| dc.description.abstract | This report summarizes a literature study pertaining to research on decision-making in groups, carried out as part of the
project 807 SLADI (Battlefield Digitization – consequences for command and operation). It addresses the question of
size, member characteristics, communication, decision-making under risk & uncertainty, time, group polarization, group
think, stress, cognition, and natural as opposed to ad hoc groups.
The advantages and disadvantages of different group characteristics are discussed and evaluated in light of the literature,
lending some suggestions as to what seems to define an optimal decision-making group. Suggestions point in the
direction of medium size groups (5-7), heterogeneity and equality of group members, and decentralized communication.
As groups increase in size (8-10), they are, nevertheless, found to benefit from leadership, albeit a democratic and task
focused leadership. Furthermore, the availability of information, and adapting it, along with task and technology, to
human cognitive function and capacity, is found to be important for the group performance. Finally, training people
together as teams rather than employing ad hoc groups proves advantageous under various conditions, especially under
those characterized as emergency situations. | en_GB |