Optimization of information sharing in entrepreneurial heterogeneous teams

Sammanfattning: Research has shown that the heterogeneity of entrepreneurial teams, in terms of educational background, has a positive impact on venture performance as a result of the access to diverse skill sets and perspectives. However, the heterogeneity of the team can also lead to communication inefficiencies due to the diverse viewpoints and cognitive differences. Forewarning methods, understood as the preparation in advance of the meeting or discussion, are one way of enhancing information sharing within entrepreneurial teams. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore whether a specific forewarning method, such as a meeting agenda, might impact on the ‘Hidden Profile Paradigma’ and on information sharing factors, such as exchange, elaboration, and integration. The research implemented a mixed methods approach based on a simulation experiment and individual interviews where six heterogeneous entrepreneurial teams participated. This study has found that the active use of a meeting agenda has a positive impact on information exchange and elaboration as the agenda provides a structure where the teams spend more time discussing each topic to a higher extent. In addition, the agenda helps participants to remember more information which they did not possess before.