What are the techniques of group decision making?

When a decision is to be made by a group of people rather
than a single individual, there can be differences in the decisions preferred or
supported by individual members of the group. in such situation different approaches may
be used to select a decision from the various alternative decisions supported by
individual members. Some of the most common approaches include decision by majority,
dominant group, and consensus.

Decision by
Majority

In this approach the decision that
is supported by the majority of the group members is accepted as the final decision of
the entire group. In this basic method of decision by majority there can be some
differences in details of how the preferences of individual members are determined and
what constitutes the majority. For example, the members of the group may indicate their
preference by an open or secret vote. Similarly the majority may be simple majority in
which the the decision getting maximum support among the alternative decisions
considered may be accepted. Alternatively there may be a requirement that the decision
must be supported by at least 50 percent, or some other given proportion, of all the
persons voting. Further, there may be a quorum requirement that specifies the minimum
number of members that must participate in the
voting.

Decision by Dominant
Group

In this method of decision making a
dominant person or a group pf persons are able to push through the decision. In reality
this amount to decision by the dominant person or the group, rather than by the complete
group. Decision by dominant group can be achieved using informal power exercised by
individuals, or by some formal power such as veto
power.

Decision by
Consensus

In this method of decision it is required that
all the members of the group discuss the matter under consideration till all the members
agree to a common decision. This approach requires acceptance of group decision by
individual members based on conviction rather than as a compulsion because of results of
voting or domination by a group or an individual. It is assumed that this method results
in better decisions as well as better acceptance and implementation of the decision.
However, reaching of consensus can be a difficult and time consuming
process.