The temporal phase structure of team interaction under asymmetric information distribution: The solution fixation trap

Organizations facing dynamic environments typically use teams of individuals to collect and share information in order to make timely and accurate joint decisions. The mature body of prior research concerning team information processing indicates a consistent bias in team decision-making under conditions that asymmetrically distribute information across team members; this body of research, however, focuses mainly on identifying significant relationships between static inputs and decision outcomes. As a result, little is known regarding the actual team processes that may influence decision outcomes. We introduce the notion of the temporal phase structure of team behaviors to the asymmetric information distribution research stream and identify relevant phase characteristic variables that show significant differences between lower- and higher-performing teams in a team decision-making simulation. We find evidence suggesting that higher-performing teams are more able than other teams to prolong productive discussion of information without falling into a pattern of solution fixation. Finally, we identify specific behaviors that are likely to trigger beneficial and detrimental phase shifts. We close with a discussion of this evidence and suggestions for related future research.