How do you search for the best alternative? Experimental evidence on search strategies to solve complex problems
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Authors
Sommer, S
Bendoly, E
Kavadias, S
Publication Date
2020-03Journal Title
Management Science
ISSN
1526-5501
Publisher
Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences
Volume
66
Issue
3
Pages
1395-1420
Type
Article
This Version
AM
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Sommer, S., Bendoly, E., & Kavadias, S. (2020). How do you search for the best alternative? Experimental evidence on search strategies to solve complex problems. Management Science, 66 (3), 1395-1420. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2018.3247
Abstract
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 play also 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”.
Keywords
complexity, problem solving, experiment, ideation, innovation
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2018.3247
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/288054
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http://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved
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