@inproceedings{Roetzel2015, author = {R{\"o}tzel, Peter}, title = {The Influence of Information Load and Creativity on Escalation of Commitment}, series = {Proceedings of the 23rd European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS)}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 23rd European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS)}, number = {149}, year = {2015}, abstract = {This experimental study analyzes how two key factors, information load and creativity, influence decision making in escalation situations in which decision makers reinvest further resources in a losing course of action even when information indicates that the IT project is performing poorly and should be discontinued. Whereas previous studies focus on the complexity of information, this study investigates how different quantities of information influence escalation of commitment and how information load interacts with a decision maker's interpretation of negative feedback regarding earlier decisions. In situations in which escalation of commitment can occur, infor-mation load is relevant for decision making for two reasons. First, in escalation situations in which decision makers face negative feedback, information load exacerbates the tendency to escalate commitment. Second, when an escalation tendency is absent, information load can lead to a decision to continue a losing course of action, which can be mistaken for escalation of commitment. Furthermore, decision makers with a higher level of creativity tend to invest more than decision makers with a lower level of creativity. Surprisingly, creative decision makers do not change their behavior when facing negative consequences while less creative decision mak-ers show an escalation of commitment tendency.}, subject = {Informationsverhalten}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{PedellRoetzelSeethamraju2017, author = {Pedell, Burkhard and R{\"o}tzel, Peter and Seethamraju, Ravi}, title = {Information load, escalation of commitment and culture - an experimental study}, series = {Proceedings of the 23rd Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS)}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 23rd Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS)}, number = {6}, year = {2017}, abstract = {This study analyzes how information influences decision making in escalation of situations. In those situations decision makers follow a losing course of action and invest further resources even when accounting information indicates that the project is performing poorly and should be discontinued. We conducted two experiments with Chinese participants and used a replication of Staw's (1976) often cited case. Our study investigates how different levels of information load influence escalation of commitment of Chinese participants. Contrary to the prior findings in Germany, we find that Chinese decision makers do not escalate when facing different levels of information load. These results, in light of prior studies that find a comparatively strong escalation tendency of Chinese decision makers, are explained along with the limitations and further research. Abstract This study analyzes how information influences decision making in escalation of situations. In those situations decision makers follow a losing course of action and invest further resources even when accounting information indicates that the project is performing poorly and should be discontinued. We conducted two experiments with Chinese participants and used a replication of Staw's (1976) often cited case. Our study investigates how different levels of information load influence escalation of commitment of Chinese participants. Contrary to the prior findings in Germany, we find that Chinese decision makers do not escalate when facing different levels of information load. These results, in light of prior studies that find a comparatively strong escalation tendency of Chinese decision makers, are explained along with limitations and further research.}, subject = {Informationsverhalten}, language = {en} }