Which statement about group involvement in problem solving is true?

• A. When involvement of a group is appropriate, the synergistic effect of group problem solving often leads to better results than does problem solving by an individual.
• B. Any decision associated with an ethical dilemma results in negative consequences.
• C. Community problem solving is consistent with traditional incident-driven policing.
• D. To be effective, responses to a problem must impact all three sides of the problem analysis triangle.

Answer: (A)

Group involvement in problem solving works best because bringing together diverse knowledge, perspectives, and information often creates a synergy that a single person cannot achieve. When a team collaborates, members can challenge each other’s assumptions, share different data sources, and brainstorm a wider set of potential responses. That broader view helps identify root causes more accurately and leads to solutions that are more effective, feasible, and likely to gain community buy-in. In policing ethics and practice, this collaborative approach supports legitimacy and accountability, since multiple voices contribute to the analysis and the final plan.

The other statements don’t fit as well. Not every ethical dilemma decision necessarily carries negative consequences; well-considered decisions can minimize harm or even produce beneficial outcomes. Community problem solving is fundamentally different from traditional incident-driven policing, which is more reactive and focused on responding to incidents rather than engaging with the community to address underlying issues. Finally, while addressing all three corners of the problem analysis triangle (offender, target, and location) is ideal for comprehensive impact, effective solutions can still reduce harm by focusing on two corners or prioritizing the most critical factors in a given situation; insisting on hitting all three in every case is too rigid.