Group Think and RAS

After many years of leading cross functional work teams, I have become very aware of and sensitive to the likelihood, risks and consequences of group think. It is a very natural and insidious form of self deception. It happens like this:

• A team, group, committee or company is formed to accomplish a goal.
• These people often proceed through the natural team building steps of Form, Storm, Norm and Perform.
• Once they have hit Perform... They know their roles, responsibilies, goals, etc and become dedicated towards accomplishing them.

This all is absolutely great !!! Then enters the risk of Group Think and the potential disaster. Here are some forms that it takes:

• The environment changes and the team fails to notice that their goals or methods need to shift. Often they are too busy performing to pull their heads up and look around.
• Representatives that have a minority opinion stop challenging the majority because they don't want to be the only one rocking the boat.
• Representatives observe feedback that the project is going off the tracks. However they convince themselves that it is "just a one off" item. Statements go something like this: "that customer abused the machine, it won't happen again", "that citizen just does not understand", "we have to do it this way, the employees just don't understand", etc
• The team totally misses facts, feedback, etc, because the representatives often share similar beliefs, personality types, backgrounds, reward systems, etc.

There are many ways to prevent group think, the challenges is though that most "Performing" groups do not think they need that control mechanism. I mean they are moving and getting somewhere... Why would we:

• Assign opponents to the team and really listen to them
• Research opposing options, opinions and data more thoroughly and pragmatically than that which you "KNOW" is right.
• Set up oversight by a cross biased or unbiased party
• Use tools to evaluate all feedback (ie pro/cons, 5 why's, decision matrices, etc)
• Re-test the vision, goal, charter, etc on a regular basis against outside factors
• Re-score the solution or path against the critical requirements on a regular basis
• BE VIGILANT !!!! THE THREAT IS REAL !!!!

Now, why all this prelude? RAS has posted their Facilities and Budget presentations on the web site. And as expected, there are almost NO new ideas or solutions being considered. It looks like they could have been created by any Public School System in the state... (ie stereotypical) Now, I realize that they are a Public School System and that I should not be shocked, however I keep hoping something new and exciting will come out of these committees.

Well, you take a look at them and give me your thoughts on the presentations and my Group Think comments... And I will give you my thoughts in a day or two.

RAS Facilities Divestiture Presn
RAS Facilities Statement
RAS Budget Committees Presn