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The value of a dissenting voice
Avanti Academy / Complexity, decisions and innovation / Solving Complex Problems and Decision Making / Bitesize
Bitesize

The value of a dissenting voice

Groupthink and problem structuring methods.

Level
Bitesize
Learning time
1 hour 15 minutes
Where
Solving Complex Problems and Decision Making
Price
£39

When you step up to a higher level, what you paid in the last 12 months for lower-level courses inside the bigger course comes off its price, in proportion to how much of each is inside it, whichever topic it's from. Courses at the same or a lower level don't give credit against each other. A Focus course or above always costs at least £15. Read the full terms

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About this course

Overview and Outcomes.

Overview

Groups fail in their own distinctive way, and this module explains how. Drawing on Irving Janis's work on groupthink and the Bay of Pigs, it sets out four observable symptoms, including self censorship and the illusion of unanimity, and why capable, cohesive groups are most exposed. It then matches practical countermeasures, such as a devil's advocate, independent sub groups and leaders speaking last, to the failures they address, so dissent is designed in rather than hoped for. Some problems are hard because people disagree about what the problem is. This module introduces four problem structuring methods for those situations: Checkland's Soft Systems Methodology with rich pictures and CATWOE, Friend's Strategic Choice Approach and its three kinds of uncertainty, Eden's SODA cognitive mapping, and Rosenhead's Robustness Analysis. It explains that soft describes the problem, not the rigour, and offers four questions usable without training.

What you'll develop

In this Bitesize, you will develop the ability to:

  1. Describe groupthink and identify its four symptoms while a decision is still open.
  2. Explain why capable, cohesive groups are especially vulnerable, using the Bay of Pigs case.
  3. Plan structured dissent by matching each countermeasure to the specific failure it addresses.
  4. Identify the signs that a situation needs problem structuring before any option is chosen.
  5. Compare Soft Systems Methodology, the Strategic Choice Approach, SODA and Robustness Analysis and what each contributes.
What it covers

The Modules.

1 hour 15 minutes of learning.

  1. 05Groupthink and the Discipline of DissentGroups fail in their own distinctive way, and this module explains how. Drawing on Irving Janis's work on groupthink and the Bay of Pigs, it sets out four observable symptoms, including self censorship and the illusion of unanimity, and why capable, cohesive groups are most exposed. It then matches practical countermeasures, such as a devil's advocate, independent sub groups and leaders speaking last, to the failures they address, so dissent is designed in rather than hoped for.39 min
  2. 06Problem Structuring Methods: Making Sense of Messy ChoicesSome problems are hard because people disagree about what the problem is. This module introduces four problem structuring methods for those situations: Checkland's Soft Systems Methodology with rich pictures and CATWOE, Friend's Strategic Choice Approach and its three kinds of uncertainty, Eden's SODA cognitive mapping, and Rosenhead's Robustness Analysis. It explains that soft describes the problem, not the rigour, and offers four questions usable without training.40 min
Where it fits

Keep going.

Part of the Solving Complex Problems and Decision Making topic, also sold whole as Clear calls in complex times.

How credit works

Go deeper, and pay only the difference

  1. You are hereBitesize, 1 hour 15 minutes, £39
  2. Next stepFocus, Structure before solutions, 2 hours 30 minutes, £69. Already own the Bitesize? You pay £30.
  3. Explore, How decisions really get made, 6 hours 30 minutes, £129. Already own the Bitesize? You pay £90.
  4. The whole topicImmerse, Clear calls in complex times, 13 hours 30 minutes, £249. Already own the Bitesize? You pay £210.

When you step up to a higher level, what you paid in the last 12 months for lower-level courses inside the bigger course comes off its price, in proportion to how much of each is inside it, whichever topic it's from. Courses at the same or a lower level don't give credit against each other. A Focus course or above always costs at least £15. Prices per person. Read the full terms

Also part of: When there is no right answer, When things go wrong, Raising the team’s game

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