IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wsi/ijimxx/v20y2016i01ns1363919616500122.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Multi-Cultural Teams As Sources For Creativity And Innovation: The Role Of Cultural Diversity On Team Performance

Author

Listed:
  • RICARDA BOUNCKEN

    (Chair of Strategic Management and Organization, University of Bayreuth, Prieser Str. 2, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany)

  • ALEXANDER BREM

    (Mads Clausen Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Alsion 2, 6400 Sønderborg, Denmark)

  • SASCHA KRAUS

    (Institute of Entrepreneurship, Fürst-Franz-Josef-Strasse, 9490 Vaduz, Liechtenstein)

Abstract

Multi-cultural teams are seen as a wellspring of creativity and innovativeness. Yet, we still miss an in-depth study of their potential and challenges during the innovation process in firms. This is a serious omission as many international firms are in need of improving their global innovation position by the inclusion of insights from team members of different nationalities with knowledge about markets and culture. To derive first insights, we conducted a longitudinal qualitative study in a large global company with 70 personal interviews in five innovation teams over a period of two years. These data, based on semi-structured interviews, provide us with rich information about effects of cultural diversity in teams in the innovation process. Data were analysed through a thematic network analysis and two coders inductively forming categories. Results indicate that cross-cultural teams have a high potential of creativity, but are confronted with difficulties arising from different working- and communication styles which have to be proactively managed from the beginning. While progressing, teams learn to cope with this diversity related to some more surface-level cultural dimensions and members even align. Yet, diversity of power distance induces conflicts that deeply impact the innovation process. Based on these findings, we develop a set of propositions, which lead into a conceptual model on the effects of multi-cultural team work on creativity and innovation. Finally, we discuss further implications for research and practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Ricarda Bouncken & Alexander Brem & Sascha Kraus, 2016. "Multi-Cultural Teams As Sources For Creativity And Innovation: The Role Of Cultural Diversity On Team Performance," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 20(01), pages 1-34, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:ijimxx:v:20:y:2016:i:01:n:s1363919616500122
    DOI: 10.1142/S1363919616500122
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S1363919616500122
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1142/S1363919616500122?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kristina Dahlin & L. Weingart & P. Hinds, 2005. "Team diversity and information use," Post-Print hal-00480406, HAL.
    2. Cooper, Robert G., 1990. "Stage-gate systems: A new tool for managing new products," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 44-54.
    3. Bradley L Kirkman & Kevin B Lowe & Cristina B Gibson, 2006. "A quarter century of Culture's Consequences: a review of empirical research incorporating Hofstede's cultural values framework," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 37(3), pages 285-320, May.
    4. Martin Hoegl & Hans Georg Gemuenden, 2001. "Teamwork Quality and the Success of Innovative Projects: A Theoretical Concept and Empirical Evidence," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 12(4), pages 435-449, August.
    5. Shane, Scott A., 1992. "Why do some societies invent more than others?," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 7(1), pages 29-46, January.
    6. Michael H Morris & Duane L Davis & Jeffrey W Allen, 1994. "Fostering Corporate Entrepreneurship: Cross-Cultural Comparisons of the Importance of Individualism Versus Collectivism," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 25(1), pages 65-89, March.
    7. Bouncken, Ricarda B. & Kraus, Sascha, 2013. "Innovation in knowledge-intensive industries: The double-edged sword of coopetition," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(10), pages 2060-2070.
    8. Shane, Scott, 1993. "Cultural influences on national rates of innovation," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 8(1), pages 59-73, January.
    9. Martin Hoegl & Katharina Weinkauf & Hans Georg Gemuenden, 2004. "Interteam Coordination, Project Commitment, and Teamwork in Multiteam R&D Projects: A Longitudinal Study," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 15(1), pages 38-55, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Parjanen, Satu & Hyypiä, Mirva, 2019. "Innotin game supporting collective creativity in innovation activities," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 26-34.
    2. Dirrler Phyllis & Podruzsik Szilard, 2023. "Conflict Costs in National and International Business: A Comparative Analysis," Foundations of Management, Sciendo, vol. 15(1), pages 209-224, January.
