We use a minimalistic mathematical model with a limited number of parameters to evaluate the impact of interindividual differences in the collective decision-making of a group. As it turns out, in most cases, heterogeneous groups are more efficient in their decision-making than homogenous ones, especially when considering small group sizes. In reality, being different disfavours the emergence of an hysteresis and a collective threshold which are characteristics of such cooperative species while keeping inter-attractions the same between individuals. Finally, when the cooperativity becomes very large, we observe an explosion of accessible stable states.
Keywords: Collective decision-making; Cooperative processes; Hysteretic behaviour; Interindividual variability.
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