Two-path model of information sharing in new product development activities

Abstract

To explore the mechanism of information sharing in new product development activities, 180 participants from 60 teams were invited to attend a simulation experiment. The results showed that unique information and common information are indispensable in new product development activities, and both of them have significant impact on team decision-making, but unique information is more significant than common information. At the same time, they were found to function in team decision-making through team cognition. That is, transactive memory systems played a mediating role in the relationship between unique information sharing and team decision-making, and shared mental models played a mediating role in the relationship between common information sharing and team decision-making. The experiment also showed that the relationship between unique information sharing and transactive memory systems was strengthened, while the relationship between common information sharing and shared mental models did not change significantly in the context of team psychological safety. By revealing the mechanism of information sharing, this experiment provided a useful reference for improving the efficiency and quality of team decision-making in new product development activities.