Collective Thinking Can Step Up Progress

Several factors contribute to the progress of a group or society; each has a different impact, positive or negative. Sometimes it is difficult to assess the precise impact of a certain factor; may be, it is a combination of factors that has brought about a happy result sound progress.

Two heads are always better than one; an individual on his own is generally unable to consider dispassionately all aspects of a problem or situation. When several persons express their views and offer their suggestions the result is, by and large, wholesome. The various aspects of a question or proposal are fully examined and the pros and cons of a scheme analysed in a constructive spirit.

History proves that when a single person, be he a head of any person holding some other high post, takes a decision or comes to a conclution he make mistakes. All human beings are liable to err. Bias and prejudice play their part in the decision making process. And once a decision, is made, for instance a fateful one on making peace or going to war with another country, has been taken it is generally too late to reverse or modify it. Meanwhile, much damage and destruction might have been done. This happens particularly in war time. There is much advantage in trying for a consensus or general agreement before taking a decision on an important matter of policy. Haste and rashness are avoided.

Collective Thinking

At times the situation calls for a speedy and prompt decision on the course of action to be taken or to be avoided; where an individual has the final authority to take decision, he or she can do so without waiting for the views of the members of a collective society or group. Much time is thus saved and in most cases time is the essence of the matter. It makes all the difference.

The concerned individual alone knows the intricacies of a certain situation and the problem may be too personal or secret to be disclosed to others, however friendly they might be. Leakage of secret, especially among women, may do much harm socially. No woman, it is said, can keep a secret.