Which of the following is a recognized pitfall in team decision making?

• A. Plan for implementation
• B. Groupthink
• C. Identify alternatives
• D. Evaluate the decision

Answer: (B)

Groupthink is a recognized pitfall in team decision making. It happens when the drive for harmony and agreement in a group overrides critical thinking, leading members to suppress dissent, rationalize away concerns, and go along with a course of action without thoroughly evaluating options or risks. The result is an illusion of consensus while important issues aren’t fully explored, and flawed choices can slip through because critical voices aren’t heard.

This pitfall commonly shows up in tightly knit teams, under strong leadership, with time pressure or isolation from outside perspectives. When everyone prioritizes conformity over probing questions, the group ends up considering fewer alternatives and underestimating potential problems. To counter it, teams can encourage open debate, appoint a devil’s advocate, bring in external input, use structured decision-making processes, or break into subgroups to explore different options before reconvening.

Plan for implementation, identifying alternatives, and evaluating the decision are all good practices that help ensure sound choices, not pitfalls to avoid.