2213. Group diversity and facilitated modelling
Invited abstract in session MD-61: Behaviour in group decision making, stream Behavioural OR.
Monday, 14:30-16:00Room: Maurice Keyworth G.31
Authors (first author is the speaker)
| 1. | L. Alberto Franco
|
| University of Bristol Business School, University of Bristol | |
| 2. | Etienne Rouwette
|
| Nijmegen School of Management, Radboud University Nijmegen |
Abstract
Given the increasing diversity of the workforce, groups that use facilitated modelling (FM) are inevitably composed of members with different social and knowledge characteristics. The accumulated research evidence in the social sciences shows that group diversity can have both synergetic and disruptive effects on group functioning. Synergy comes from the elaboration of information, knowledge and perspectives instigated by diversity; disruption is linked to the tensions that may arise between dissimilar group members, which hinders elaboration. The FM literature is relatively silent about group diversity, and in this talk we examine the extent to FM can help diverse groups realise their synergetic potential. Furthermore, we argue that the claimed benefits of FM substantially depend on the degree to which the operational researcher is able to predict the dominance of intra- versus inter-group behaviours engendered by diversity. We end with some testable research propositions, and their implications for practice and education
Keywords
- Behavioural OR
- Group Decision Making and Negotiation
- Practice of OR
Status: accepted
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