Shared Cognition in Organizations The Management of Knowledge

Written for those interested in the topic of "shared knowledge" in organizations, this edited volume brings together a variety of themes and perspectives that emerge when multidisciplinary scholars examine this important subject. The papers were presented at a conference designed to bring together behavioral scientists who were interested in the creation, conversation, distribution, and protection of knowledge in organizations. The editors bring together a distinguished group of social psychologists who have made important contributions to social cognition and group processes. They cast a wide net in terms of the topics covered and challenged the authors to think about how their research applies to the management or mismanagement of knowledge in organizations. The volume is divided into three sections: knowledge systems, emotional-motivational systems, and communication and behavioral systems. A final conclusion chapter discusses and integrates the various contributions.

Contents: A.P. Brief, J.P. Walsh, Series Editors' Foreword. Preface. Introduction. Part I:Knowledge Systems. R.L. Moreland, Transactive Memory: Learning Who Knows What in Work Groups and Organizations. E.T. Higgins, "Saying Is Believing" Effects: When Sharing Reality About Something Biases Knowledge and Evaluations. G. Stasser, The Uncertain Role of Unshared Information in Collective Choices. D.M. Messick, Dirty Secrets: Strategic Uses of Ignorance and Uncertainty. Part II:Emotional and Motivational Systems. J.T. Jost, A.W. Kruglanski, L. Simon, Effects of Epistemic Motivation on Conservatism, Intolerance, and Other System-Justifying Attitudes. P.E. Tetlock, Accountability Theory: Mixing Properties of Human Agents With Properties of Social Systems. L.L. Thompson, J. Nadler, P.H. Kim, Some Like It Hot: The Case for the Emotional Negotiator. R.M. Kramer, Social Uncertainty and Collective Paranoia in Knowledge Communities: Thinking and Acting in the Shadow of Doubt. Part III:Communication and Behavioral Systems. R.B. Cialdini, R.J. Bator, R.E. Guadagno, Normative Influences in Organizations. R.S. Burt, Entrepreneurs, Distrust, and Third Parties: A Strategic Look at the Dark Side of Dense Networks. D.H. Gruenfeld, E.T. Fan, What Newcomers See and What Oldtimers Say: Discontinuities in Knowledge Exchange. J.M. Levine, R.L. Moreland, Knowledge Transmission in Work Groups: Helping Newcomers Succeed. F. Olivera, L. Argote, Organizational Learning and New Product Development: CORE Processes. T.L. Boles, Themes and Variations in Shared Cognition in Organizations.

David M. Messick, John M. Levine, Leigh L. Thompson