Title
Fluid Tasks and Fluid Teams: The Impact of Diversity in Experience and Team Familiarity on Team Performance
Abstract
In this paper, we consider how the structures of tasks and teams interact to affect team performance. We study the effects of diversity in experience on a team's ability to respond to task changes by separately examining interpersonal team diversity (i.e., differences in experience across the entire team) and intrapersonal team diversity (i.e., whether individuals on the team are more or less specialized). We also examine whether team familiarity---team members' prior experience working with one another---helps teams to better manage challenges created by task changes and greater interpersonal team diversity. Using detailed project-and individual-level data from an Indian software services firm, we find that the interaction of task change with intrapersonal diversity is related to improved project performance, whereas the interaction of task change with interpersonal diversity is related to diminished performance. Additionally, the interaction of team familiarity with interpersonal diversity is related to improved project performance in some cases. Our results highlight a need for more nuanced approaches to leveraging experience in team management.
Year
DOI
Venue
2011
10.1287/msom.1100.0321
Manufacturing & Service Operations Management
Keywords
Field
DocType
interpersonal team diversity,fluid teams,intrapersonal team diversity,team management,team member,fluid tasks,task change,entire team,team performance,team familiarity,interpersonal diversity,greater interpersonal team diversity,improved project performance,projects,change,performance,management
Team effectiveness,Intrapersonal communication,Economics,Interpersonal communication,Psychological safety,Team management,Team composition,Knowledge management,Team diversity
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
13
3
1523-4614
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
27
0.87
20
Authors
2
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Robert S. Huckman114310.38
Bradley R. Staats21038.00