深度还是广度?知识分布与群体结构对群组绩效的影响

Depth or breadth?Influence of knowledge distribution and group structure on group performance

研究在解决复杂系统决策问题时,群组的知识分布与群体结构两种关键特征对群体智能涌现的效果,即群组绩效的影响.提出基于群组合作网络的结构特征测度和基于决策要素的知识分布测度,群组结构主要包括链接强度以及网络的层次化或扁平化程度;知识分布根据知识的深度或广度衡量群组成员的构成类型:专才型群组、通才型群组以及混合型群组.采用基于适应度景观理论的连续时间马尔科夫链模拟群组解决复杂决策问题的能力.群组成员在自我利益(即对个体适应度提升的追求)和社会影响(即寻求与周围个体意见一致以达成共识)两种驱动因素下改变观点.研究表明:不平衡的知识分布会削弱群组绩效;群体结构会调节知识分布的影响作用;通才型群组在解决更加复杂问题时的表现明显优于专才型群组以及混合型群组;群组不应过分追求意见的一致性.

This study researches the influence of two critical group characteristics,i.e.,knowledge distribution and group structure,on the effect of collective intelligence emergence(group performance).We introduce a group structural measure based on a group collaboration network and a knowledge distribution index based on decision variables.Group structure mainly includes link intensity and the degree to which the network is hierarchical or flat.The knowledge distribution status classifies groups into three types:generalist groups,mixed groups and specialist groups.We adopt a continuous-time Markov chain based on NK fitness landscape theory to model the ability of groups to solve complex system decisionmaking problems.Group members revise their opinions driven by two factors:individual interest(i.e.,the pursuit of perceived payoff improvement)and social influence(i.e.,the pursuit of consensus seeking).The results show that:1)Unbalanced knowledge distribution will undermine group performance.2)However,group structure will regulate the influence of knowledge distribution.3)Generalist groups have a better performance than mixed groups and specialist groups when addressing complex problems.4)It is not suitable for groups to seek a very high consensus level.