Member competence, group interaction, and group decision making: A longitudinal study.

TLDR

The decision‑making task closely mirrors many aspects of organizational group decision making. The study aimed to determine how greater group experience influences group versus individual problem solving. Participants engaged in over 30 hours of intensive group work, with a reward system linking performance to course grades. Results overwhelmingly favored group decision making over time for this task.

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to examine the extent to which increased experience in working in a group would affect group versus individual problem solving. The duration and intensity of group involvement for subjects (over 30 hr) was extensive. In addition, the reward system provided a clear and direct tie between individual or group performance and a significant outcome (i.e., course grades). The decision-making task had a great deal in common with many of the aspects of group decision making in organizations. Results were overwhelming in favor of group decision making across time, given this type of task.