Organization and Strategy Seminar（2018-10）

Topic: Can Straw Polls Enhance Group Decision Quality?

Speaker: MichaelJohnson, University of Washington

Time: Thursday, 15 November, 10:00-11:30 am

Location: Room 217, Guanghua Building 2

Abstract：

Straw polling (nonbinding revealing of group member preferences prior to discussion) is now a significant issue for group decision-making, both because of its prevalence and its negative effect on decision quality. In this paper, we focus on testing different straw poll voting methods suggested by social choice theory. The analysis of the findings shows that in a randomized experiment, more information-rich voting methods (rank order, allocation voting) actually positively affect decision quality, whereas information-poor voting methods (plurality) negatively affect decision quality. The paper argues that past research on straw polling needs to be re-evaluated, as the vast amount of existing straw polling research was conducted using information-poor voting methods. We conclude by suggesting ways that organizations can implement information-rich voting methods to improve their decisions.

Introduction:

Michael Johnson is the Boeing Company Endowed Professor in Business Management at the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington. He has published work on top-tier journals such as Academy of Management Review, Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Applied Psychology, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Personnel Psychology, and Journal of Management. He has served on the editorial boards of the Academy of Management Journal, the Journal of Applied Psychology, and Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes.

//faculty.washington.edu/mdj3/mjohnson/Home.html

Your participation is warmly welcomed!