5. Which is a more productive method of performing a group task: allowing ail1
group members to share in the decision making, duties and responsibilities, or
appointing one member to make decisions, delegate duties and take responsibility? The
speaker's opinion is that the first method is always the best one. In my view, however,
each of these alternatives is viable2 in certain circumstances, as illustrated3 by two very
different examples.
A jury in a criminal trial is good example of a group in which shared decision-
making, duties, and responsibility is the most appropriate and effective way to get the
job done. Each member of the jury is on equal footing with the others. While one person
is appointed to head the jury, his or her function is to act as facilitator, not as leader. To
place ultimate authority and responsibility on the facilitator would essentially4 be to
appoint a judge, and to thereby5 defeat the very purpose of the jury system.
By way of contrast, a trauma6 unit in a hospital is a case in which one inpidual
should assume responsibility, delegate duties and make decisions. In trauma units, split-
second decisions are inherently part of the daily routine, and it is generally easier for
one person to make a quick decision than for a team to agree on how to proceed. One
could argue that since decisions in trauma units are typically life-and-death ones,
leaving these decisions to one person is too risky7. However, this argument ignores the
crucial point that only the most experienced inpiduals should be trusted with such a
burden and with such power; leaving decisions to inexperienced group members can
jeopardize8 a patient's very life.
In conclusion, I agree that in some situations the best way to accomplish a task is
through teamworksharing responsibility, duties and decision making. However, in
other situations, especially those where quick decisions are necessary or where
inpidual experience is critical, the most effective means is for one inpidual to serve
as leader and assume ultimate responsibility for completing the job.
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