Performance and Perceptions of Brainstormers in an Organizational Setting

Paulus, Paul B.; Larey, Timothy S.; Ortega, Anita

doi:10.1080/01973533.1995.9646143

Cited by 96 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 37 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In game theory terms, one might envision each agent playing a game against nature, in which an individual's performance against nature has no bearing on other players' payoffs, and players can learn from each other about what does and does not work. This is clearly an ideal type, but there are many phenomena that approximate this ideal-whether it is professionals such as doctors (Coleman, Katz, and Menzel, 1957) and professors (Mergel, 2005) dealing with similar problems, state governments formulating public policy (Walker, 1969), brainstorming sessions (Paulus, Larey, and Ortega, 1995), or infantry in Iraq evaluating tactics on the ground (Baum, 2005). In each case, the agents in question are all wrestling with approximately the same problem and are in a position to learn from each other's actions, yet the success or failure of each is minimally affected by the performance of other agents.…”

Section: Network Configuration Information Diffusion and Systemic Pmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Network Structure of Exploration and Exploitation

Lazer

Friedman

2007

Administrative Science Quarterly

560

631

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Whether as team members brainstorming or cultures experimenting with new technologies, problem solvers communicate and share ideas. This paper examines how the structure of communication networks among actors can affect system-level performance. We present an agent-based computer simulation model of information sharing in which the less successful emulate the more successful. Results suggest that when agents are dealing with a complex problem, the more efficient the network at disseminating information, the better the short-run but the lower the long-run performance of the system. The dynamic underlying this result is that an inefficient network maintains diversity in the system and is thus better for exploration than an efficient network, supporting a more thorough search for solutions in the long run. For intermediate time frames, there is an inverted-U relationship between connectedness and performance, in which both poorly and well-connected systems perform badly, and moderately connected systems perform best. This curvilinear relationship between connectivity and group performance can be seen in several diverse instances of organizational and social behavior.• We live in a smaller world today than ever before, with more distant linkages that rapidly spread information from one corner of the globe to the other. Perhaps as a result, the last decade has witnessed a massive surge of interest in networks, both among academics (Borgatti and Foster, 2003) and in popular culture. Services to increase the efficiency with which we exploit our personal networks have proliferated, and armies of consultants have emerged to improve the efficiency of organizational networks. Implicit in this discourse is the idea that the more connected we are, the better: silos are to be eliminated, and the boundaryless organization is the wave of the future. Technologies that enable distant actors to access each other's knowledge should be utilized (Wenger, McDermott, and Snyder, 2002). Even the most hierarchical of organizations, the military, is ostensibly shifting to a more flexible, network-based system (Arquilla and Ronfeldt, 2001), with bottom-up, boundary-spanning, Web-based knowledge systems (Baum, 2005). Despite these evident secular trends, popular attention, and prescribed organizational network strategies, relatively little attention has been focused on the question of how network structures affect overall system performance and, in particular, collective problem solving-the pooling of individual abilities to solve a problem.In contrast, there is ample research that highlights the advantage that network position can provide those who occupy them. Diffusion of innovation research (Rogers, 2003) illustrates how the well connected tend to be early adopters. Acquiring information quickly, in turn, provides advantages to individuals. Thus, for example, Granovetter's (1973) landmark research highlights the role of relationships in funneling information to individuals about employment opportunities, and Burt's (1995) research foc...

show abstract

Section: Network Configuration Information Diffusion and Systemic Pmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Network Structure of Exploration and Exploitation

Lazer

Friedman

2007

Administrative Science Quarterly

560

631

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This question has troubled many researchers, and not in the least those who study the often found productivity losses when people are brainstorming in groups (e.g., Mullen, Johnson, & Salas, 1991;Paulus, Larey, & Ortega, 1995). Since researchers started their search for reasons that individuals in groups seem to produce less divergent ideas, many suggestions have been offered, including "production blocking" (Diehl & Stroebe, 1987;Nijstad, Stroebe, & Lodewijkx, 2003), "social anxiousness" (Camacho & Paulus, 1995), and "conforming to norms" (Adarves-Yorno, Postmes, & Haslam, 2006).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

I versus We: The Effects of Self-Construal Level on Diversity

Wiekens¹,

Stapel²

2008

Social Cognition

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…This collaboration was supportive for individually based idea generation (Dennis & Valacich, 1993). However, students were still less productive and fewer ideas were generated as it was time consuming (as with Taylor et al, 1958 andPaulus et al, 1995 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enabling Idea Generation through Computer-Assisted Collaborative Learning

Niculescu¹,

Thorsteinsson²

2011

SIC

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article puts forward a three related case study series, using a Virtual Reality Learning Environment (VRLE) with a view to supporting the development of students' ideation skills in conventional primary and secondary education. Since this learning environment is fairly new it is necessary to examine its educational uses and determine if the new learning environment will meet teachers' expectations. Therefore, the overall goal for this research was twofold: a) to explore the ways in which idea generation was developed during students' work in an enjoyable environment b) to assess the way VRLE affects students' ability to generate new ideas and pass on knowledge. The data collected was qualitative and the analysis was based on grounded theory principles and an interpretive paradigm.

show abstract

Performance and Perceptions of Brainstormers in an Organizational Setting

Cited by 96 publications

References 37 publications

The Network Structure of Exploration and Exploitation

The Network Structure of Exploration and Exploitation

I versus We: The Effects of Self-Construal Level on Diversity

Enabling Idea Generation through Computer-Assisted Collaborative Learning

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About