Randy Hirokawa and Dennis Gouran strongly encourage group decision making because they believe communication helps the group reach conclusions better than when you are alone. Their theory is called functional perspective which “specifies what communication must accomplish for jointly made decisions to be wise.” In this theory, there are four different functions: analysis of the problem, goal setting, identification of alternatives, and evaluation of positive and negative characteristics. The last function, evaluation of positive and negative characteristics, is when the group tests the benefits and disadvantages of their options.

In this scene from the movie, Bridesmaids, the maid of honor, Annie, is planning the Bachelorette party for Lillian. Annie sends out an email to the other bridesmaids suggesting they go to the lake house, however, she is then bombarded with phone calls from the girls telling her how they want to go to Las Vegas instead. Annie is very hesitant about this because she is low on cash right now so she tries to list the disadvantages of going. She tries to convince the girls that the party should be at the lake house by listing the positives to her plan. This part of the planning is the evaluation of positive and negative characteristics function. This last function of the group planning process is very important because one has to compare the pros and cons to make any effective decision.

http://www.anyclip.com/movies/bridesmaids/planning-the-bachelorette-party/#!cast/