Group Decision Making Under Threat: The Tycoon Game

Abstract

The relationship between external threat and group decision-making processes was tested with 24 groups involved in a management simulation called Tycoon.¹ Results indicate a restriction in information processing and increased stress when threat is increased, although there was no change in the centralization of influence within the groups. The findings show partial support for the threat-rigidity hypothesis and provide evidence for the usefulness of management simulations as a research methodology.