Abstract
This research examines the effects of the alignment/misalignment of
decision power with member expertise. In Study 1, 324 participants
worked in face-to-face groups. We manipulated whether group members were
provided with veridical performance feedback and whether decision power
was assigned to the best/worst performing member. We found it was the
combination of providing performance feedback and assigning power to the
worst member that led to negative outcomes, not merely that the worst
performer had decision power or that feedback was provided. In Study 2
and Study 3, participants reacted to vignettes that differed with
respect to whether performance feedback was provided to team members and
to which member decision power was assigned. We found that only
assessments of fairness and expectations of success varied as a
consequence of the assignment of decision power based on member
expertise.