The Most Important Factor Influencing Your Decision Making - Essay Example

The way the United States handles wounded on the battlefield provides an ethical dilemma for some. The United States treats all wounded from the battlefield regardless of what military unit, insurgents group, or country they come from. These wounded are categorized not by who they are but by how wounded they are and are lined up for care (for surgery for example) based upon the seriousness of their wound and their optimal chances for survival. Other countries or peoples are often stymied by this their beliefs are to treat your own and leave the enemy to die so they don't live to fight another day.2. When are group decisions better than individual decisions When are they not better Provide examples of effective individual and effective group decisions and explain why the method (individual vs.

group worked well in the situation).Sometimes group decisions are better than individual decisions because each person in the group brings their perspective to the table for consideration. In the American judicial system, you can choose between a judge or jury to hear and decide your case. If you choose the judge your odds are 50-50. By choosing a jury to hear and decide your case you will get your case decided by a group bettering your odds. There are dangers to decisions made by a single individual (only one point of view) and decisions made by a group.

When a group gathers to make a decision different people play different roles in the group. Lots of good decisions are made by groups. Lots of bad decisions are made by groups as well. The group may suffer from what is called 'group thinks'. Some members of the group might self-censor - that is hold their opinions to themselves rather than contributing to the group. Members of a group may pressure others to conform to the group. Worst case scenario in a jury room is 'let's get this over with, can't we decide so we all can go home' or 'why don't you agree, you are holding us up'.

An example of effective group decision making is the town meeting when different township representatives get together to decide how the town is run, what money is spent, what new laws need to be put on the ballot for approval, and what roads are a priority for repaving. The town benefits from having these representatives getting together and discussing as a group problem and making good decisions.An example of an individual decision being the best decision is in a rescue environment. A man wanders a beach with few other people around.

He looks out to sea and notices a kid waving and yelling that his Dad is drowning. The man rushes into the water and brings the other man back to shore where it becomes evident the man is having a heart attack. The rescuer looks to those around him and starts giving orders: you, go call 911! You, give me your shirt (warmth)! You, go stand in the parking lot to guide the paramedics down here! He then begins CPR and is relieved in a few minutes by the paramedic's arrival. The heart attack victim survives because one took charge rather than a group deciding what they should do.