Explizite Prozesskoordination von Entscheidungsfindungsgruppen

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on coordination of decision-making groups. Following basic concepts of group coordination and empirical results of decision-making, it is assumed that group decision processes are very complex and involve high coordination demands. Based on the model of coordination mode (Wittenbaum, Vaughan & Stasser, 1998), the importance of explicit coordination during the group interaction process for decision quality is analyzed. In Study 1 and 2, subjective coordination theories of experts and non-experts on group coordination and facilitation are investigated, showing that well-known coordination mechanisms ranging from simple to complex are performed with different intentions. Concerning the efficiency of coordination mechanisms, Study 3 experimentally analyzes the influence of explicit coordination on group decision quality. A trained group facilitator who was only superficially informed about the decision task and did not know the correct solution performed two explicit coordination mechanisms, asking for information and repeating information. Results indicate that asking for information does neither improve group information exchange nor decision quality. However, if the group facilitator regularly repeats already mentioned information, information exchange and decision quality improve. It is discussed that next to analyzing coordination intentions and evaluating the efficiency of coordination mechanisms, detailed investigating of coordination during the interaction process is essential for making predictions regarding both situational and end-result effectiveness of specific coordination mechanisms. For this level of investigating, a method that allows for micro-analytic assessment of coordination during group discussions is developed. Additionally, as there is no existing methodology for generating micro coding units, a technique for coding unit segmentation is developed using grammar-based rules. Using these new methods, a design is developed that allows for a systematic comparison of coordination of successful and unsuccessful decision-making groups.