ABSTRACT
In the literature on group decision making and problem solving, it is often mentioned but rarely tested that groups may benefit from developing routines (Gersick & Hackman, 1990). In particular, routines may help groups effectively reduce coordination requirements when solving interdependent tasks. A group that has developed a routine for solving a problem does not have to negotiate about each new task and about which group member will carry out which single step of the task (Malone & Crowstone, 1994). However, as we know from the literature on learning transfer (VanLehn, 1996) and routine decision making (Betsch, Haberstroh, & Hoehle, 2002), acquiring a routine sometimes impairs rather than improves performance. Such a negative learning transfer is most likely if problem solvers are provided with a novel task that shares surface features with the learning task but requires a different problem solution (VanLehn, 1989). If the acquisition of a routine leads to improved group performance, crucial to continued improvement is whether groups are able to detect changes in the task environment and adequately respond to novel task demands. Are groups more likely than individuals to detect such changes and adapt their routine to novel tasks?
