Bridging Team Faultlines by Combining Task Role Assignment and Goal Structure Strategies

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Rico, Ramon; Sanchez-Manzanares, Miriam; Antino, Mirko; Lau, Dora
• 署名单位: Autonomous University of Madrid; Universidad Carlos III de Madrid; Complutense University of Madrid; Chinese University of Hong Kong
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0021-9010
• DOI: 10.1037/a0025231
• 发表日期: 2012
• 页码: 407-420
• 关键词: faultlines management; roles; goals; INFORMATION ELABORATION; TEAM PERFORMANCE

摘要

This study tests whether the detrimental effects of strong diversity faultlines on team performance can be counteracted by combining 2 managerial strategies: task role crosscutting and superordinate goals. We conducted a 2 (crosscut vs. aligned roles) X 2 (superordinate vs. subgroup goals) experimental study. Seventy-two 4-person teams with faultlines stemming from gender and educational major performed a complex decision-making task. The results show that teams with crosscut roles perform better when they are assigned a superordinate goal than a subgroup goal, whereas teams with aligned roles are not affected by goal manipulations. This effect is mediated by elaboration of task-relevant information. Implications for theory and management of team faultlines are discussed.