Please read the explanation of Irving Janis’ Groupthink Theory on pages 460-462 (see attached) in the Encyclopedia of Communication Theory. Then watch this video to understand a key element of this theory: our need to conform.

Groupthink occurs when groups are highly cohesive and when they are under considerable pressure to make a quality decision. Under extreme pressure, groups may ignore alternatives to maintain unanimity. This can lead to carelessness and irrational thinking. Decisions shaped by groupthink have low probability of achieving success.

To put groupthink into context, read Group Communication Theories on pages 456-461 (see attached) in the Encyclopedia of Communication Theory, then listen as researcher Randy Hirokawa’s explains key group communication principles:

According to Janis, there are eight symptoms of groupthink:

1. Illusion of invulnerability – Creates excessive optimism that encourages taking extreme risks.
2. Collective rationalization – Members discount warnings and do not reconsider their assumptions.
3. Belief in inherent morality – Members believe in the rightness of their cause and therefore ignore the ethical or moral consequences of their decisions.
4. Stereotyped views of out-groups – Negative views of “enemy” make effective responses to conflict seem unnecessary.
5. Direct pressure on dissenters – Members are under pressure not to express arguments against any of the group’s views.
6. Self-censorship – Doubts and deviations from the perceived group consensus are not expressed.
7. Illusion of unanimity – The majority view and judgments are assumed to be unanimous.
8. Self-appointed “mind guards” – Members protect the group and the leader from information that is problematic or contradictory to the group’s cohesiveness, view, and/or decisions.

One example of groupthink that had devastating consequences was the decision to launch the Space Shuttle Challenger in January 1986. The people at a company called Morton Thiokol had developed the seals to the rockets that lifted the Shuttle into space. If the seals couldn’t close, the rockets wouldn’t function properly.

The following short-clip presents a re-enactment of a Morton Thiokol meeting when groupthink led the company to tell NASA to go ahead with the launch in weather many Morton Thiokol engineers felt was too cold for the seals to work properly:

The clip illustrates some of the steps that lead to groupthink and disastrous decision-making.

Questions to answer:

1. Please relate an example of groupthink you have experienced, analyzing the situation based upon the symptoms of groupthink described here. Did you feel constrained or supported by leadership to express your views? What happened? Be sure to use the terms for the various symptoms of groupthink in your story. What did you learn from this experience?
2. If you have not experienced groupthink, then please tell us: How do power relations influence how important decisions get made? When you become a boss (if you are not already), how will you use communication tactics wisely to avoid groupthink in your team?

Take a look at the attached. This essay must be 1000 words – it is currently just a tad short. In my essay I discuss the guidelines of public relations, the past, present and the future of Public relations.

Please use in-text citations and a reference page – apa style. I listed the references on the bottom of the document – they just need to be cited and turned into a reference page.

Should be very very quick and easy.

Type: Discussion Board

Unit: Managing Team Issues

Due Date: Tue, 6/13/17

Grading Type: Numeric

Points Possible: 75

Points Earned: 0

Deliverable Length: See Assignment Details

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Assignment Details

Assignment Description

Reminder: Initial Discussion Board posts due by Friday, responses due by Tuesday

Students will be expected to post their first initial discussion board posting by Friday of each week. Discussion posts will be graded and late submissions will be assigned a late penalty in accordance with the late penalty policy found in the syllabus. NOTE: All submission posting times are based on midnight Central Time.

Students are expected to post their responses to peers by Tuesday. NOTE: All submission posting times are based on midnight Central Time.

The discussion assignment for this week includes a review of the Key Assignment Outline completed by one of your classmates, as well as a substantial response to at least one other student.

Primary Task Response: Your first task is to post your own Key Assignment Outline to the discussion area so that other students are able to review your plan. Attach your document to the main discussion post, and include any notes you feel are appropriate. The purpose of this assignment is to help improve the quality of the Key Assignment Draft you will complete next week.

Respond to Another Student: Review at least 1 other student’s Key Assignment Outline and provide meaningful feedback. Refrain from general feedback, such as simply stating “good job.” Your feedback to other students is most helpful if you not only point out weak areas but also offer suggestions for improvement. The best feedback takes a three-stage approach to identify what was done well, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.

This is the project:

You will be working in groups of three that will be formulated in week 1 by your instructor. Expectations for the group project are to apply two of the business categories covered in this course, to the entity you have chosen for this project. Choose a company amongst your team. It can be one of the companies that a team member works for or something else. Start by assessing your company’s current business climate in order to identify a segment of the business you believe would benefit from a better management approach. The next step will be to formulate a strategy as to how that issue should be approached by applying the two business categories to arrive at a solution. For example, the group may conclude production output has not met demand due to inadequate availability of raw materials (Logistics category). Research efficient supply chain management (SCM) practices then select and develop an implementation plan for your proposed SCM solution. Develop a strategy for how you will track the results of our solution (Management category, controlling function).

This is my part. Each section being a slide on the powerpoint:

-What is the business concept of blackberry and its background

-Blackberry’s current business climate

-examples could include comparing to apple and samsung

-What two segments of the business we believe would benefit form a better management approach

1. Strategic Management

2. Operational Management and Leadership

-Why?

-examples such as profit and public opinion and appeal

-How Research and development would benefit?

-How innovation would benefit?

-How product development would benefit?