The effects of three social decision schemes on decision group process

Abstract

An experimental study compared the effects of three group decision-making schemes. A nominal voting scheme produced the highest satisfaction with the group decision-making process, and the lowest amount of expressed negative socio-emotional behaviors, but also produced the lowest feelings of personal participation. A consensus scheme produced nearly the opposite results—with high felt participation, but also a high degree of negative socio-emotional behaviors, and low satisfaction with the group decision-making process. Apparently the more structured nominal voting scheme reduces the interpersonal give-and-take that can lead to negative socio-emotional behavior, but that also gives a feeling of participation.