Member Status and Information Exchange in Decision-Making Groups

Abstract

Two decades of research have identified a robust effect: Members of decision-making groups mention and repeat shared information that all members know more so than unshared information that a single member knows. This chapter explores the idea that processes related to member status both affect and explain information exchange in decision-making groups. First, we offer five propositions that identify information sharing patterns and their implications for high- and low-status group members. Second, we highlight three theoretical explanations for the group preference for shared information and examine how well each theory accounts for the proposed member status processes.

Citation

Wittenbaum, G.M. and Bowman, J.M. (2005), "Member Status and Information Exchange in Decision-Making Groups", Thomas-Hunt, M.C. (Ed.) Status and Groups (Research on Managing Groups and Teams, Vol. 7), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 143-168. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1534-0856(05)07007-6