“Groupthink is a type of thought exhibited by group members who try to minimize conflict and reach consensus without critically testing, analyzing, and evaluating ideas.”

“Highly cohesive groups are much more likely to engage in groupthink, because their cohesiveness often correlates with unspoken understanding and the ability to work together with minimal explanations.”

As a project manager, watch out for symptoms of groupthink in your projects: illusions of invulnerability, rationalizing warnings, unquestioned belief, stereotyping, direct pressure, self censorship, illusions of unanimity and mindguards (“self-appointed members who shield the group from dissenting information”). If left unchecked, groupthink can lead to defective decision making.

To prevent groupthink, assign a critical evaluator, examine all alternatives or seek outside opinion. At the very least, one project team member should play the role of a devil’s advocate.

Check out Wikipedia for additional details.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthink

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