Outcomes of Groupthink in Decision-Making

In social psychology, group dynamics and individual behavior can greatly influence decision-making processes. A recent study examined how groupthink affects the ability of teams to make effective decisions. Groupthink occurs when the desire for harmony or conformity in a group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. Many teams avoid critical thinking and dissenting opinions in favor of consensus. In one experiment, participants were assigned to work in groups on a task requiring collective decision-making. The researchers observed that groups suffering from groupthink often overlooked alternative solutions and downplayed dissenting opinions. As a result, the quality of decisions made by these groups was significantly poorer than that of groups encouraged to engage in open debate and critical discussion.

Based on this scenario, what is the most likely outcome for groups that experience groupthink during decision-making?