How Do You Search for the Best Alternative? Experimental Evidence on Search Strategies to Solve Complex Problems

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Sommer, Svenja C.; Bendoly, Elliot; Kavadias, Stylianos
• 署名单位: Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) Paris; University System of Ohio; Ohio State University; University of Cambridge
• 刊物名称: MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0025-1909
• DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2018.3247
• 发表日期: 2020
• 页码: 1395-1420
• 关键词: Complexity; problem solving; experiment; ideation; INNOVATION

摘要

Through a controlled two-stage experiment, we explore the performance of solution search strategies to resolve problems of varying complexity. We validate theoretical results that collaborative group structures may search more effectively in problems of low complexity but are outperformed by nominal structures at higher complexity levels. We call into question the dominance of the nominal group technique. Further close examination of search strategies reveals important insights: the number of generated solutions, a typical proxy for good problem-solving performance, does not consistently drive performance benefits across different levels of problem complexity. The average distance of search steps and the problem space coverage also play critical roles. Moreover, their effect is contingent on complexity: a wider variety of solutions is helpful only in complex problems. Overall, we caution management about the limitations of generic, albeit common, rules of thumb, such as generate as many ideas as possible.