Abstract for: Trust and Group-Decision-Making Behavior: a System Dynamics Perspective

This paper explores the role of trust in affecting group decision-making. To this aim, four simulation-assisted games based on the use of a System Dynamics simulator were organized and are subsequently here discussed. The theoretical lenses through which the simulations are analysed pertain to the Behavioural System Dynamics (BehSD) stream of research. The results of the simulations and the feedback obtained by the participants demonstrate that trust may play a pivotal role in affecting group decision-making, even in contexts where the outcomes of decisions are understandable and shared Additionally, the study shows how trust, as a behavioral factor, can be observed, analysed, and understood at different stages, i.e., in the model, with the model, and beyond the model, thereby stimulating the participants to question their beliefs and mental models and, ultimately, favouring learning. Overall, this study expands the analysis of the behavioural factors that previous System Dynamics literature considered (e.g., misperception of feedbacks, flawed mental models, bounded rationality) to focus more on a factor that is the result of social interaction, i.e., trust. This study also contributes to the debate about the potential of BehSD when used in class to favor discussion and learning.