Decision Making in Communities: Why Groups of Smart People Sometimes Make Bad Decisions - Softcover

Martirossian, Jasmine

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0944715621 ISBN 13: 9780944715628

Publisher: Community Assn Inst, 2001

Synopsis

This ground-breaking book provides a first-ever look at how and why leaders of community associations make the choices that govern their communities. Decision Making In Communities: Why Groups of Smart People Sometimes Make Bad Decisions, by social psychologist Jasmine Martirossian of Northeast University, applies well-known principles of group dynamics and social psychology to the often misunderstood leadership activities of community association boards. What results is a fascinating picture of how and why some associations find themselves facing inexplicable problems. Looking at community associations through the social psychologist’s lens makes this book quite fascinating. But, it also has a very practical-and more important-side because it explains exactly how community association leaders can make good decisions, avoid problems, and be highly functional.

The book has been enthusiastically received among community association professionals because it’s made them aware of a dynamic operating among their clients that they hadn’t considered before. St. Louis attorney Marv Nodiff, who specializes in community association law, stated that, "After nearly 20 years of practicing community association law, I can say that the major shortcoming of my professional education was a lack of exposure to group dynamics-the ability to identify how each board composition is different, and the skills of persuasion and influence that should be applied in each situation."

Steve Harvill, PCAM®-a professional community association manager-commented that, "This book does a good job of relating general knowledge of organizational dynamics to the unique nature of community associations." And Florida attorney Ellen Hirsch de Haan agrees, "Jasmine Martirossian has done a very nice job of synthesizing a formidable body of research and applying it to the community association industry."

By examining how boards of community associations are persuaded toward one view or another, and how board composition and size can affect decisions, the book enables readers to function more productively. It discusses how group polarization and cohesion can skew a decision-and provides useful advice on what to do about it-and a chapter on mental shortcuts (like the assumption that what’s most expensive is best), gives enough practical information that readers can prevent them from becoming short circuits instead. Real-life examples cited from community associations all across the country will provoke smiles of recognition for many readers.

About this title

From the Inside Flap

Decision Making In Communities:

Why Groups of Smart People Sometimes Make Bad Decisions

Why do we privately complain about things we publicly agree to?

Why are facts so annoying once we’ve made a decision?

Why do we trust people in white coats?

Why do we make quick decisions when we feel good?

Why haven’t we considered all the options?

Why do we always want the very thing that’s not available?

Why is it easier to say yes to someone we like?

Why do well-educated, analytical, rational people respond to a pitch based on emotions?

The answers to these questions have more to do with governing, managing, and promoting harmony in your community than you might think!

About the Author

Jasmine Martirossian is a Boston community association homeowner and a lecturer at Northeastern University. She is secretary of the Community Associations Institute Board of Directors and a member of the Community Associations Institute Research Foundation’s Board of Trustees. She is also a frequent contributor to Common Ground magazine.

Edition details

• Publisher: Community Assn Inst
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0944715621
• ISBN 13: 9780944715628
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 94