistic agreement and removes the sense of winners and losers. It also makes responsibility and accountability for decisions easier because group consensus should have no opposing faction. Of the consensus methods, the Delphi approach is a formal method that has increased in popularity over decades, standing the test of time as one of the best choices.

References

Du, Y., Li, S., Torralba, A., Tenenbaum, J. B., & Mordatch, I. (2023). Improving factuality and reasoning in language models through multiagent debate. Cornell University arXchiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2305.14325

Khodyakov, D., Grant, S., Kroger, J., Gadwah-Meaden, C., Motala, A., & Larkin, J. (2023). Disciplinary trends in the use of the Delphi method: A bibliometric analysis. PLOS ONE 18(8). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289009

MasterClass. (2022, June 15). Group decision-making: 3 group decision-making methods. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/group-decision-making