Chapter 07 – Individual & Group Decision Making: How Managers Make Things Happen
7-52
Group Exercise #4: Stranded in the Desert: An Exercise in Decision-
Making
Objectives
• To determine the effectiveness of individual versus group decision making.
Introduction
The goal of this exercise is to examine effective group decision making. In this
Instructions
1. Give a brief lecture on group-decision-making. Distribute a copy of the “Stranded in
the Desert” scenario and the “pack item ranking sheet”.
2. Ask students to individually read the scenario and complete he “pack item ranking
sheet”.
3. Break students into groups of 5 and review the following rules:
5. Using the “Pack Item Ranking Sheet”, each group member then computes the
difference between his or her ranking of each item and the group ranking.
Individuals record this number in the column marked “influence”. This number
represents the extent the individual influenced his or her group to his or her way of
thinking. The lower the number, the more influence the individual had in the group
Chapter 07 – Individual & Group Decision Making: How Managers Make Things Happen
7-53
6. Reconvene as a class for discussion. Record the list of pack items on the
blackboard/whiteboard, flipchart or overhead and ask each group for its ranking for
each of the items.
Questions for Discussion
1. Which items did the class rank as most important?
4. Which group members had the most influence on your group’s decisions? Why?
5. Give the students the following research information:
• “Groups were often less effective than individuals.
• Groups were more confident about their judgments than individuals.
6. Were these research results reflected in your group’s decision-making?
Stranded in the Desert
You and your four friends decide it would be fun to spend a nice spring weekend hiking
in the Sonoran Desert. Excitement is high as all five of you squeeze into your Jeep and
Chapter 07 – Individual & Group Decision Making: How Managers Make Things Happen
7-54
rough heading back and doesn’t flatten out until you near the highway. You decide your
best option is to start walking right away considering it’s almost nighttime and you don’t
have any sleeping bags or blankets. One of your friends gathers the scattered gear and
lays it out in front of you. You have:
• A flashlight
• A Swiss Army knife
Pack Item Ranking Sheet
Instructions:
1. Individually rank the remaining pack items from 10 (most important to survival) to
1 (least important to survival). Record these rankings in the “individual ranking”
column.
2. As a group rank the remaining pack items from 10 (most important to survival) to
Pack items
Individual ranking
Group ranking
Influence
Flashlight
Swiss Army knife
Canteen
Denim Jacket
Soda
Whiskey
Nylon rope
Water purification kit
Matches
Chapter 07 – Individual & Group Decision Making: How Managers Make Things Happen
7-55
Anne Mulcahy: How to Make Decisions
Teaching Objective: To help students appreciate the importance of making timely
decisions, even if they involve risk on the part of the decision maker, and to provide
examples of how one CEO makes tough decisions.
Summary: Since Anne Mulcahy became CEO of Xerox in 2001, she orchestrated what
Questions:
1. Why is it so critical to make decisions sooner rather than later?
Answer: The longer a manager waits to make decisions, the tougher they become
2. What biases should a manager like Anne Mulcahy avoid in making decisions?
Answer: Managers should check their decisions against several biases including:
3. How can managers make sure the tough decisions they make are ethical?
Answer: Managers can follow the guidelines provided by the decision tree to create
Additional videos directly related to the textbook can be found in the Connect
Instructor’s Manual.
VIDEO CASE
Chapter 07 – Individual & Group Decision Making: How Managers Make Things Happen
7-56
Students may complete the “Privacy: Burned by the Firewall?” Manager’s Hot Seat
exercises in Connect for this chapter.
I. Introduction
The interaction in this scenario lends itself to a rich discussion of the role of
II. Learning Objectives
1. To assess students’ understanding of issues with company property use and the
appropriate disciplinary process when company policies are violated.
2. To analyze the role of HR in enforcing company policies.
III. Scenario Description:
Overview: An employee, Willy Kushing, has been put on administrative leave by
the HR department for misuse of company property [internet service and
Profile:
• Lynn Couchara is the Director of Distribution for Bank Street Films, a film
distribution house. Lynn manages a team of 30 people and is responsible
the hiring of William Kushing.
