Goal coordination in decision -making groups: An evaluation of group argument effects on group goals

Communication has long been considered essential in group decision making effectiveness. However, little research has linked elements of group discussion to decision making effectiveness. This thesis examines the relationship between argument behaviors and goal coordination in group decision making. This thesis offers the goal achievement model and the goal coordination construct as mechanisms to explain how communication affects group decision making. The construct of goal coordination is explicated. A confirmatory factor analysis of a measure of goal coordination is presented that demonstrates the reliability of the goal coordination measure. Twenty-nine groups of four participants each completed a role-play scenario in which a unanimous decision needed to be reached. The groups were divided into the conditions of initial goal divergence and initial goal convergence. Decision-making discussions were coded using the group argument coding scheme, and mean goal coordination scores were calculated for each group.;Discriminant analysis was used to determine the argument behaviors that were associated with high and low levels of goal coordination. Findings revealed that divergent groups exhibit significantly lower goal coordination scores than convergent groups. Findings also revealed that arguable statements, (i.e., assertions, elaborations, propositions, justifications, responses, amplifications), are negatively associated with goal coordination scores. Delimitor statements that secure agreement are positively associated with goal coordination scores. Interruptions and overlaps in group discussion are negatively associated with goal coordination scores. A post-hoc analysis suggested that groups that overcame the inhibiting effect of initially divergent individual goals to achieve high goal coordination used fewer arguable statements and more reinforcer and delimitor statements than all other divergent groups. This post-hoc analysis also suggested that groups that achieved low goal coordination despite the facilitating effect of convergent initial individual goals exhibited more arguable statements and fewer reinforcer statements than all other convergent groups. This study provides practical insight as to the types of communication behaviors that help various stakeholders in decision-making groups rally commitment around a shared goal.