    3. Gantert, Till M. & Fredrich, Viktor & Bouncken, Ricarda B. & Kraus, Sascha, 2022. "The moral foundations of makerspaces as unconventional sources of innovation: A study of narratives and performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1564-1574.
    4. Ricarda B. Bouncken & Sascha Kraus & Juan F. Martínez-Pérez, 2020. "Entrepreneurship of an institutional field: the emergence of coworking spaces for digital business models," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 1465-1481, December.
    5. Randel, Amy E. & Alexandra, Valerie, 2024. "From cultural intelligence to workgroup inclusion through synchrony preference and perceived workgroup similarity," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 59(1).
    6. Maria A. Bultseva & Nadezhda M. Lebedeva, 2019. "The Relationship Between Intercultural Interactions At University And The Creativity Of Russian Students: The Role Of Intercultural Competence," HSE Working papers WP BRP 108/PSY/2019, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    7. Sascha Kraus & Alexander Brem & Miriam Schuessler & Felix Schuessler & Thomas Niemand, 2019. "Innovative Born Globals: Investigating the Influence of Their Business Models on International Performance," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Alexander Brem & Joe Tidd & Tugrul Daim (ed.), Managing Innovation Internationalization of Innovation, chapter 11, pages 275-328, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    8. Yaya Sun & Tao Wang & Xin Gu, 2019. "A Sustainable Development Perspective on Cooperative Culture, Knowledge Flow, and Innovation Network Governance Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-17, November.
    9. Covin, Jeffrey G. & Rigtering, J.P. Coen & Hughes, Mathew & Kraus, Sascha & Cheng, Cheng-Feng & Bouncken, Ricarda B., 2020. "Individual and team entrepreneurial orientation: Scale development and configurations for success," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1-12.
    10. Marco Nunes & Jelena Bagnjuk & António Abreu & Edgar Cardoso & Joane Smith & Célia Saraiva, 2023. "Managing Collaborative Risks of Integrated Open-Innovation and Hybrid Stage-Gate Model by Applying Social Network Analysis—A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-33, March.
    11. Lulu Zhou & Haiyan Huang & Xiaolin Chen & Feng Tian, 2023. "Functional diversity of top management teams and firm performance in SMEs: a social network perspective," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 259-286, January.
    12. Steuer-Dankert, Linda & Leicht-Scholten, Carmen, 2019. "Diversity- and Innovation Management in Complex Engineering Organizations," 7th International OFEL Conference on Governance, Management and Entrepreneurship: Embracing Diversity in Organisations (Dubrovnik, 2019), in: 7th International OFEL Conference on Governance, Management and Entrepreneurship: Embracing Diversity in Organisations. April 5th - 6th, 2019, Dubrovn, pages 136-157, Governance Research and Development Centre (CIRU), Zagreb.
    13. Dag Ingvar Jacobsen & Tore Hillestad & Birgitte Yttri & Jarle Hildrum, 2019. "Alternative Routes To Innovation — The Effects Of Cultural And Structural Fit," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 24(01), pages 1-20, January.
    14. Lee, Jeoung Yul & Choi, Byung Chul & Ghauri, Pervez N. & Park, Byung Il, 2021. "Knowledge centralization and international R&D team performance: Unpacking the moderating roles of team-specific characteristics," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 627-640.
    15. Berit Sandberg, 2020. "The Artist as Innovation Muse: Findings from a Residence Program in the Fuzzy Front End," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-22, November.
    16. Merve Gercek, 2024. "Rethinking the Building Blocks of Employee Creativity: A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Research," Istanbul Business Research, Istanbul University Business School, vol. 53(1), pages 1-22, April.
    17. Arslan, Ahmad & Haapanen, Lauri & Ahokangas, Petri & Naughton, Sean, 2021. "Multicultural R&D team operations in high-tech SMEs: Role of team task environment and individual team members’ personal experiences," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 661-672.
    18. Richter, Nicole Franziska & Martin, Jonathan & Hansen, Sofie V. & Taras, Vasyl & Alon, Ilan, 2021. "Motivational configurations of cultural intelligence, social integration, and performance in global virtual teams," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 351-367.
    19. Sa’adiah Munir & Gary John Rangel & Ravichandran K. Subramaniam & Mohd. Zulkhairi bin Mustapha, 2020. "Do Heterogeneous Boards Promote Firm Innovation? Evidence from Malaysia," Capital Markets Review, Malaysian Finance Association, vol. 28(1), pages 25-47.
    20. Christian R. {O}stergaard & Bram Timmermans, 2023. "Workplace diversity and innovation performance: current state of affairs and future directions," Papers 2311.05219, arXiv.org.
