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The problems that groups face are varied, but some common problems include budgeting funds, raising funds, planning events, addressing customer or citizen complaints, creating or adapting products or services to fit needs, supporting members, and raising awareness about issues or causes. The problem-solving process involves thoughts, discussions, actions, and decisions that occur from the first consideration of a problematic situation to the goal. In this section, we will discuss the group problem-solving process, methods of decision making, and influences on these processes. It’s frustrating to get to a crucial point in building or fixing something only to realize that you have to unscrew a support board that you already screwed in, have to drive back to the hardware store to get something that you didn’t think to get earlier, or have to completely start over. I’ve recently taken up some carpentry projects as a functional hobby, and I have developed a great respect for the importance of advanced planning. I’m sure we’ve all reached a point in a project or task and had the “OK, now what?” moment. Instead, we start working on a problem and later realize we are lost and have to backtrack. Discuss the various influences on decision making.Īlthough the steps of problem solving and decision making that we will discuss next may seem obvious, we often don’t think to or choose not to use them.Compare and contrast the different decision-making techniques.Describe the brainstorming and discussion that should take place before the group makes a decision.
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Explain the five steps of the group problem-solving process.Discuss the common components and characteristics of problems.
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