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Composing teams to optimize the benefits of international experience diversity
Type
conference paper
Date Issued
2012-08-05
Author(s)
Abstract
This paper contributes to a better understanding of the effects of experiential diversity in teams. Specifically, the link between diversity in team members' international experience backgrounds and team performance is examined from an information processing perspective. This paper addresses the conditions under which teams optimize the benefits of a greater pool of knowledge and perspectives at their disposal. A set of four hypotheses is developed and tested on a longitudinal dataset drawn from professional soccer teams in the German Bundesliga over a seven-year period. Findings show that a diverse international experience base is positively associated with team performance. This relationship is positively moderated by indicators of experiential team composition and managerial tenure. Specifically, performance gains of increasing international experience diversity are larger the more a team consists of members experienced in high quality settings, a team consists of members with narrow individual experience backgrounds, and a team is led by a longer tenured coach. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed together with future research directions.
Language
English
Keywords
international experience
team diversity
team performance
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
Yes
Event Title
72nd Academy of Management Annual Meeting (AOM) 2012 "The Informal Economy"
Event Location
Boston, USA
Event Date
03.-07.08.2012
Subject(s)
Eprints ID
228980