Neue Publikation im Journal of Organizational Behavior

Der Artikel "Rewarded to Reject? Exploring Motivational Roots of Idea Rejection in Teams" wurde zur Veröffentlichung im Journal of Organizational Behavior angenommen.

Autoren: Matthias Sinnemann (U. Münster), Matthias Weiss (ZU), Julia Backmann (U.Münster)

Abstract:  Teams hold the potential for creative synergy, yet diverse perspectives may also lead to the premature rejection of unconventional ideas. Because such early rejection can prevent teams from realizing their creative potential, understanding what motivational processes drive idea rejection during idea generation is critical. Drawing on the Motivated Information Processing in Groups model (MIP-G), we identify the reward structure offered to teams as an antecedent of idea rejection and examine how individual, team, and mixed rewards affect idea rejection and, ultimately, team creativity. We propose that individual rewards foster proself motivation, increasing team idea rejection; team rewards activate prosocial motivation, reducing it; and mixed rewards balance both motives. In an experimental study with 80 teams comprising 290 participants, we find that individual rewards significantly increase team idea rejection. Contrary to our expectations, team rewards also lead to elevated rejection, whereas mixed rewards reduce rejection compared to individual and team rewards. Exploratory post hoc analyses indicate that team idea rejection varies as a function of teams’ level of information elaboration, suggesting that rejection behavior depends on how thoroughly teams process task relevant information. Moreover, rewards are associated with differences in the novelty of rejected ideas, and novel ideas tend to be rejected in later stages of the idea generation process. In contrast, we find no evidence that the manner of rejection, whether collaborative or competitive, systematically influences team creativity. These findings show that integrating proself and prosocial motives through mixed rewards may support creative collaboration in teams more effectively than emphasizing either motive alone.