In group decision making, what is the proposed relationship between group cohesiveness and decision quality?

In group decision making, what is the proposed relationship between group cohesiveness and decision quality?

• A. Higher cohesiveness always improves quality
• B. Quality increases as cohesiveness decreases
• C. There is no relationship between cohesiveness and quality
• D. Cohesiveness only affects decision speed

Answer: (B)

High group cohesiveness can hinder decision quality because when the group is strongly cohesive, there’s a greater pressure to maintain harmony and avoid conflict. This often reduces critical debate, suppresses dissenting viewpoints, and fosters groupthink, where preferred options aren’t thoroughly evaluated. When cohesiveness is lower, members may feel freer to challenge ideas and scrutinize alternatives, which can lead to better, more robust decisions. So the proposed relationship that quality improves as cohesiveness decreases reflects this dynamic. The other options miss this trade-off: cohesiveness doesn’t always boost quality, there isn’t truly no relationship, and cohesiveness isn’t only about speed but also about the depth of evaluation.

High group cohesiveness can hinder decision quality because when the group is strongly cohesive, there’s a greater pressure to maintain harmony and avoid conflict. This often reduces critical debate, suppresses dissenting viewpoints, and fosters groupthink, where preferred options aren’t thoroughly evaluated. When cohesiveness is lower, members may feel freer to challenge ideas and scrutinize alternatives, which can lead to better, more robust decisions. So the proposed relationship that quality improves as cohesiveness decreases reflects this dynamic. The other options miss this trade-off: cohesiveness doesn’t always boost quality, there isn’t truly no relationship, and cohesiveness isn’t only about speed but also about the depth of evaluation.