Navigating the cohesion-diversity trade-off: understanding the role of facilitators in co-creation using agent-based modelling

In the domain of participatory research and co-creation, understanding the dynamic interplay between group cohesion and diversity is pivotal for fostering innovation. While diversity fuels the generation of novel ideas, cohesion ensures these ideas are effectively synthesized and implemented. This study aims to explore the nuanced role that facilitators play in navigating the balance between cohesion and diversity, particularly in groups characterized by pronounced faultlines. Employing agent-based modeling, the study examines how facilitators affect the cohesion-diversity nexus. The findings reveal a complex facilitator's paradox. While facilitative actions can successfully enhance group cohesion by mitigating the negative effect of faultlines, such efforts often inadvertently reduce the within-group diversity that is crucial for sparking innovative outcomes. These findings challenge the conventional view of faultlines as merely divisive and underscore the intricate role of facilitators in modulating group dynamics. This research discusses a novel framework for dynamic facilitation strategies, emphasizing the need for facilitators to skillfully balance cohesion and diversity. This framework not only enriches the theoretical understanding of group facilitation but also offers practical insights for optimizing collaborative innovation in diverse settings. This article is part of the theme issue 'Co-creating the future: participatory cities and digital governance'.