References: The references included in the DVD are:
Back History: Willy Kushing has been working at Bank Street for just over two
years [recruited from Bank Street’s #2 competitor]. He has proven to be a vital
Chapter 07 – Individual & Group Decision Making: How Managers Make Things Happen
7-57
employee for Couchara, handling the largest accounts in the distribution
department as well as being the ‘go–to man’ for many others in the office when
they are in need of advice, support or help.
Kushing had explained to HR that he’d been making more personal calls from
work to his mother in Iowa and siblings in Gloucester and Schenectady because
his father has been seriously ill for months, in and out of emergency rooms and
hospitals. He assured them these calls had not interfered with his ability to do
his job and that his performance had been consistent and solid. This information
was deemed to be irrelevant by Pierce, and Kushing was sent to tie up loose
ends and prepare for his leave.
The Meeting – Summary: Lynn Couchara meets with Janet Pierce to discuss
the surprising punitive actions taken against one of her employees, Willy
Kushing. Lynn is very concerned that this action was taken while she was on
vacation and without notifying or discussing the situation with her. She also
Afterthoughts – Summary: Lynn does not think the meeting went well because
the HR Director did not understand her point of view. She notes frustration with
Chapter 07 – Individual & Group Decision Making: How Managers Make Things Happen
Dossier: The specific artifacts included in the DVD are:
1. Excerpts from Kushings’ computer/telephone usage report
2. Excerpts from Coucharas’ computer/telephone usage report
3. Company Policy on use of company property
IV. Discussion Questions:
The References and related Discussion Questions may be found in PowerPoint slides
4-1 to 4-10.
1. Lynn is shocked by the action taken by HR and does not feel the violation of
company policy warranted the punitive action that was taken. In the long-term,
what actions does the company need to take to prevent this situation from
occurring in the future (see PPT 4-3 to 4-6)?
1. Lynn’s key concern should be:
A. HR Protocol
B. Workflow
C. Willy’s wrongdoing
Lynn’s key concern seems to be workflow because she continually
Chapter 07 – Individual & Group Decision Making: How Managers Make Things Happen
7-59
2. The ePolicy Do’s and Don’ts suggest that some personal email and internet use
may be tolerated by U.S. companies. What are the pro’s and con’s of this
approach?
Pro’s – don’t have to worry about invasion of privacy when monitoring
electronic systems, less risk of viruses, less use of the system’s resources
2. The concern over phone [and internet] use is:
A. Budgetary
3. How do the stipulations provided in the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of
1986 (see PPT 4-8) affect your view of personal email and internet use at work?
If companies allow the use of the internet and email for personal reasons,
then the company will likely monitor those communications to prevent
4. Companies create disciplinary processes to meet their business needs. What is
your reaction to the disciplinary process that occurred in this scenario?
Typically, organizations have a disciplinary process that is gradual and
calls for progressively increasing punitive action unless there is an
Chapter 07 – Individual & Group Decision Making: How Managers Make Things Happen
7-60
3. What justifies Janet’s decision?
A. Existence of policy
B. Fair warning given
C. Nothing
Technically, the existence of the policy justifies Janet’s decision. In reality,
serve.
Learning Objective #2: To analyze the role of HR in enforcing company policies.
1. Evaluate the actions taken by the HR director in this scenario. What was done
well, poorly?
Janet apologized to Lynn for her actions, but beyond that the HR
Director’s actions did not take into consideration the big picture or the
4. Why does Janet bring up Lynn’s records?
A. To warn Lynn
B. Enforce the policy
C. Intimidation
Bringing up Lynn’s records was inappropriate in this context. If
there was a valid concern, then Lynn should be counseled about
5. Lynn’s next step should be:
A. Meet VP of HR
B. Reinstate Willy herself
C. Meet Janet again
Chapter 07 – Individual & Group Decision Making: How Managers Make Things Happen
7-61
From the interaction in the scenario, it doesn’t appear that Janet is