Consider This 11.1

The group charged with overseeing Tyrell’s care represented diverse experts in health care. What contribution to the whole did each person make? Were all the relevant parties represented at the meeting? Is there anyone else you think should have been represented at the meeting?

Consider This 11.2

In 1999, Japan experienced its worst nuclear emergency. This crisis was noteworthy not just because of the lives lost and people harmed from radiation exposure, but also because critics noted how slow the Japanese government was to act. Critics pointed out that the Japanese mode of problem solving values long deliberation and consensus building as opposed to quick and decisive decisions by an expert; this contributed to the slow response.³⁶ For what types of decisions do you think quick decision making should be used? For what types of decisions should decision making be slow and deliberate?

Consider This 11.3

Do you think the criteria for Tyrell’s care (in our opening story) are likely to have been clear to all the medical professionals collaborating on his care? Is it likely that each professional might have perceived the problem differently? If you had been the doctor in charge of the meeting, what could you have done to clarify criteria and make sure the medical professionals were using the same criteria? Is it likely that Tyrell’s wife or his minister would use the same criteria?

Consider This 11.4

Using the first two steps of the P-MOPS procedure, how would you analyze Tyrell’s problem in our opening case? What are the possible options the team might consider for dealing with the problem? Can you see the connection between how you define the problem and how you think about handling it?

Consider This 11.5

Group support systems can range from e-mail between members to specialized systems such as SAMM. Do not panic if your group does not have the resources to adapt the more specialized systems for problem solving. Chat rooms are available to anyone with access to a computer. Chat rooms do not cost anything to use and they can be more anonymous than e-mail. Chat rooms are special websites that allow for synchronous communication, and you can use anonymous nicknames. Several online services, such as yahoo.com and lycos.com, offer free private chat rooms for your group discussions. These kinds of sites include the directions on how chat rooms can be created and used. Have you ever visited a chat room? What do you think its strengths and weaknesses are?