Sobrecarga cognitiva e tomada de decisão em grupo em situações extraordinárias de risco

Abstract

Human cognition is limited, and each individual experiences different levels of information overload. Such overload occurs when the volume of information exceeds the theoretically optimal timing for cognitive processing and decision making. As more information is collected, the more cognitive overload. This study aimed to investigate whether abrupt changes from face-to-face work to telework increase the cognitive overload of managers and hinder risky collegiate decision-making in times of crisis. A qualitative case study was carried out through observation, document analysis, interviews, and vignettes. The research participants were decision-makers of a collegiate body in a Brazilian federal university as they were involved in the context of a sudden change from face-to-face work to telework motivated by the Covid-19 pandemics. Data analysis was carried out based on the content analysis technique with the support of the software tool Atlas.ti. Regarding the results, there is evidence of cognitive overload in the decision-makers of the mentioned council, which increased from the sudden transition from face-to-face work to telework, thus making risky decision-making during the Covid-19 pandemics more cognitively exhaustive. Although decision-makers seem to have not noticed, they showed signs of cognitive overload in the decision-making processes during the crisis, revealed mainly from negative feelings and emotions. The results confirm Kirsh’s (2000) study, which posits that information overload, multitasking, interruptions, distractions, and inadequate infrastructure of the work environment cause cognitive overload. This thesis also contributes to a better performance of decision making in collegiate groups risk decisions through presenting possible aspects that can cause cognitive overload. For theory, this work also contributes to discussions on risky collegiate decision-making and the relationships between cognitive overload and telework.