The Impact of Risk Perception Difference of Members of a Scientific Research Project Team on Information Adoption: The Moderating Effect of Knowledge Inertia

Abstract

A scientific research project is always full of uncertainties and risks. In this condition, full exchange and complementarity of information resources among project team members are necessary and important to meet the information needs for project risk management and even affect the success of the project. The differentiated risk perception of members with various professional backgrounds can contribute to the communication and complementary of the necessary information within the team. However, too much difference in perceptions of project risks may cause members’ information conflicts, which may hinder the adoption of various information and do harm to the risk management. Considering the limited research on this “contradictory” relationship, especially for the scientific research project team, a special group, this study explores the impact of the risk perception differences of the scientific research project team members on information adoption behavior through the large sample empirical statistical method. The results show the hat risk perception difference of members positively affects the learning willingness and information adoption behavior but does not show a negative effect, and there is no inverted U-shaped relationship. Further, learning willingness plays a mediating role between both, while learning inertia and experience inertia positively and negatively moderate the positive effects of risk perception differences on learning willingness, respectively. From the cognitive perspective, this study further reveals the internal influence mechanism of risk perception difference of scientific research project team members on information behavior and provides a theoretical reference for improving the efficiency of information communication and optimizing collaborative team management.

Business model innovation decisions: the role of group biases and risk willingness

“…(2022) further discovered that differences in risk perception among team members can positively influence information adoption with learning willingness playing a mediating role. While Song et al. (2022) emphasized the positive impact of diverse risk perceptions on information adoption within teams, our findings extend this by demonstrating that individual risk aversion in decision-makers leads to a more thorough and quality-focused information gathering process, crucial for effective BMI.…”

“…This is consistent with the findings of Acedo and Florin (2007) who found evidence that risk perception in the context of strategic opportunities is influenced by an individual’s prior experience related to the opportunity, their cognitive style of information acquisition and analysis and their tolerance for ambiguous situations. Song et al. (2022) further discovered that differences in risk perception among team members can positively influence information adoption with learning willingness playing a mediating role.…”

“…This is consistent with the findings of Acedo and Florin (2007) who found evidence that risk perception in the context of strategic opportunities is influenced by an individual's prior experience related to the opportunity, their cognitive style of information acquisition and analysis and their tolerance for ambiguous situations. Song et al (2022) further discovered that differences in risk perception among team members can positively influence information adoption with learning willingness playing a mediating role. While Song et al (2022) emphasized the positive impact of diverse risk perceptions on information adoption within teams, our findings extend this by demonstrating that individual risk aversion in decision-makers leads to a more thorough and quality-focused information gathering process, crucial for effective BMI.…”

“…Song et al (2022) further discovered that differences in risk perception among team members can positively influence information adoption with learning willingness playing a mediating role. While Song et al (2022) emphasized the positive impact of diverse risk perceptions on information adoption within teams, our findings extend this by demonstrating that individual risk aversion in decision-makers leads to a more thorough and quality-focused information gathering process, crucial for effective BMI. The desire for information by risk-averse managers observed in this study also confirms Kogan and Wallach's (1964) view that risk-averse decision-makers consider a broader range of information (conjunctive decision behavior) than those with a higher risk willingness who consider only a narrow range of criteria (disjunctive decision behavior).…”

Exploring public acceptability of direct air carbon capture with storage: climate urgency, moral hazards and perceptions of the ‘whole versus the parts’

“…people remain relatively open to learning and rethinking technological options as they emerge (Satter eld et al, 2009). In other cases, opinions solidify early and remain closed despite new or updated information (Song et al, 2022). Additional provision of information on technologies-whether regarding risks or bene ts-can also decrease acceptance (Braun et al, 2018).…”