Some characteristics of personal interaction in groups and their effects on performance

Abstract

The authors report the results of an experimental study on the relationship between five group process variables as an evaluation of the personal interaction between group members playing a computerized business decision game. Specific objectives of the study were to examine the experimental data set to determine if it was of a similar structure of the Green & Taber (1980) instrument, and to assess the impact of five process variables on the outcome, or 'success', of the group interaction process, as measured by profit achieved in the business decision game. The results of the study indicate that there seem to be opportunities for negative socio-emotional behaviours such as rejecting others' positions, arguing, and criticizing in a simulated decision-making environment.