Diverse teams build better forecasts

Joseph Wilck, Paul C. Lynch

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Abstract

Is having a diverse team most useful for hard problems? This paper presents prior literature and results from a classroom activity that explores individuals versus homogeneous groups versus heterogeneous groups for solving complex problems. The forecasts from a classroom activity with 246 undergraduate and graduate students showed that the Random Groups (Heterogeneous Groups) forecasts were statistically better than Homogeneous Groups forecasts and Individual forecasts using the Mann-Whitney test. Combining this classroom exercise with a lecture focused on building diverse teams for forecasting (and other difficult problems), showed a statistically significant difference in pre-lesson perceptions versus post-lesson perceptions of the students using a test of marginal homogeneity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings
Volume2018-June
StatePublished - Jun 23 2018
Event125th ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition - Salt Lake City, United States
Duration: Jun 23 2018Dec 27 2018

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Engineering

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