Mind the Gap: Addressing Unconscious Bias in Multidisciplinary Team Ideation

While corporate innovation serves as a pivotal competitive advantage for firms, the subtle influence of cognitive biases on the creative process cannot be underestimated. This study aims to explore the extent to which unconscious bias limits ideation within multidisciplinary teams. Ethnographic research and survey findings reveal that unconscious bias does influence ideation by curbing creativity, constraining the exploration of novel concepts, and nurturing criticism of ideas that differ from one’s own perspective. Despite the unavoidable presence of unconscious bias, multidisciplinary teams can take proactive measures to recognise, acknowledge, and address it through open communication and managerial coaching.