ABSTRACT
This chapter presents several process and cognitive variables associated with team decision-making. Information sharing, knowledge transfer, schema-enriched communication and knowledge objects are necessary for the development of knowledge interoperability and cognitive similarity among team members. Technology mediated communication filters visual and contextual cues, providing a low degree of information richness. Low information richness is associated with deindividuation, lack of accountability, and increased frustration and confusion, which may decrease inhibition, decrease self-regulation, increase self-absorption and increase counternormative behavior, thereby ultimately deteriorating the nature and quantity of communication among team members. Cognitive similarity is reciprocally related to communication and social interaction patterns. Assuming functional cognitive content and an optimal degree and form of similarity, teams in which members develop cognitive similarity tend to benefit from efficient team process and high-quality performance. Knowledge objects are tools that may promote knowledge transfer and the collaboration needed to create new knowledge.