    21. Zouaghi, Ferdaous & Garcia-Marco, Teresa & Martinez, Marian Garcia, 2020. "The link between R&D team diversity and innovative performance: A mediated moderation model," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    22. C. Darawong & B. Igel, 2017. "Managing Interpersonal Conflict Between Expatriates And Thai Managers Through Intercultural Communication: The Moderating Effect Of Expatriates’ Culture Of Origin," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 21(04), pages 1-20, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. María-José Pinillos & Luisa Reyes, 2011. "Relationship between individualist–collectivist culture and entrepreneurial activity: evidence from Global Entrepreneurship Monitor data," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 37(1), pages 23-37, July.
    2. Pascal Gantenbein & Axel Kind & Christophe Volonté, 2019. "Individualism and Venture Capital: A Cross-Country Study," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 59(5), pages 741-777, October.
    3. Björn Ambos & Bodo B. Schlegelmilch, 2008. "Innovation in multinational firms: Does cultural fit enhance performance?," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 48(2), pages 189-206, April.
    4. Andrew Copus & Dimitris Skuras & Kyriaki Tsegenidi, 2006. "Innovation and Peripherality: A Comparative Study in Six EU Member Countries," ERSA conference papers ersa06p295, European Regional Science Association.
    5. Sjoerd Beugelsdijk, 2010. "Entrepreneurial Culture, Regional Innovativeness and Economic Growth," Springer Books, in: Andreas Freytag & Roy Thurik (ed.), Entrepreneurship and Culture, chapter 0, pages 129-154, Springer.
    6. Švarc, Jadranka & Lažnjak, Jasminka & Dabić, Marina, 2019. "Regional innovation culture in innovation laggard: A case of Croatia," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    7. Malik, Tariq H. & Xiang, Tao & Huo, Chunhui, 2021. "The transformation of national patents for high-technology exports: Moderating effects of national cultures," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(1).
    8. Leslie Williams & Stephen McGuire, 2010. "Economic creativity and innovation implementation: the entrepreneurial drivers of growth? Evidence from 63 countries," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 34(4), pages 391-412, May.
    9. Tiessen, James H., 1997. "Individualism, collectivism, and entrepreneurship: A framework for international comparative research," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 12(5), pages 367-384, September.
    10. Ratan J. S. Dheer, 2017. "Cross-national differences in entrepreneurial activity: role of culture and institutional factors," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 48(4), pages 813-842, April.
    11. Vladyslav Soloviov, 2022. "Linking regional autonomy–embeddedness value orientation and innovation," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, December.
    12. Tekic, Anja & Tekic, Zeljko, 2021. "Culture as antecedent of national innovation performance: Evidence from neo-configurational perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 385-396.
    13. Sahasranamam, Sreevas & Nandakumar, M.K. & Pereira, Vijay & Temouri, Yama, 2021. "Knowledge capital in social and commercial entrepreneurship: Investigating the role of informal institutions," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1).
    14. Rakesh Sambharya & Martina Musteen, 2014. "Institutional environment and entrepreneurship: An empirical study across countries," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 12(4), pages 314-330, December.
    15. Hasan, Rajibul & Lowe, Ben & Petrovici, Dan, 2020. "Consumer adoption of pro-poor service innovations in subsistence marketplaces," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 461-475.
    16. Assmann, Daisy & Ehrl, Philipp, 2021. "Individualistic culture and entrepreneurial opportunities," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 1248-1268.
    17. Dziallas, Marisa & Blind, Knut, 2019. "Innovation indicators throughout the innovation process: An extensive literature analysis," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 80, pages 3-29.
    18. Emmanuel Affum-Osei & Sharon G. Goto & June Chun Yeung & Rong Wang & Hodar Lam & Inusah Abdul-Nasiru & Darius K. S. Chan, 2024. "A cross-cultural study of entrepreneurial motivation and entrepreneurial intentions amongst university students: the roles of individualism and collectivism," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 14(1), pages 1-19, December.
    19. Ingrid Verheul & André Van Stel & Roy Thurik, 2006. "Explaining female and male entrepreneurship at the country level," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(2), pages 151-183, March.
    20. Kaasa, Anneli, 2016. "Culture, religion and productivity: Evidence from European regions," Business and Economic Horizons (BEH), Prague Development Center (PRADEC), vol. 12(1), pages 1-18.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wsi:ijimxx:v:20:y:2016:i:01:n:s1363919616500122. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Tai Tone Lim (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.worldscinet.com/ijim/ijim.shtml .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.