title: Bridging team faultlines by combining task role assignment and goal structure strategies.
abstract: This study tests whether the detrimental effects of strong diversity faultlines on team performance can be counteracted by combining 2 managerial strategies: task role crosscutting and superordinate goals. We conducted a 2 (crosscut vs. aligned roles) × 2 (superordinate vs. subgroup goals) experimental study. Seventy-two 4-person teams with faultlines stemming from gender and educational major performed a complex decision-making task. The results show that teams with crosscut roles perform better when they are assigned a superordinate goal than a subgroup goal, whereas teams with aligned roles are not affected by goal manipulations. This effect is mediated by elaboration of task-relevant information. Implications for theory and management of team faultlines are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Psychology and Methodology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. ramon.rico@uam.es
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rico
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Manzanares
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Antino
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012380:Role; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult