Home / Lectures / Spiro Maroulis, Arizona State University
An experimental study of discovery, diffusion, and diversity in networked groups

Spiro Maroulis, Arizona State University
Description
Semester:
- Winter 2015
Speakers:
Lecture Time:
Fri, January 23, 2015 @ 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Lecture Location:
Room R1240, Ross School of Business
Speaker Webpage(s):
http://www.public.asu.edu/~smarouli/Spiro_Maroulis/Home.html
Introduced By:
No introduction available.
Abstract
Many important problems in business, science, engineering, and government require that individuals
with specialized knowledge work together in groups to develop and implement solutions.
Since information sharing in groups usually occurs through interpersonal interactions, properties
of the group’s communication network may impact collective performance. We present results
from a behavioral experiment consisting of 49 trials conducted over 4 sessions that examined the
connection between performance and two changeable characteristics of a group’s network: the
diversity within the subunits that comprise the group, and the centralization of its communication
topology. In our task, a large-group adaptation of a classic small-group network experiment
conducted at MIT in the 1950s, groups of 20 participants attempted to solve a problem that
required them to pool unique information, and then disseminate the solution to others. We found
that networks comprised of subgroups containing diverse information were more efficient at both
discovery and dissemination of the solution, even in cases where homogeneous subgroups could
theoretically complete the task in an equal number of steps. Contrary to the original small group
results, we found no evidence of a positive association between collective performance and the
extent to which connections in the network are concentrated in a few central individuals. We
conclude by discussing the implications for how groups of specialized individuals in organizations
should be arranged to improve collective performance, as well as for the extrapolation of findings
from small to large networked groups.
Recording & Additional Notes
No additional notes available.