The contribution of the group process to successful project planning in R&D settings

An empirical study that compares the relative effectiveness of groups vs. individuals in developing a project plan and focuses on two aspects of planning effectiveness (quality and acceptance) is presented. Members of 80 groups completed a simulation, the Project Planning Situation, first individually and then as interacting groups. The results show that the quality of the project plans developed by the groups was significantly higher than the average quality of the plans developed by members working independently. The groups' plans also were better than those that were derived through nominal techniques. It is open to question, however, whether the groups' plans were always superior to those of their best members. The effectiveness of the groups in planning is related to the two basic elements of group process: the rational and the interpersonal. The rational elements of process determined the quality of the plan and the interpersonal factor were associated with the groups' acceptance of the project plan. The management implications of these findings are discussed.