Do managers “feel” the group? Managers’ autonomic responses during a creative task

Abstract

This study aimed at assessing the psychophysiological correlates of managers, compared to a group of non-managers, during a creative problem-solving dynamic through the use of a psychophysiological method exploiting autonomic measures data collection. Individuals performed a realistic complex problem-solving task (RCPT), a modified version of the NASA Moon survival problem exercise, in two distinct conditions: individually or in groups of three participants. Two main patterns of findings were observed, specifically, for the managers’ group: first, electrodermal activity and cardiac variability indices increased during the group compared to individual condition; second, cardiovascular indices decreased in the above-mentioned condition. No statistically significant results were observed for the non-managers group. Results suggest that managers could be able to “feel”, even at a deeper and psycho-physiological level, which social condition (in this case, the group one) is more suitable for solving a complex problem in a creative way.