Although organization theorists have argued that we learn more from our failures than from our successes, less is known about why some learn more from failure than others. The analysis of eight case studies on R&D projects showed that a delayed termination decision has contrasting effects. On the one hand, it enables cognitive preparation, which facilitates team members’ learning. On the other hand, the delay is perceived as a form of ‘creeping death’ that generates negative emotions. Moreover, evidence of both, an anti-failure bias as well as a non-participative decision-making and learning process existed that both accelerate project termination but obstruct team members’ learning. A new model based on the four main insights from the analysis describes and explains the phenomena introduced above.
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Although organization theorists have argued that we learn more from our failures than from our successes, less is known about why some learn more from failure than others. The analysis of eight case studies on R&D; projects showed that a delayed termination decision has contrasting effects. On the one hand, it enables cognitive preparation, which facilitates team members’ learning. On the other hand, the delay is perceived as a form of ‘creeping death’ that generates negative emotions. Moreover, e...
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