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On exploring the communicative impact of facilitated modelling during strategic group decision making : an interaction analysis study
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Afordakos, Orestis G. (2013) On exploring the communicative impact of facilitated modelling during strategic group decision making : an interaction analysis study. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.
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Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b2716985~S1
Abstract
Well into the 21st century strategic decisions remain at the forefront of organisational
managerial activity. The ever increasing complexity and uncertainty of the modern
world dictates the need for effective strategic decision making. In the attempt to pool
together the necessary capabilities strategic decisions in large organisations take
place in group settings thus bringing at the forefront the role of group decision
making. Group decision making is fundamentally a communicative activity riddled
with the intricate processes of negotiation. With negotiation comes conflict with
group participants’ differences over perspectives and worldviews being viewed as
the fundamental cause of it. Not all conflict is destructive. Benefits are also to be
reaped if conflict is managed effectively. A number of techniques and methods have
emerged in the field of the Management Sciences and Information Systems that
intent to alleviate the destructive and promote the productive aspects of conflict. One
technique that follows a rational approach to decision making and incorporates
strong elements of facilitation and qualitative modelling has been termed as
Facilitated Modelling (FM). The key distinction between FM and other approaches
is the use of qualitative models as transitional objects argued to enhance the
effectiveness of group conflict management. In the past two decades numerous calls
for evaluating the impact FM models may have on conflict have been made with
little to no response. This thesis is an exploratory attempt to offer partial insights and
inform these calls. The theoretical perspective of Adaptive Structuration Theory
acted as the under-bed guiding this exploration. The exploration adopted a multiple
case study approach as the methodological avenue for collecting data. Interaction
data derived from three workshops, during which strategic decisions were made,
have been micro-coded and analysed using both statistical as well as flexible
mapping techniques. The results revealed complex relationships between the manner
in which the model is appropriated and the resulting conflict management processes.
Specifically, findings indicate that when models are appropriated they will reduce the
ineffective conflict management behaviours. The concept of Model Appropriations
Complexity (MAC) has been introduced as a moderating variable between the model
appropriations and conflict management effectiveness with the findings supporting a
positive relationship between MAC and effective conflict management. Additional
preliminary analyses indicate prior FM-related experience of group participants as
another potential explanatory variable for future research to explore.
Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) | ||||
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Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management H Social Sciences > HM Sociology |
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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Group decision making, Strategic planning, Decision making, Intergroup relations | ||||
Official Date: | January 2013 | ||||
Dates: |
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Institution: | University of Warwick | ||||
Theses Department: | Warwick Business School | ||||
Thesis Type: | PhD | ||||
Publication Status: | Unpublished | ||||
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: | Franco, A. (Alberto); Van Haperen, Kees | ||||
Extent: | 402 pages : illustrations, charts. | ||||
Language: | eng |
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