Representing and Modeling Group Option-Generation Process

40 Pages Posted: 28 Sep 2021

See all articles by Jiahui Zhang

Jiahui Zhang

Tsinghua University - Department of Industrial Engineering

Ying Xiang

Tsinghua University - Department of Industrial Engineering

Chen Wang

Tsinghua University - Department of Industrial Engineering

Lefei Li

Tsinghua University - Department of Industrial Engineering

Date Written: August 12, 2021

Abstract

Generating options is crucial to making good decisions. Prior research has designed experiments to investigate how different interventions (e.g., value-focused brainstorming) affect the quantity and quality of the generated options. We propose a novel empirical method that characterizes the group option-generation process in two steps: first is to use natural language processing to represent the cognitive space of a group based on their conversation transcripts; second is to assess the discussion dynamics, e.g., inclinations of exploration versus exploitation, with a multi-dimensional Hawkes process. By applying the representation and modeling method to the brainstorming stage of a high-school product design contest, we identify three reference types of group decision-makers – mechanic, propeller, and thinker, and estimate each team participating in the context as a mixture of the three types. We further conduct model-based analysis on how the mixing configuration affects team performance in terms of their navigation strategies in the cognitive space. Finally, we report a case study on applying the proposed method to test a particular intervention, i.e., asking subjects to think about objectives beforehand, in a brainstorming exercise discussing solutions to improve student life satisfaction at our university.

Keywords: group decision-making, option generation, brainstorming

Suggested Citation

Zhang, Jiahui and Xiang, Ying and Wang, Chen and Li, Lefei, Representing and Modeling Group Option-Generation Process (August 12, 2021). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3926444 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3926444

Jiahui Zhang

Tsinghua University - Department of Industrial Engineering ( email )

Beijing
China

Ying Xiang

Tsinghua University - Department of Industrial Engineering ( email )

Beijing
China

Chen Wang (Contact Author)

Tsinghua University - Department of Industrial Engineering ( email )

Beijing
China

Lefei Li

Tsinghua University - Department of Industrial Engineering ( email )

Beijing
China

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