Preference for procedural order, discussion structure and group decision performance

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Abstract
Recent research on group decision‐making suggests that the discussion procedures followed by a group may be a relatively unimportant factor for effective decision performance. The present study represents the first in a series of investigations designed to determine whether the relationship between discussion procedures and decision performance is mediated by certain situational factors. In this study, we examine the mediating influence of a cognitive structure called “procedural order preference.” The study found a significant interaction between discussion procedures and procedural order preference of group members. Specifically, (1) groups comprised of high procedural order (HPO) members using a high‐structure procedure arrived at higher quality decisions than HPO groups using a low‐structure procedure; and (2) groups comprised of low procedural order (L PO) members using a low‐structure procedure arrived at higher‐quality decisions than HPO groups using a low‐structure procedure.