Knowledge Integration Problems And Their Effect On Team Performance

The increase in product complexity, the interconnectedness of research questions, and the decrease in product development time are forcing organizations to share and integrate their diverse areas of expertise in collaborative teams. Experiences with collaborations in cross-functional and interdisciplinary teams have shown that the expected positive effects like higher productivity and better decision-making are counterbalanced by negative effects such as higher individual stress and ineffective work. In this study, we analyzed the effects of knowledge integration problems on team performance, and we identified variables facilitating or hindering knowledge integration within cross-functional teams. Ninety-seven members of German R&D teams assessed their knowledge integration problems and their subjective stress. They also evaluated the efficiency of the product development process in terms of time, costs and quality. Heterogeneity of team composition in terms of educational background increased knowledge integration problems significantly. Knowledge integration problems were significantly associated with meeting deadlines and lower product quality. At the same time, knowledge integration problems correlated with increased subjective stress, and job dissatisfaction. However, knowledge integration was not associated with cost aspects or overtime. Divergence within the team seemed to hinder knowledge integration, whereas the integration into the team and a netlike communication structure with defined communication rules facilitated knowledge integration. These results emphasize the importance of knowledge integration and the need to develop training to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration in R&D teams.