Reaching Group Decisions: Majority, Consensus, or What?

Your Task. In small groups decide which decision strategy is best for the following situations:

a. A team of nine employees must decide whether to choose Macs or PCs for their new equipment. They must all use the same computer system.

b. Company employees numbering 900 or more must decide whether to adopt a floating holiday plan proposed by management or stay with the current plan. An up-or-down vote is required.

c. The owner of your company is meeting with all managers to decide which departments will be allowed to move into a new facility.

d. Appointed by management, an employee team is charged with making recommendations regarding casual Fridays. Management feels that too many employees are abusing the privilege.

e. Members of a business club must decide which members will become officers.

f. A group of town officials and volunteers must decide how to organize a town Web site. Only a few members have technical expertise.

g. An employee committee of three members (two supervisors and the manager) must decide on promotions within a department.

h. A national professional organization with thousands of members must decide on the site for its next convention.