Cognitive Consensus

Kirkman et al. (2001) differentiated between team measures aggregated by individual team members and measures based on team member consensus. Measures based on team member consensus involved team members meeting to determine a team response to test items. The input from Kirkman et al.’s (2001) study was the gain of consensus scores over aggregated scores.

• Aggregated: from individual level of analysis
• Consensus: at team level of analysis

Collins and Smith (2006) looked at consensus from the viewpoint of social climate — the collective (consensus) shared norms, values, and beliefs about employee interactions.

• Social Climate
  • Shared norms
  • Values
  • Beliefs

This consensus measure, knowledge exchange/combination, was measured by a questionnaire designed to evaluate the degree to which employees felt they were able to exchange and combine information.