2173: Cognitive Diversity and Team Performance: Contingencies of the Cost and Benefits (13666)

Moderator(s)

• MQ

  Matthias Qian

  ESMT Berlin, Germany

Presenter(s)

• MS

  Mari Sako

  U. of Oxford, United Kingdom
• CL

  Chengwei Liu

  Imperial College Business School, United Kingdom
• PD

  Peter Dahlin

  Mälardalen U., Sweden
• KH

  Ki-Won Haan

  Carnegie Mellon U. in Qatar, Qatar

Discussant(s)

• SP

  Scott Page

  U. of Michigan

Presenter(s)

• SK

  Sorin Krammer

  Surrey Business School, United Kingdom

This session explores the nuanced role of cognitive diversity in team and organizational performance, focusing on contrasting perspectives and emerging research. Cognitive diversity, defined as variations in thought processes, perceptions, and information processing, is generally perceived as beneficial for team decision-making and organizational value, as supported by studies from McKinsey and Deloitte, amongst others. However, recent literature suggests that its effectiveness is context-dependent. For example, firms with an innovator strategy or those in less competitive environments may benefit less from cognitive diversity. This complexity is further highlighted in startup contexts, where the role of early joiners and non-founding employees becomes significant. Empirical studies, such as those by Sako, Qian, & Verhagen (2021), and theoretical models from the organizational learning literature, propose a reevaluation of decision-making processes and the importance of leveraging knowledge diversity. The session underscores the importance of recognizing cognitive diversity's nuanced impacts, particularly in startups and innovative environments.

Presentations:

• 13:15 – 14:45 CT (GMT-5/UTC-5)

  2173: Slow Learning and Diversity: Strategic Designs for Improving Mutual Learning (13666)
  

  Author: Chengwei Liu – Imperial College Business School

  Author: Jerker C. Denrell – U. of Warwick

  Author: Thorbjoern Knudsen – Frankfurt School of Finance & Management gGMBH

  Author: Michael Christensen – U. of Southern Denmark
• 13:15 – 14:45 CT (GMT-5/UTC-5)

  2173: Knowledge Similarity Among Founders and Joiners: Impact on Venture Scaleup in Fintech and Lawtech (13666)
  

  Author: Mari Sako – U. of Oxford

  Author: Matthias Qian – ESMT Berlin

  Author: Mark Verhagen – U. of Oxford
• 13:15 – 14:45 CT (GMT-5/UTC-5)

  2173: Higher-Order Innovation and New Venture Success (13666)
  

  Author: Likun Cao – U. Of Chicago

  Author: James Evans – U. Of Chicago
• 13:15 – 14:45 CT (GMT-5/UTC-5)

  2173: An Ivory Tower of Babel? The Impact of Size and Diversity of Teams on Research Performance (13666)
  

  Author: Sorin Krammer – Surrey Business School

  Author: Peter Dahlin – Mälardalen U.
• 13:15 – 14:45 CT (GMT-5/UTC-5)

  2173: Personalities in Sync: Investigating Complementarity in Personality Traits and Transactivity (13666)
  

  Author: Ki-Won Haan – Carnegie Mellon U. in Qatar

  Author: Anita Williams Woolley – Carnegie Mellon U.