PAP0186 - The impact of diversity and team culture on the effectiveness of workgroups
The central aim of the present research is to contribute for the clarification of the conditions under which teams can be successful analysing the direct and interactive effects of diversity and of the team cultural orientation towards learning on team outcomes (team performance, team member satisfaction, team member quality of life).
Research developed on the way group composition affects group performance, cohesion, group members’ commitment, satisfaction and other indicators of effectiveness, is abundant but not conclusive. In fact, whereas some studies pointed to the existence of a significant effect of diversity on team results (Bantel & Jackson, 1989, Webber & Donahue, 2001) others found no significant, or even negative, relationships (Bowers, Pharmer, & Salas, 2000). Some scholars have been arguing the need to consider specific contextual variables when modelling the relationship between diversity and performance (Bowers et al., 2000; Williams & O’Reilly, 1998).
In the present study the moderator role of a contextual variable that is significantly related to the way the group deals with knowledge and learning is considered: the team cultural orientation towards learning
A learning culture can be defined as an orientation toward the promotion, facilitation, sharing and dissemination of individual learning (Rebelo, 2006). Openness, experimentation, error acceptance are some of the characteristics that are present in a team with this type of culture. We argue that teams with a culture oriented toward learning are more able than teams less oriented toward learning to process different kinds of information, ideas and knowledge that emerge as a result of the presence of different kinds of people. Thus, it is in a context of high team learning culture that diversity can promote effectiveness.
To test our hypotheses a non-experimental research was conducted. Seventy-three workgroups from different industrial and services companies, that perform complex and non-routine tasks, were surveyed. Multiple regression analyses were conducted and results revealed that the team orientation towards learning improves team member satisfaction and team member quality of life. Diversity presented, as well, a positive impact on team member satisfaction and on team member quality of life, but the effect was just marginally significant. However no interactive effects were identified. This study highlights that the orientation of teams towards the promotion, facilitation, sharing and dissemination of learning constitutes a competitive advantage.