Center for Behavioral Decision Research

CBDR : Seminar Series : Seminar by Anita Woolley

Why is it more fun to be the bad guys? Information use and performance strategies in teams playing offense versus defense

	presented by Anita Woolley (Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper))


	Thursday, November 6	link to paper
	12pm
	Porter 223D	link to Speaker's Site

	Abstract:

	Organizations increasingly make use of teams for understanding and addressing critical strategic issues. Some teams need to play “offense,” that is, pursue options in the environment against competitors, while others play “defense,” or try to prevent damage or losses. In this study, counterterrorism teams were observed as they participated in week-long analytic exercises in which half played terrorists (“offense”) and the other half enacted the government response (“defense”). Each strategic position created a unique self-reinforcing cycle within the teams. Teams playing offense were characterized by an outcome focus, an emphasis on the knowledge and skills of members, and norms favoring high member effort, while teams playing defense were characterized by a process focus, an emphasis on external information, and norms allowing lower levels of effort. In the end, teams playing offense considered a narrower range of options, made better use of the special skills of members, and were more confident of their selected courses of action, while teams playing defense considered a broader range of options and expressed significantly more frustration. The observations suggest broader theoretical implications for research on teams, as the “offense” and “defense” strategic positions appear to influence fundamental team processes related to effort, performance strategy, and use of member knowledge and skill.

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