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I am pretty dubious about "GroupThink" as something distinct from "politics" and "social pressure". The canonical example is Bay Of Pigs where apparently no-on
by lifeisstillgood 5y ago
I am pretty dubious about "GroupThink" as something distinct from "politics" and "social pressure".
The canonical example is Bay Of Pigs where apparently no-one in Kennedys cabinet thought "what if the invasion fails".
I bet loads of people thought it. In fact they all thought it.
It's just that no one at the decision making table was secure enough to raise the problem.
(Well that is the definition of group think. it is also the definition of failed politics, or social / peer pressure and failure to create psychological safe spaces, to have adequate feedback mechanism, etc etc)
It's important - but having a one of the cabinet raise issues is not solving the whole political decision making structure.
Democracy is still needed
- Hokusai 5y ago> It's just that no one at the decision making table was secure enough to raise the problem. 'The five dysfunctions of a team' is a good book about this topic. You need trust to have an efficient team. Collaboration does not work when people does not feel safe.
- ghaff 5y agoProbably didn't apply to Bay of Pigs but something that's somewhat distinct is a desire for consensus. It's somewhat a cultural thing (where culture can mean country/company/team). But there can be situations where someone (and it may actually be multiple people) have misgivings about an apparent consensus but feel that unanimity is more important than having a knock-down argument over some minor point. This isn't even always the wrong call--again doesn't apply to Bay of Pigs.