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Mines in the End Zone: Are there Downsides to Team Performance?
Troy V Mumford1, M Travis Maynard1
1Colorado State University (USA).
The Spanish Journal of Psychology
|November 20, 2020
Summary
Team success can lead to negative outcomes like groupthink and overconfidence. This research explores these downsides, offering insights for better team management and future studies on team dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Organizational Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Sociology
Background:
- Traditional team research often focuses on achieving success and avoiding failure.
- Less attention is given to the potential adverse effects of successful teamwork.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the negative long-term consequences of team success.
- To identify specific pitfalls associated with high-performing teams.
Main Methods:
- Literature review across multiple disciplines including psychology and sociology.
- Synthesis of existing research on team dynamics and cognitive biases.
Main Results:
- Successful teams may experience groupthink, where consensus overrides critical thinking.
- Overconfidence bias can arise from repeated success, leading to poor decision-making.
- Regression to the mean and strategy calcification are potential long-term issues.
Conclusions:
- Team success is not without risks and can foster detrimental cognitive and strategic patterns.
- Understanding these negative consequences is crucial for sustainable team performance and effective management.
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