Group Decision Making

With their Girl Scout volunteer, girls work in partnership on troop or group decision making. Whether your Girl Scout troop or group is planning an event, trip or trying to determine how to use their Girl Scout Cookie Program proceeds, brainstorming and building consensus are skills you’ll need to use. Here are some ways to do this:

STEP 1: Brainstorming

1. Begin by creating a list of activity categories (see sample list below) the girls would like to do.
2. Assign categories accordingly to a deck of playing cards (Here’s an example):

  • Ace is wild
  • Face cards for service projects
  • 10 = ceremony
  • 9 = overnight trip
  • 8 = family or friend activity
  • 7 = work on award requirements
  • 6 = money-earning event
  • 5 = council event
  • 4 = learn something new
  • 3 = teach ... to younger girls
  • 2 = outdoor/high adventure activities

3. Deal out five cards per girl (use more than one deck if necessary)
4. No talking while each person thinks of specific activities for their cards.
5. Take turns stating ideas in order starting with 2 and going up. Record ideas as you go and note those that were recommended by more than one member.

STEP 2: Building Consensus

Making decision within a group can be difficult. Once your list of ideas or options is developed, your group can choose to make a short-list OR rank each idea based on your discussions.

1. Before beginning your discussion, decide a system (color-coded stickers, stars, etc.) and criteria for how your group will short list or rank your ideas. Here are sample criteria you may wish to use:

  • … ones that meet the needs and interests of your troop or group
  • … those that will help your troop or group attain a goal
  • … ideas that are most unique or irresistible
  • … once-in-a-lifetime opportunities

2. List the pros and cons or positives/negatives of each idea.
3. Are there any alternatives that would make for greater positives or pros?
4. When could this activity occur? Will there be conflicts in scheduling?
5. Discuss ways to combine, adjust, compromise or revise this idea to meet the greater interest or needs of the rest of the group.
6. Are there ways to combine parts of ideas?
7. Look at areas of disagreement and discuss further. Continue to revise ideas until the final idea is one that all can support.
8. Take a vote.
9. Discuss the outcome of the vote to make sure that everyone has been heard, and everyone can support the decision.
10. Using your own method and criteria, short-list or rank each idea.

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