In workplace settings, collaborative decision-making is one of the most successful models to generate buy-in from other stakeholders, build consensus, and encourage creativity.
In this vein, certain collaborative arrangements have the potential to generate better net performance outcomes than individuals acting on their own.
Social identity analysis suggests that the changes which occur during collective decision-making are part of rational psychological processes which build on the essence of the group in ways that are psychologically efficient, grounded in the social reality experienced by members of the group, and have the potential to have a positive impact on society.
The use of politics is often judged negatively, but it is a useful way to approach problems when preferences among actors are in conflict, when dependencies exist that cannot be avoided, when there are no super-ordinate authorities, and when the technical or scientific merit of the options is ambiguous.
Plurality and dictatorship are less desirable as decision rules because they do not require the involvement of the broader group to determine a choice.
Delegation saves time and is a good method for less important decisions, but ignored members might react negatively.
Plurality is the most consistent scheme when superior decisions are being made, and it involves the least amount of effort.
[7] Consensus schemes involve members more deeply, and tend to lead to high levels of commitment.
James Reason notes that events subsequent to The Three Mile accident have not inspired great confidence in the efficacy of some of these methods.
In the Davis-Besse accident, for example, both independent safety parameter display systems were out of action before and during the event.
[11] Decision-making software is essential for autonomous robots and for different forms of active decision support for industrial operators, designers and managers.
DSSs which try to realize some human-cognitive decision-making functions are called Intelligent Decision Support Systems (IDSS).
[12] On the other hand, an active and intelligent DSS is an important tool for the design of complex engineering systems and the management of large technological and business projects.
On the receiver side this means that miscommunication can result from information processing limitations and faulty listening habits of human beings.