Keeling, John F.2014-03-142014-03-141991etd-02132009-171316http://hdl.handle.net/10919/41039I 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.108 leavesBTDapplication/pdfenIn CopyrightLD5655.V855 1991.K434Consensus (Social sciences)Group decision makingThesishttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-02132009-171316/