Decision-Making Dynamics: Analyzing Groupthink, Focalism, and Bounded Awareness in Organizational Contexts: Unit II Assessment

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Unit II AssessmentQuestion 125 out of 25 pointsHow did groupthink contribute to the decision-making failures that led to the Space ShuttleChallenger disaster, and what lessons can be learned from this tragedy to improve decision-making processes in high-stakes environments? Cite at least two sources to support your answer.AnswerOn January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger was destroyed upon launch from CapeCanaveral, Florida killing all seven astronauts on board. Conduct a literature and an Internetsearch on the topics of the Challenger disaster and groupthink. Then, discuss how groupthinkmight have created decision-making problems for NASA and its booster contractor. Cite at leasttwo sources in your answer.Groupthink refers to defective decision-making in a group. The groups experiencing groupthinkdoes not reflect on all the available alternatives and they want consensus and agreement in thedecisions made at the expense of the quality of the decisions. Their basic motive is to minimizethe conflict and arrive at a consensus, irrespective of the necessary critical testing and analysis ofthe ideas behind the decision (Groupthink, 1999). The incident of 28 January, 1986 also involveda wrong decision making process.The chief reason behind the cause of the disaster was the failure of the 'aft joint seal' in the rightSRB (soild rocket boosters) because of the extremely cold weather. Moreover, one year agoonly, a big fault was observed in the design of the solid rocket boosters. These two very powerfulrockets were strapped to the side of the External Tank and they accelerated the shuttle. Just two

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minutes after the launch of the shuttle, the SRB's discharged from the shuttle and they werecollected for reprocess. The SRB's were made by a contractor (Morton Thiokol, Inc.) for NASA(Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster, 2009).The failure of 'O rings' in the right SRB resulted in the accident. Design flaws in the joint andextraordinarily cold weather conditions at the time of the launch resulted in the O rings to allowthe hot gases to escape out of the booster through the joint. The investigation found out that thedecision made by NASA to launch the shuttle was not sound. The decision makers at the toplevel had not been informed about the problems with the joints and O rings and the probableimpact of the cold climatic conditions. The Commission also drew the conclusion that a severemistake was there in the decision making process leading up to the start of 51-L in space (SpaceShuttle Challenger Disaster, 2009). The Management also decided to build a vehicle as a 'StaticTest Article' that could later be transformed to a flight vehicle due to low cost of Orbiters. Thiswas because they wanted a unanimous decision and compromised on other aspects of quality andtime.The decision making process was not proper and also faulty. The groupthink also affected thedecisions and resulted into an adversity. The NASA should not have launched the shuttle in suchcold weather conditions. This could have avoided the accident and loss of seven brilliantastronauts. It decided to launch the shuttle even when the Engineers suggested delaying itbecause the officials did not wanted a disagreement over this decision. They finally launched it.ReferencesGroupthink. (1999). Retrieved October 21, 2014, fromhttp://www.abacon.com/commstudies/groups/groupthink.html

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Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster. (2009). Retrieved October 21. 2014, fromhttp://www.aerospaceguide.net/spaceshuttle/challenger_disaster.htmlQuestion 225 out of 25 pointsCompare and contrast individual and group decision-making processes. What are the advantagesand disadvantages of each? Are there specific situations where individual decision-making ismore suitable than group decision-making? Additionally, how do bounded awareness issuesmanifest in both individual and group decision-making? Cite at least two sources to support youranswer.AnswerConduct an Internet search for information on individual versus group decision making. Then,compare and contrast individual and group decision-making. What are the advantages anddisadvantages of each? Are there certain decisions that are better suited to individual decision-making? What bounded awareness issues are found in individual versus group decision-making?Cite a minimum of two sources.:Individual and group decision making are both beneficial within an organization, however,there are critical decisions to make that either individual or group may not be able to makewithout relying on others or one's own ability to make pertinent decisions based on analytics andcritical thinking. It is believed that when dealing with a group the old cliché holds true such as;"too many chiefs and not enough Indians." Oftentimes, there is a possibility that division mayarise due to various personality characteristics and/or traits that does not always cause individual

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