Team problem solving and motivation under disorganization – an agent-based modeling approach
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims at simulating on how “disorganization” affects team problem solving. The prime objective is to determine how team problem solving varies between an organized and disorganized environment also considering motivational aspects.
Design/methodology/approach
Using agent-based modeling, the authors use a real-world data set from 226 volunteers at five different types of non-profit organizations in Southwest England to define some attributes of the agents. The authors introduce the concepts of natural, structural and functional disorganization while operationalizing natural and functional disorganization.
Findings
The simulations show that “disorganization” is more conducive for problem solving efficiency than “organization” given enough flexibility (range) to search and acquire resources. The findings further demonstrate that teams with resources above their hierarchical level (access to better quality resources) tend to perform better than teams that have only limited access to resources.
Originality/value
The nuanced categories of “(dis-)organization” allow us to compare between various structural limitations, thus generating insights for improving the way managers structure teams for better problem solving.
Keywords
Citation
Herath, D., Costello, J. and Homberg, F. (2017), "Team problem solving and motivation under disorganization – an agent-based modeling approach", Team Performance Management, Vol. 23 No. 1/2, pp. 46-65. https://doi.org/10.1108/TPM-10-2015-0046
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited