Table 8-4 summarizes the work on decision making in terms of the six approaches to organizational communication we have discussed in this textbook. It should be clear that the early models of decision making we considered have their roots in the classical approach to organizational communication. The rational models of decision making and the phase of small-group processing assume that an ideal decision can be made if organizational decision makers are careful in following ‘’correct’’ procedures. These models of decision making have been largely rejected, however,in favor of models more in line with human relation, human resources, and systems approaches. The affective and cognitive models of participation, for example, are clearly predicated, respectively, on human relation and human resources principles. The influence of systems approaches can be seen in the work of Poole on decision paths and in the functional theory of Gouran and Hirokawa, who see the small group as a decision-making ‘’system’’ characterized by complex processes of interdependence and information exchange.