The Daily Stat: Smaller, More-Homogeneous Research Groups Are More Productive per Researcher

 

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser.

July 11, 2013 Smaller, More-Homogeneous Research Groups Are More Productive per Researcher Research organizations like to increase team size to bring in new ideas, but a study of 549 research groups shows that in teams consisting of people from multiple disciplines, the published output per researcher in 13-person groups was 42% lower, on average, than in five-person groups, says a team led by Jonathon N. Cummings of Duke University. The greater the heterogeneity in disciplines, the less effective it was for groups to increase their size. In interviews, team members in large, heterogeneous groups complained of lack of familiarity and personal chemistry with colleagues and problems in communication, the researchers say. SOURCE: Group Heterogeneity Increases the Risks of Large Group Size : A Longitudinal Study of Productivity in Research Groups

PREVIOUS STATS Do You Work Until You've Earned Enough, or Until You're Just Too Tired to Work More? We've All Probably Eaten Counterfeit Food Why Brazilians Were So Quick to Protest Bus Fares Does Using a Smartphone Make You Less Assertive? Men's Arm Strength Affects Their Political Views Do Adverse Events Give You Greater Resilience?

BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials | HBR's 10 Must Reads Boxed Set | HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations | HBR Guide to Better Business Writing | HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done

FEATURED PRODUCT The First 90 Days App for iPhone and Android MAKE YOUR NEXT CAREER TRANSITION A SUCCESS. Download The First 90 Days App today to help you stay ahead of the game. Download on the App Store » Download on Google Play »

FEATURED PRODUCT HBR's 10 Must Reads Ebook Boxed Set Special Collection (also available in paperback) Now, the most important management ideas are all available in one place - and at a great value. If you read nothing else, read these articles on the essential management topics. We've combed through hundreds of Harvard Business Review articles on change management, leadership, strategy, managing people, and managing yourself and selected the most important ones to help you maximize your own and your organization's performance. The set includes these 6 articles collections (60 articles in all): HBR's 10 Must Reads on Managing Yourself HBR's 10 Must Reads on Leadership HBR's 10 Must Reads on Change Management HBR's 10 Must Reads on Strategy HBR's 10 Must Reads on Managing People HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials Buy It Now

ADVERTISEMENT

HBR.ORG | THE MAGAZINE | BLOGS | BOOKS | CASES | STORE | SUBSCRIBE TO HBR UNSUBSCRIBE | NEWSLETTERS PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT Copyright © 2013 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing 60 Harvard Way Boston, MA 02163 CUSTOMER SERVICE: 800-545-7685 (US/Canada) 1-617-783-7600 (outside the U.S. and Canada)