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PERSPECTIVE---Collective Intelligence in the Organization of Science

Author

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  • Anita Williams Woolley

    (Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213)

  • Erica Fuchs

    (Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213)

Abstract

Whereas some suggest that consensus is the desirable end goal in fields of science, this paper suggests that the existing literature on collective intelligence offers key alternative insights into the evolution of knowledge in scientific communities. Drawing on the papers in this special issue, we find that the papers fall across a spectrum of convergent, divergent, and reflective activities. In addition, we find there to be a set of ongoing theoretical tensions common across the papers. We suggest that this diversity of activities and ongoing theoretical tensions---both signs of collective intelligence---may be a far more appropriate measure than consensus of the health of a scientific community.

Suggested Citation

  • Anita Williams Woolley & Erica Fuchs, 2011. "PERSPECTIVE---Collective Intelligence in the Organization of Science," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(5), pages 1359-1367, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:22:y:2011:i:5:p:1359-1367
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.1110.0648
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