Abstract:
In practice, there are many examples when the diversity in a group enhances the group's ability to solve problems - and thus, leads to more efficient groups, firms, schoo...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
In practice, there are many examples when the diversity in a group enhances the group's ability to solve problems - and thus, leads to more efficient groups, firms, schools, etc. Several papers, starting with the pioneering research by Scott E. Page from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, provide a theoretical justification for this known empirical phenomenon. However, when the general advise of increasing diversity is transformed into simple-to-follow algorithmic rules (like quotas), the result is not always successful. In this paper, we prove that the problem of designing the most efficient group is computationally difficult (NP-hard). Thus, in general, it is not possible to come up with simple algorithmic rules for designing such groups: to design optimal groups, we need to combine standard optimization techniques with intelligent techniques that use expert knowledge.
Date of Conference: 30 March 2009 - 02 April 2009
Date Added to IEEE Xplore: 15 May 2009
Print ISBN:978-1-4244-2758-1