Authors
Julija Mell, Leslie A DeChurch, Roger Leenders
Publication date
2018/7/2
Journal
Academy of Management Proceedings
Volume
2018
Issue
1
Pages
10481
Publisher
Academy of Management
Description
Many complex organizational tasks are performed by interdependent networks of teams – multiteam systems (MTSs). A critical challenge in MTSs is how to promote information exchange across teams. In two studies, we investigate how identity asymmetries, i.e., differences between teams in terms of which entity – team or overarching system – constitutes their primary focus of identification, affect interteam information sharing and performance. In study 1, we experimentally manipulate teams' foci of identification (team- or system-focused) in a sample of 84 five-member teams working in one of 21 four-team MTSs (252 team dyads) performing a computer strategy simulation. We find that that information sharing depends on the identity foci of the teams on both sides of the exchange. Most strikingly, while system-focused teams shared information equally with all teams, team-focused teams shared less information with …
Total citations
Scholar articles