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The Value of Leadership: Evidence from a Large-Scale Field Experiment

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Listed:
  • Englmaier, Florian
  • Grimm, Stefan
  • Grothe, Dominik
  • Schindler, David

    (Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management)

  • Schudy, Simeon

Abstract

Companies increasingly shift from hierarchical to team-based organizational structures. Scholars and practitioners alike have emphasized the potential of leadership to foster performance in these settings. However, the causal impact of leadership is difficult to identify, as in agile and crossfunctional teams leadership is often determined endogenously. This study exploits a unique opportunity to uncover the value of leadership in a non-routine task performed by teams with flat hierarchies. In a large-scale natural field experiment (>1200 participants in 280 teams), we randomly encourage teams to select a leader before performing a complex task. The leadership encouragement increases the fraction of teams solving the task within the given time limit by about 25% and teams’ remaining times by roughly 75%. Choosing a leader not only improves performance time-wise, but also team organization, without reducing the originality of solutions. Hence, leadership encouragements can serve as a cost-effective tool to foster team performance.
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Suggested Citation

  • Englmaier, Florian & Grimm, Stefan & Grothe, Dominik & Schindler, David & Schudy, Simeon, 2021. "The Value of Leadership: Evidence from a Large-Scale Field Experiment," Other publications TiSEM 590def79-85b0-4d4a-aafa-f, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    • Handle: RePEc:tiu:tiutis:590def79-85b0-4d4a-aafa-f7ffb0924a72
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. David Hardt & Lea Mayer & Johannes Rincke, 2023. "Who Does the Talking Here? The Impact of Gender Composition on Team Interactions," CESifo Working Paper Series 10550, CESifo.
    4. Florian Englmaier & Stefan Grimm & Dominik Grothe & David Schindler & Simeon Schudy, 2024. "The Effect of Incentives in Nonroutine Analytical Team Tasks," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 132(8), pages 2695-2747.
    5. Lohmann, Paul M. & Probst, Benedict & Gsottbauer, Elisabeth & Kontoleon, Andreas, 2024. "High levels of air pollution reduce team performance," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    6. Timm Opitz, 2024. "Interpersonal Preferences and Team Performance: The Role of Liking in Complex Problem Solving," Rationality and Competition Discussion Paper Series 492, CRC TRR 190 Rationality and Competition.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • J33 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Compensation Packages; Payment Methods
    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • M52 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Compensation and Compensation Methods and Their Effects

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