Jenna Downey is an engineer on a cross-functional team at Ford Motor Company. The team was put together two years ago to develop a new hybrid truck. A few days ago, Jenna complained to her manager that she didn’t feel the project was going well. When asked why, Jenna stated the following: “Our team has gotten stagnant. We don’t brainstorm the way we used to. We sit in a room and go over the design and, instead of thinking outside the box or playing devil’s advocate, we talk about the weather and make the same decisions we’ve always made. I know I don’t feel comfortable sharing ideas with the group that isn’t our “status quo” kind of solution and I’m sure most of my team members would agree. We’re on this great project and, yet, nobody’s willing to take any risks or voice opinions that not everybody’s going to like. I don’t know if I can stay on this team.” Based on your understanding of group decision making and the Jenna’s comments above, what do you think is occurring in Jenna’s group that’s making her dissatisfied with the experience? Provide AT LEAST two recommendations of what Jenna can do to eliminate these issues.

Practical Management Science
6th Edition
ISBN:9781337406659
Author:WINSTON, Wayne L.
Publisher:WINSTON, Wayne L.
Chapter2: Introduction To Spreadsheet Modeling
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Jenna Downey is an engineer on a cross-functional team at Ford Motor Company. The team was put together two years ago to develop a new hybrid truck. A few days ago, Jenna complained to her manager that she didn’t feel the project was going well. When asked why, Jenna stated the following:
“Our team has gotten stagnant. We don’t brainstorm the way we used to. We sit in a room and go over the design and, instead of thinking outside the box or playing devil’s advocate, we talk about the weather and make the same decisions we’ve always made. I know I don’t feel comfortable sharing ideas with the group that isn’t our “status quo” kind of solution and I’m sure most of my team members would agree. We’re on this great project and, yet, nobody’s willing to take any risks or voice opinions that not everybody’s going to like. I don’t know if I can stay on this team.”

Based on your understanding of group decision making and the Jenna’s comments above, what do you think is occurring in Jenna’s group that’s making her dissatisfied with the experience? Provide AT LEAST two recommendations of what Jenna can do to eliminate these issues.

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