TEAM EFFECTIVENESS AND COGNITIVE CONFLICT

Cognitive conflict occurs as team members examine, compare, and reconcile substantive, issue-related differences.

The consequences of conflict, whether positive or negative, are largely dependent upon the types of differences that lead to the disagreement. While disagreements among team members are bound to occur, so long as they focus on substantive, issue-related differences of opinion, they tend to improve team effectiveness.

Conflict theorists call these types of disagreements cognitive conflict. As team members gather to make important decisions, they bring different ideas, opinions, and perspectives to the table.

Cognitive conflict is beneficial because it requires teams to engage in activities that are essential to a team's effectiveness. Cognitive conflict focuses attention on assumptions that may underlie a particular issue and which are often ignored. Cognitive conflict improves the quality of team decisions.

Without cognitive conflict, team decisions are little more than the decisions of a team's most vocal or influential member.

Cognitive conflict plays an important role in the promotion of acceptance of a decision among the team members.

Cognitive conflict builds understanding and commitment to the team's goals and decisions