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When too little or too much hurts: Evidence for a curvilinear relationship between team faultlines and performance

Author

Listed:
  • Shuai Chen

    (Zhejiang University of Finance & Economics)

  • Duanxu Wang

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Yun Zhou

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Ziguang Chen

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Daoyou Wu

    (Zhejiang University of Finance & Economics)

Abstract

Faultlines are inherent to many workgroups, but the literature has not fully explained what faultlines mean for team functioning. In this study, we investigate the curvilinear relationship between faultlines and team performance from a cross-categorization perspective. Analyses of multisource data obtained from 61 workgroups located in China support an inverted U-shaped relationship between faultlines and team performance. Additionally, we find that this curvilinear relationship is moderated by a team’s climate of psychological safety such that the curvilinear relationship is more pronounced among teams with a weaker psychological safety climate. The findings contribute to elaborating the nature of and advancing a contingency view of the relationship between faultlines and team performance. Theoretical implications are discussed along with possible limitations and directions for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Shuai Chen & Duanxu Wang & Yun Zhou & Ziguang Chen & Daoyou Wu, 2017. "When too little or too much hurts: Evidence for a curvilinear relationship between team faultlines and performance," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 34(4), pages 931-950, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:asiapa:v:34:y:2017:i:4:d:10.1007_s10490-017-9510-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10490-017-9510-7
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    Cited by:

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    2. Alyson Meister & Sherry M.B. Thatcher & Jieun Park & Mark Maltarich, 2020. "Toward A Temporal Theory of Faultlines and Subgroup Entrenchment," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(8), pages 1473-1501, December.
    3. Ahsan Ali & Hongwei Wang & Janet A. Boekhorst, 2023. "A moderated mediation examination of shared leadership and team creativity: a social information processing perspective," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 40(1), pages 295-327, March.
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    5. Ma, Hongjia & Xiao, Bin & Guo, Hai & Tang, Sisi & Singh, Deeksha, 2022. "Modeling entrepreneurial team faultlines: Collectivism, knowledge hiding, and team stability," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 726-736.
    6. Joyce Rupert & Astrid C. Homan & Karen A. Jehn & Robert Jan Blomme, 2019. "Diversity Composition and Team Learning: The Moderating Role of Error Culture," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 28(4), pages 695-722, August.

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