The effects of meeting participation and outcome expectations on strength of consensus

I used a multiple-linear-regression model to test the effects of meeting group members’ expectations on strength of consensus in a group decision-making situation. The combination of met expression-of-views expectations and met decision-quality expectations, along with their associated valences, had a significant effect on consensus (p = .01). Expression-of-views expectations are composed of expectations about opportunity to express views and the information sharing.

I proposed a new model consisting of two terms. The first term was the sum of the individual products of met expression-of-views expectations times their respective valences. The second term was the sum of the individual products of met decision-quality expectations times their respective valences. This new model was a much better predictor of strength of consensus than the original (p = .001). The two terms used in the new model had an equivalent influence on strength of consensus (p = .05). The results of this research suggest managers should elicit and try to meet group members’ high-valence expectations (i.e., expectations group members feel are important to be met). Managers should also realize expression-of-views and decision-quality expectations are important to meet in a consensus-gaining process.