Knowledge Exchange Processes in Multicultural Teams: Linking Organizational Diversity Climates to Teams’ Effectiveness

We developed a model illuminating team knowledge exchange processes as a key link between organizational diversity climate and the effectiveness of multicultural teams (MCTs). Our analysis is based on 143 in-depth interviews and extensive observations of team interactions that occurred in 48 teams f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Academy of Management journal 2017-02, Vol.60 (1), p.345-372
Main Authors: Hajro, Aida, Gibson, Cristina B., Pudelko, Markus
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cultural differences
Effectiveness
Multicultural teams
Multiculturalism & pluralism
Research transfer
Studies
Teams
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Summary:We developed a model illuminating team knowledge exchange processes as a key link between organizational diversity climate and the effectiveness of multicultural teams (MCTs). Our analysis is based on 143 in-depth interviews and extensive observations of team interactions that occurred in 48 teams from 11 companies. Our findings revealed that teams that oscillated between assertive and cooperative knowledge exchange processes were more effective. We also found such dual processes were more prevalent in organizations that had an engagement-focused diversity climate characterized by utilization of diversity to inform and enhance work processes based on the assumption that cultural differences give rise to different knowledge, insights, and alternative views. Based on our findings we developed specific propositions about optimizing MCT knowledge-exchange processes to guide future research and practice.
ISSN:0001-4273
1948-0989
DOI:10.5465/amj.2014.0442