Social Hierarchy: Barrier or Opportunity for Team Learning?

• In Event: Hilton Roundtable 2
  In Roundtable Session: It Takes a Village: Issues in Team-Based Learning, Assessment, and Practice in the Professions

Abstract

In many professional settings – whether in aviation, surgery, military, or auditing – teams rely on sharing knowledge and forming judgments. However, clearly specified hierarchical ranks with different knowledge, tasks, and responsibilities may impede sharing knowledge. Extant research has found that information sharing is essential for team learning, but that hierarchy can limit learning especially at lower ranks. To date, little is known about how team learning can be facilitated in hierarchical team settings, and through interviews with professionals in hierarchical teams, we explore two questions: (1) How do professionals perceive the relationship between hierarchy and team learning? (2) Under which conditions is social hierarchy perceived to be a barrier or an opportunity for team learning?

Authors

• Therese Grohnert, Maastricht University

• Pleunie C. Simons, Maastricht University

• Roger Meuwissen, Maastricht University

• Wim H. Gijselaers, Maastricht University