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Group & Organization Management
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Group Risk Taking

The Constructive Role of Controversy in China

Dean Tjosvold

Lingnan University

Ziyou Yu

Lingnan University

Considerable research has suggested that because of persistent cognitive biases organizations often lack the ability and discipline to take risks effectively. However, group members who discuss their opposing views openly for mutual benefit (constructive controversy) may be able to manage risks effectively. Members of 107 teams working in Chinese organizations indicated their constructive controversy and risk taking; their manager provided ratings of the group's innovation and recovery from mistakes. Results of the structural equation analysis supported the reasoning that constructive controversy can facilitate risk taking that, in turn, promotes innovation and recovery.

Key Words: risk taking • constructive controversy • recovery from mistakes • team innovation

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Group & Organization Management, Vol. 32, No. 6, 653-674 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1059601106287110
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This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
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Citing Articles
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