Coordination and balanced communication enhance collective problem-solving in organic teams

Collective intelligence–-the ability of groups to solve diverse problems-–has been explored using laboratory experiments, computer simulations, and questionnaires. These instruments, however, suffer from limitations, such as external validity in the case of laboratory experiments and self-reporting bias in the case of questionnaires. Here we investigate the exploration-exploitation dynamics of small teams using high-frequency, observational data from escape rooms: a non-interventional yet controlled environment where naturally occurring teams solve connected sequences of exploration and exploitation tasks. We find that more effective teams tend to coordinate throughout problem-solving, exhibit balanced communication patterns, and maintain a dynamic alternation between exploration and exploitation tasks. In contrast, members of less effective teams often work in isolation, participate in problem-solving unequally, and lacking the capacity to exploit information efficiently. Moreover, we show that the effect of collaborative behavior depends on the task: exploitation benefits from team-wide communication and dominance of key members, while exploration requires balanced participation. Additionally, positive exchanges accelerate the compilation of exploitation tasks while negative communication decelerates them. These findings expand the external validity of experimental work on collective intelligence to an organic non-interventional setting and highlight the importance of understanding team performance through behavior instead of team demographics.