Beyond individual competences towards Collective Intelligence: a systematic literature review

A new research stream on Collective Intelligence (CI), defined as a “group’s general ability to perform consistently well across a wide variety of tasks” began in 2010. Subsequent empirical research presents a mixed picture and the term has been entrusted with many synonyms. Overall, CI appears to be a phenomenon that is inherently complex and difficult to define. While the term is widely used across various disciplines, ranging from organizational studies to artificial intelligence, there remain a lack of consensus on its precise definition. The aim of this article is to clarify the concept of the CI and offering a new definition that highlights all the components of the CI through a systematic literature review (SLR). From SLR of 400 papers concerning the objectives of the study, the key areas of focus, theoretical models, and research gaps are identified. Future research avenues are suggested.