Team Size, Dispersion, and Social Loafing in Technology-Supported Teams: A Perspective on the Theory of Moral Disengagement

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Alnuaimi, Omar A.; Robert, Lionel P., Jr.; Maruping, Likoebe M.
• 署名单位: United Arab Emirates University; University of Arkansas System; University of Arkansas Fayetteville; University of Louisville
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0742-1222
• DOI: 10.2753/MIS0742-1222270109
• 发表日期: 2010
• 页码: 203-230
• 关键词: DECISION-MAKING; management; demography; RESPONSIBILITY; CONSEQUENCES; individuals; attribution; performance; integration; mechanisms

摘要

Social loafing is the tendency of individuals to withhold contributions to a task in a team setting. Team size and dispersion are two primary drivers of social loafing in technology-supported team settings. However, the mechanisms through which these drivers affect social loafing are not well understood. Consequently, the objective of this study is to identify the cognitive mechanisms that mediate the effect of team size and dispersion on social loafing in technology-supported teams. Drawing on the theory of moral disengagement, we posit that three primary cognitive mechanisms-diffusion of responsibility, attribution of blame, and dehumanization-will mediate the effect of team size and dispersion on social loafing. We conducted a laboratory study involving 140 students randomly assigned to 32 teams performing a brainstorming task using group systems software. The results show that diffusion of responsibility, attribution of blame, and dehumanization all mediate (partially) the effects of team size on social loafing. Meanwhile, only dehumanization mediates (fully) the effect of dispersion on social loafing.